Album Review of The Decemberists - The King Is Dead
Following the ambitious scope of The Decemberists last two albums, The Hazards Of Love and The Crane Wife, singer Colin Meloy attempted to play down The Decemberists new album The King Is Dead recently, calling the album "an exercise in restraint".
While it certainly isn't an ambitious concept album like previous Decemberist albums, there is no need to play down The King Is Dead. The Decemberists more restrained approach makes for a beautifully composed, more cohesive album - featuring some of the best stand-alone songs The Decemberists have ever done.
The King Is Dead's melodic and poppy sound is helped by the presence of REM legend Peter Buck - who pops up on a few songs. 'Down By The Water' is The King Is Dead's stand-out track, and is dominated by Peter Buck - who imposes a riff and soft emotional centre that immediately recalls his own bands classic 'The One I Love'.
This album, though, is by no means reliant on Buck for impact. 'Rox In The Box' proves The Decemberists are perfectly capable of creating their own melodic magic, with Jenny Conlee's mesmerising accordion adding impetus to the bar-room sing-a-long.
As well as the more up-beat country hoe-downs, The King Is Dead also has a good amount of The Decemberists' characteristically emotional and captivating ballads.'Rise To Me' recalls Neil Young at his vulnerable best - showcasing Meloy's distinctive and affecting vocals.
'January Hymn' and 'June Hymn' - The King Is Dead's two companion ballads - are the most memorable of the albums 'slower' songs, and the best exponents of The Decemberists new 'restrained' approach to song-writing.
While some of the album bears a strong outside influence in Peter Buck, The King Is Dead is still unmistakeably a Decemberists album - their new focus on stand-alone tracks rather than concept albums might not make this everyone's favourite Decemberists album, but it will certainly host a number of fans' favourite Decemberist songs.
All-Noise rating: 8 out of 10
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Although "The King Is Dead" is a country-rock album oriented towards americana, it's an album under heavy R.E.M. influence ("Down By The Water" and "Calamity Song" could be R.E.M. songs), other influences are Tom Petty (the intro in "Don't Carry It All"), Dylan, Neil Young, etc. It's also an album that could bring the Decemberists more airplay ("Rox In The Box", "Down By The Water", "This Is Why We Fight") and thereby closer to the mainstream.
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