The Decemberists- The King Is Dead ALBUM REVIEW (Iron & Wine, too!)

Listen: http://bit.ly/fbFSQc / http://bit.ly/eqFh9E

1. Holy Ghost! TRKRVW: http://theneedledrop.com/?p=2628
2. Heidecker & Wood MP3: http://theneedledrop.com/?p=2594

The Decemberists' latest album, the King Is Dead, feels like a toned down version of the band's roots, for me. For some, it may be a welcome departure from the band's eccentric vocals and indulgent stories, but that's what made them interesting to me in the first place. Seeing these elements leave the stage makes this album very underwhelming for me. It's ultra-crisp production and mundane instrumentation only worsen my problems.

Colin still has a great presence, and the songwriting is still quite good; however, what these songs are shelled in is making me shy away.

As for Iron & Wine, Sam Beam is really venturing out of his safety zone this time around, and I'd say it's working for him for a good part of this record. Sam has always been a soft-spoken, intimate songwriter, so it's not surprising to feel as if he's being overshadowed by some of this instrumentation. The close connection Iron & Wine's old albums used to have seems missing here, and the production is no replacement--even if the quirky riffs and horns on "Big Burned Hand," for example, are pretty fun.

There are quiet moments here that go over great, but a good chunk of this record doesn't feel all that personal or affecting.

What do you think of these albums? Love 'em? Hate 'em? Why? Am I an idiot for not praising them with the same vigor some reviewers are? What do you think of the directions these two projects are heading in? Is indie folk dead--especially considering that two of its biggest artists are now on major labels. Also, what should I review next?

4/10 & 6/10

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FAV TRACKS: JUNE HYMN, JANUARY HYMN, WALKING FAR FROM HOME, TREE BY THE RIVER, GODLESS BROTHER IN LOVE, YOUR FAKE NAME IS GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME

Category:

Music

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• the decemberists
• the king is dead
• iron & wine
• kiss each other clean
• album
• review
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• folk
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• colin meloy
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• hazards of love

[theneedledrop]

@vegansong821 Just a short, little instrumental I wrote / recorded myself. :-)

[theneedledrop]

@MyDinoLife248 I should have done a formal apology to fans of tea cups.

[stude444]

I actually really enjoyed this album, I was really into the songwriting and the instruments, I guess since I grew up listening to country, it's kind of engrained in my brain, always hated the songwriting of country though, it always seemed like just re-hashed things. But this obviously doesn't have that problem. Lol.

[lumburgapalooza]

@liogarus

Cool, ty, will check it out.

[liogarus]

@lumburgapalooza He has a little article on his site called "why scores matter" where he explains why he refuses to stop giving scores. It's an interesting read

[lumburgapalooza]

I'm not sure if you've done this yet (recent subscriber) but it's very helpful to have an installment explaining your numerical scores. You could give examples of high and low-scoring albums and explain the relation between your views of the album and the score given. The problem is that when people see "4/10" they imagine getting a 40 on a test.

I'd recommend doing away with scores altogether. You're very eloquent and you express yourself well enough without needing to quantify your tastes.

[Snowking587]

I really liked Iron & Wine's newest album, though quite different from his other work, it is daring and different. It's good stuff! I have to agree that The Decemberists played it a little more safe this time around, but it's a return to their roots, for sure. Thanks for the review Mr. Fantano!

[AllShallCherish]

By far the most frightening review ever...

[ThaMuzeekEnthuziest]

i loved your little convo with cal at the end

[strangebirdsir]

See, This album for me was amazing. This album brought me back as a fan. I had somehow skipped Hazards of Love somehow. I got this after seeing a full live performance on NPR. I instantly loved the songs. I enjoy the simplicity of the songs. Which is odd for me. I loved the song for his son and just the vibe. The alt country feel. and Hazards once I listened is amazing.

[TeddyJackEddie1]

I think you'll find as you get older, what you look for in "pop" music will not be so regimented. I think when I was your age, sorry, I KNOW when I was your age, my criteria were very different.