2005-03-31
It’s that voice.You either like Colin Meloy’s reedy vocals, or you don’t. And depending on your answer, you either like or don’t like The Decemberists, since the entire band is built around him. There’s some nice songwriting and Meloy knows the tricks of the trade: pop hooks and minor-major key wind-up.
A college radio staple, Picaresque may be one of the band’s most commercial-sounding releases in recent memory. You’re entering a world of sea-farers, vagabonds, hucksters, soldiers and angels. No samples here, folks, they’re the real deal from Hammond organ, accordion, earnest strumming, and ok, throw in a tam-tam.
Stella
Cookie Bumstead & The Lonesome Space Cadets
Cookie Bumstead & The Lonesome Space Cadets
Nathan Kalish and The Wildfire
Waterbirds
KATE SCHUTT
TELEPHONE GAME
THE GORIES
The Shaw Tapes: Live in Detroit 5/27/88
DRIVE BY TRUCKERS
THE BIG TO DO
Robyn Hitchcock
Ole! Tarantula
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