goodnightboy

Hello, there! I love the Decemberists and I finally got around to creating a thread for them. I hate making opening posts because I never know what to say, so I'll keep this short. I love the music, but one thing I really love about this band is how great their lyrics are. It's just so clever and cute

So, what are you waiting for? If you love this band, this is the place to talk about them.

infinite sadness

Hey!

I LOVE The Decemberists! And they're from Portland, Oregon, like me. We's got to represent, yo! It's fun, some of their songs mention places I've been to...

Um, yeah... my current sig is from their new album. I haven't listened to it much, but the closing song "Sons and Daughters" really stood out to me. Such an uplifting number, it is. I love it. And "The Island", which I am listening to as I type here... Good stuff.



Here's to hoping this thread has more posters than the Radiohead thread... Whatever, you, me, and Pauline rock!

goodnightboy

Yes we do! Seriously though. We need more people!

I have The Crane Wife but I haven't listened to it yet - mostly I've listened to Her Majesty, Picaresque and a few songs off Castaways and Cut-Outs, and of course the mega-long 'The Tain (Parts I, II, III, IV, V)'. I love 'em all, but I think my favourite song is either 'Engine Driver' or 'Of Angels and Angles'. And I've got their version of 'Human Behaviour', which is kind of cool (but the Bjork original is better )

I knew they were from Oregon somewhere in the back of my mind...but I guess I forgot. Hurrah for you, then! Must be really cool to listen to something and go 'Hey! I know that place!' okay, I've got to listen to The Crane Wife soon.

infinite sadness

I've had Picareqsue and Her Majesty for a long time and only recently aqcuired Castaways and Cutouts (though the first songs I'd heard were from this album), and the Crane Wife.

So, the other day I got in a Decemberist-y mood and finally listened to Castaways and Crane, and I must say, I am particularly impressed with the former. "Odalisque" is an amazing song, in particular.

The closer on "Youth and Beauty Brigade" from Castaways mentions the Multnomah County Library, which is the county in which I live. And the song "On the Bus Mall" is set in downtown Portland.

goodnightboy

Her Majesty was the first full album I got - I must say I didn't like it all that much at first. Although I had 'Engine Driver', 'Of Angels and Angles', 'Sixteen Military Wives' and 'July! July!' before that and those were a good introduction to the Decemberists...but anyway now I do like Her Majesty. I don't think it's as good as Picaresque, but it's pretty good anyway.

Yay for getting into the mood! I don't have that song though. The only ones I've got (from Castaways) are: 'Clementine', 'July!', 'Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect' and 'California One Youth and Beauty Brigade' (Multnomah County Library? Wow. That's cool!)

Okay, so which songs don't you have? I could send them to you perhaps. I think I've got quite a lot (between my sister and I).

infinite sadness

Well... I have all 4 full-legth albums and the 5 song EP with "Oceanside", "My Mother was Chinese Trapeze Artist", "Angel Won't You Call Me?", "I Dont Mind", and "Apology Song". Oh, and I have the song "Shiny".

I don't have "The Tain" though.

I can hook you up with the rest of Castways, if you want? Life isn't complete without "Leslie Anne Levine"...

SoSaysI81

The Decemberists pretty much own me. Everything about them is amazing, really. I can't wait to see them in June!

Picaresque is probably my favorite album. All the songs just flow so well, and they just make me happy. "The Sporting Life" is just such a fun song, along with "Sixteen Military Wives". Ah, so amazing. I think I'll listen to them now.

goodnightboy

alright, my sister sent me 'Leslie Anne Levine' and 'Odalisque', but I don't have the rest. Can I have that and 'My Mother', 'I Don't Mind' and 'Apology Song'? Thanks so much And I'll send you 'The Tain', and anything else you might want. I've got all the full albums (other than Castaways) and 'Human Behaviour'

Unfair! I want to see them live, too! Colin Meloy is so funny. I love Picaresque, but seriously, you can't go wrong with the Decemberists. And why aren't there more fans?

infinite sadness

I saw them live last year (or 2 years ago?) at "The Taste of Oregon" for $5... Yes...I had to brag...$5 though...it's cheap! And for such a good band... hehehe... I may see them again this year too.

ETA: And I'll hook you up soon...

goodnightboy

I hate you Simone!

The closest I ever got to watching a band of that calibre for (haha, free though) was when Copeland came to Singapore to perform at BayBeats. But, I didn't go I didn't know them back then, had only just gotten into them, but still! I didn't go! And you've seen the Decemberists for $5!!! -is jealous-

I've sent you 'The Tain' already, I hope you got it - that one song took me 2 hours+ to upload and so it had better go through.

infinite sadness

I did get it, if I haven't told you yet. Thanks!

Anyway, I figured we might as well start a song discussion...

