See 58 more photos
The Decemberists
On Tour22,093,703 plays (574,364 listeners)
indie, indie rock, folk, indie pop, alternative… see all
Portland, United States (2001 – present)
The Decemberists are a five-piece rock band from Portland, Oregon, fronted by singer/songwriter Colin Meloy. Their debut EP, 5 Songs, was self-released in 2001. Their fourth full-length album, The Crane Wife, was released on 3 October 2006 by Capitol Records, and is their first appearance on a major label. The band’s current lineup is Colin Meloy (vocals, guitar), Chris Funk (guitar, mandolin, hammered dulcimer), Jenny Conlee (keyboards, accordion, organ, vocals), Nate Query (bass) and John Moen (drums, vocals).
Named both in reference to the Russian Decembrist Revolt (they use the national anthem of the Soviet Union as an introduction at many concerts) and to the atmosphere associated with the month of December, the Decemberists write songs that range from upbeat pop to instrumentally lush ballads. They often employ instruments like the accordion, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer organ, and upright bass. In their lyrics, they eschew the angst and introspection common to modern rock, instead favoring a storytelling approach, as evidenced in songs such as “My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist” from the 5 Songs EP and “The Mariner’s Revenge Song” on Picaresque. Their songs convey tales ranging from whimsical (“Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect”) to epic (“The Tain”) to truly dark (“Odalisque”). They often invoke historical events and themes from around the world. Early in their career, The Decemberists’ musical and lyrical aesthetics frequently prompted critics to compare them to Neutral Milk Hotel.
Named both in reference to the Russian Decembrist Revolt (they use the national anthem of the Soviet Union as an introduction at many concerts) and to the atmosphere associated with the month of December, the Decemberists write songs that range from upbeat pop to instrumentally lush ballads. They often employ instruments like the accordion, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer organ, and upright bass. In their lyrics, they eschew the angst and introspection common to modern rock, instead favoring a storytelling approach, as evidenced in songs such as “My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist” from the 5 Songs EP and “The Mariner’s Revenge Song” on Picaresque. Their songs convey tales ranging from whimsical (“Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect”) to epic (“The Tain”) to truly dark (“Odalisque”). They often invoke historical events and themes from around the world. Early in their career, The Decemberists’ musical and lyrical aesthetics frequently prompted critics to compare them to Neutral Milk Hotel.
Including Colin Meloy, Neutral Milk Hotel, Death Cab for Cutie, Sufjan Stevens, Iron & Wine and more…
Videos
-
Play
Decemberists - Valerie Plame
-
Play
The Decemberists- after the bombs
-
Play
The Decemberists - Sons & Daughters
-
Play
The Decemberists-The Island
Top Albums
Top Tracks
| 1 |
 |
July, July!
full track
|
||
| 2 | ||||
| 3 | ||||
| 4 |
|
|||
| 5 | ||||
| 6 | ||||
| 7 | ||||
| 8 | ||||
| 9 | ||||
| 10 | ||||
| 11 | ||||
| 12 | ||||
| 13 |
|
Like A Lion
full track
|
||
| 14 | ||||
| 15 |
Shoutbox
-
MegatonShot wrote:
My new favourite band. I must've got Castways & Cutouts in July or so and only just recently started getting their other albums. Great stuff.
-
oprimus wrote:
Heres our review! http://thefourohfive.com/?p=2231
-
zephyr-guy wrote:
New album is called 'Hazards of Love'. Sweeeeeeet!
-
MinardiF1 wrote:
I thought Valerie Plame was exactly like "Hey Jude" at the end too. That has to have been on purpose?
-
rosieposie3456 wrote:
I would give anything to see them in concert. Pure magic, and kinda sexy too
-
masked_mouse wrote:
I love love LOVE how Valerie Plame becomes Hey Jude at the end.
-
jeenyus05 wrote:
http://www.last.fm/group/Tay+Zonday+is+a+scary+ass+motherfucker
-
xeysz wrote:
http://www.last.fm/group/I+Can%27t+Remember+the+Last+CD+I+Purchased
-
oprimus wrote:
Heres our review! http://thefourohfive.com/2008/10/05/the-decemberists-always-the-bridesmaid-vol-i/
-
EricMatzke wrote:
I dig these guys.
-
Danisaur1 wrote:
i'm seeing you at the electric factory on nov. 7 in philly!
-
_meandthemajor wrote:
A Record Year for Rainfall is so good.
-
KLup26 wrote:
im obsessed with raincoat song
-
Waqcku wrote:
they're all bad go away
-
NinjaJoey wrote:
start with 5 songs.
-
celestialroad wrote:
@thatkidsam: castaways and cutouts
-
MonkeydogPOZ wrote:
Album should come out in 2009, but there's no set date or even much official talk from the band about the LP. I would say either Castaways and Cutouts or Picaresque (I started with The Engine Driver and The Mariner's Revenge Song and fell so much in love with the album and the band). The Crane Wife is also a pretty good album, but it doesn't much sound like the first three albums. So it may not be the greatest one to start with. (despite it's possibility of it being their best album to date)
-
Thatkidsam wrote:
What's a good starting albuM?
-
Lecrispin wrote:
so when does the actual album come out then?
-
Chamberk wrote:
valerie plame reminds me of nothing more than "movin right along" from the muppet movie
Events
-
Oct
30
The Decemberists
Corbin J. Robertson Center, Georgetown, TX, United States
Add shout
| 3 attendees -
Oct
31
The Decemberists
Wheaton College - Edman Chapel, Chicago, United States
3 shouts
| 7 attendees
-
Nov
5
The Decemberists
Terminal 5, New York, United States
6 shouts
| 66 attendees
Listeners
-
LoMej
Listening now
to The Bagman's Gambit -
Raftysworld
Top Listener
-
enigmattic122
Top Listener
-
victoriantim
Top Listener
Recent Activity
- IdeasWanted, jsaad08, fbhirsch and 28 other people added The Decemberists to their libraries. 32 minutes ago
- Slightman tagged The Decemberists with ‘indie’, ‘rock’, ‘american’ and ‘folk’. Saturday morning
- gwelb tagged The Decemberists with ‘historical evocation’. Saturday morning
- macourt, sfederico, carrieellis01 and 5 other people added The Decemberists to their libraries. Saturday morning
- chamber55 tagged The Decemberists with ‘seen live’. Saturday morning
- psegnitz, simplecyclist, jhartwig and 9 other people added The Decemberists to their libraries. Saturday morning
- dnt_h8me created the wiki page for Preserve Volume One. August 2008
- kelgura tagged The Decemberists with ‘american’. August 2008
- stormyhaze7, ihaveaphof7 and 14 other people added The Decemberists to their libraries. August 2008
- lostlauren tagged The Decemberists with ‘indie pop’ and ‘folk’. August 2008
Related Journals
-
Albums Acquired September 2008
by shoebox54th |
2 Oct 2008 | Add comment
-
Y HULO THAR
by shellbird |
1 Oct 2008 | Add comment
-
2008
by FiveKidsDown429 |
26 Sep 2008 | Add comment
Groups (413)
-
Youth and Beauty Brigade
1,122 members
-
Castaways & Cutouts - The Decemberists Fan Club
195 members
-
Coachella 2007
257 members
-
Down By Okkervil River
414 members
-
Musik von dort nach hier
103 members
