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On the Shelf 147 : the Decemberists
Jul. 31st, 2015 05:22 pmThis is probably old news as if I remember correctly What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World was one of the first new releases of 2015.
Still, I like talking reviews and figure I would put a few words down on this.
I always get a bit of a REM vibe about the Decemeberists, but it really hits an apex with me on this album.
I don't necessarily mean in terms of sound, though if you want to annoy hipsters, it's been a general internet meme for a good five years that the Decemberists are a REM ripoff. I don't really believe that, but it's out there, and to a certain extent, there is some similarity.
It's not a bad thing, even. The Decemberists don't shy away from saying they are fans, and even have worked with Peter Buck.
It's that they are at a very unique position within music right now.
They are no longer the quirky sea shanty band that I fell in love with over a decade ago. That's no insult, REM were not really the same band of "Radio Free Europe" and Fables of the Reconstruction when they were filling arenas.
But REM didn't go to the mainstream, the mainstream came to them. Such seems to be the case with the Decemberists 7 albums in. They have developed a real ear for melody. I don't know radio is ready for them (outside the few adult alternative channels that exist), but they seem inching ever closer.
Obviously, six months later, this album wasn't that breakthrough, and I didn't expect it to be. It is however, more satisfying (to me, i am saying) than their last album, maybe their last 2 .
It still isn't quite the later career masterpiece that one continues to expect from this band. Their Automatic for the People moment. i think that's coming. Regardless, i enjoy this album. i am still underwhelmed in terms of expecting that or expecting something life changing like Picaresque.
That's not it. But it is still a good listen, and I will take it, and at 14 songs is surprising consistent
Still, I like talking reviews and figure I would put a few words down on this.
I always get a bit of a REM vibe about the Decemeberists, but it really hits an apex with me on this album.
I don't necessarily mean in terms of sound, though if you want to annoy hipsters, it's been a general internet meme for a good five years that the Decemberists are a REM ripoff. I don't really believe that, but it's out there, and to a certain extent, there is some similarity.
It's not a bad thing, even. The Decemberists don't shy away from saying they are fans, and even have worked with Peter Buck.
It's that they are at a very unique position within music right now.
They are no longer the quirky sea shanty band that I fell in love with over a decade ago. That's no insult, REM were not really the same band of "Radio Free Europe" and Fables of the Reconstruction when they were filling arenas.
But REM didn't go to the mainstream, the mainstream came to them. Such seems to be the case with the Decemberists 7 albums in. They have developed a real ear for melody. I don't know radio is ready for them (outside the few adult alternative channels that exist), but they seem inching ever closer.
Obviously, six months later, this album wasn't that breakthrough, and I didn't expect it to be. It is however, more satisfying (to me, i am saying) than their last album, maybe their last 2 .
It still isn't quite the later career masterpiece that one continues to expect from this band. Their Automatic for the People moment. i think that's coming. Regardless, i enjoy this album. i am still underwhelmed in terms of expecting that or expecting something life changing like Picaresque.
That's not it. But it is still a good listen, and I will take it, and at 14 songs is surprising consistent