One of the first Decemberist songs I heard:

The Engine Driver

I'm an engine driver
On a long run, on a long run
Would I were beside her
She's a long one, such a long one

And if you don't love me let me go
And if you don't love me let me go

I'm a county lineman
On the high line, on the high line
So will be my grandson
There are powerlines in our bloodlines

And if you don't love me let me go
And if you don't love me let me go

And I am a writer, writer of fictions
I am the heart that you call home
And I've written pages upon pages
Trying to rid you from my bones
My bones
My bones

I'm a money lender
I have fortunes upon fortunes
Take my hand for tender
I am tortured, ever tortured

And if you don't love me let me go
And if you don't love me let me go

And I am a writer, writer of fictions
I am the heart that you call home
And I've written pages upon pages
Trying to rid you from my bones
I am a writer, I am all that you have hoped on

And I've written pages upon pages
Trying to rid you from my bones
My bones
My bones

(And if you don't love me let me go)
And if you don't love me let me go
(And if you don't love me let me go)
And if you don't love me let me go

goodnightboy

I am insanely in love with that song. It's the very first one I heard, too, and I'm so glad it was that one because it' so great, isn't it? It fits Colin's world-weary voice perfectly and the lyrics kill me. They are so clever, little bits like the metaphor of money and associated words like 'tender' 'fortunes' and the like. My idiot friend was all 'I don't understand the words!' and as I tried to explain it to him I realised I didn't really know what it all meant either, but the idea of all these words and the rest of that verse having associated words, well, I just think it's clever.

And also the chorus is incredible. The lyrics for every word in that chorus is just perfect. And the combination of music and lyrics = one hell of a song. (Yes, I am slightly obsessed with this song - this is probably my favourite, along with 'Of Angels and Angles').

Oh and I listened to The Crane Wife, finally - my sister bought the actual CD so I was listening to it with lyrics. I didn't ilke 'Sons and Daughters' much the first time I heard it, but I re-listened to it (to see why you found it so great ) and then I was completely hooked. The entire day I was just singing when we arrive, sons and daughters and annoying everyone I also like 'The Crane Wife 3', 'The Perfect Crime #2' (it's so funny!) and 'Shankill Butchers', and 'Yankee Bayonet' is not bad as well, but I was kind of disappointed in The Crane Wife overall. Picaresque is much better.

Anyway, does anyone want to think up of a nice thread title or is The Decemberists Appreciation Thread fine?

infinite sadness

I agree about The Crane Wife being, well, underwhelming. I prefer the previous 3 albums to it. But, it may grow on me in time. "Sons and Daughters" is SO catchy, that's definitely my favorite off the album at the moment. But I'm also loving "The Island" and "When the War Came", though both took me several listens to get into. And, as I said earlier I think, "O Valencia!" is a good one. I'd heard that one on the radio several times (I totally typed "on the Radiohead" initially )


And "The Engine Driver" used to be one of my favorites, it's not so much anymore, though I still LOVE it. I love the lines: "I'm a county lineman/ On the highline, on the high line/ So will be my grandson/ there are powerlines in our bloodlines" Don't know why...just love that part. And the chorus is wonderful "I've written pages upon pages trying to rid you from my bones" Good stuff.


As for thread titles, I'm sure we could come up with something creative... they have such good lyrics...hmm...I'll get back to you on this...

goodnightboy

But the thing about it is that it gets better with each listen - kind of liek how I felt towards The Eraser, really. And it's funny that you and I like totally different songs on the album, well I guess that's good? And you're right, 'Sons and Daughters' is completely addicting. The line we'll fill our mouths with cinnamon makes no sense at all, but it's cute. My sister and I were singing to it yesterday well, the whole song.

Ugh same I always type Radiohead instead of radio (damn, I did it just now!) what then is your favourite Decemberists song?

I love that verse, too, but I think the chorus is the killer. It's just, well, wow.

And I am a writer, writer of fictions
I am the heart that you call home
And I've written pages upon pages
Trying to rid you from my bones

And the line and if you don't love me, let me go too, of course.

infinite sadness

Hmm... I'm itchin' to make me a list now...

I'm going to do it, a Decemberists MEGA-list is on the way... I was relistening to the Crane Wife songs and I really do love them too. (I mean the Crane Wife song cycle, not just all the songs on the Crane Wife album).

Ok, so, this list will not be as thorough as my Radiohead list because there are still some Decemberists songs I haven't heard. Ja, klar? Sehr gut!
So, at the moment, the list is:

CastawaysandCutouts HerMajesty PicaresqueThe Crane Wife 5SongsEP TheTain Other

1) On the Bus Mall
2) Red Right Ankle
3) The Gymnast, High Above The Ground
4) Odalisque
5) Leslie Anne Levine
6) The Bachelor and The Bride
7) Sons and Daughters
8) The Crane Wife 3
9) The Bagman's Gambit
10) The Island
11) We Both Go Down Together
12) A Cautionary Song
13) The Crane Wife 1&2
14) Eli, the Barrow Boy
15) I Was Meant For The Stage
16) Of Angels and Angles
17) The Engine Driver
18) July, July!
19) Here I Dreamt I Was An Architecht
20) The Tain
21) When the War Came
22) Shiny
23) O Valencia!
24) Shanty for the Arethusa
25) Los Angeles, I'm Yours
26) The Mariner's Revenge Song
27) The Infanta
28) Grace Cathedral Hill
29) California One/ Youth and Beauty Brigade
30) Song for Myla Goldberg
31) The Soldiering Life
32) Angel, Won't You Call Me?
33) Yankee Bayonet
34) The Chimbley Sweep
35) The Sporting Life
36) 16 Military Wives
37) Oceanside
38) Summersong
39) My Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze Artist
40) Billy Liar
41) The Legionnaire's Lament
42) I Don't Mind
43) Cocoon
44) From My Own True Love (Lost at Sea)
45) Clementine
46) Shankhill Butchers
47) The Perfect Crime # 2
48) As I Rise
49) Apology Song