Decembrists

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Predictably considering my tastes I have fallen madly in love with this band. What should I know?

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Monday, 10 May 2004 00:07 (twenty-two years ago)

I've been told they're good but everything I've heard, by them, has been boring or crap or annoying or all three.

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 10 May 2004 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

and it's important, that you know that,

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 10 May 2004 00:10 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah, they're not very good.

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 10 May 2004 00:29 (twenty-two years ago)

I disagree. The Decemberists are great, but not if you are wearing your rock shoes. Take off your rock shoes, and put on your thinking cap instead. Doesn't that feel better?

― scottontharox (scottkundla), Monday, 10 May 2004 00:44 (twenty-two years ago)

Which is to say "compartmentalize your opinions".

― scottontharox (scottkundla), Monday, 10 May 2004 00:45 (twenty-two years ago)

i think the problem is the neutral milk hotel comparison. i think a comparison to a more mediocre band like beulah would be more appropriate. if people want literate lyrics they should listen to the verlaines instead.

― keith m (keithmcl), Monday, 10 May 2004 00:48 (twenty-two years ago)

I don't have a thinking cap or rock shoes or opinions.

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 10 May 2004 01:04 (twenty-two years ago)

someone told me i'd like the decembrists if i liked scarlet's well. after listening, the only logical conclusion was the person who told me that has never heard scarlet's well.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Monday, 10 May 2004 01:28 (twenty-two years ago)

Um, what do you want to know, Layna?

I haven't heard "The Tain" yet. I'm actually waiting until I can afford to buy it. Crazy? Maybe.

Kieth M. is right in that if you listen to the Decemberists hoping for "In The Aeroplane Part Two" then you will be sorely disappointed, but NMH couldn't have written "The Legionnaire's Lament" which was my soundtrack in summer 2002, so... it all works out. I'm not sure why he implies that they don't have literate lyrics, though. Also I'm not sure why he thinks they sound like Beulah more than NMH, but since neither comparison is particularly interesting or revealing then I guess it doesn't matter.

From my limited interactions with her, the drummer seems particularly nice.

― Casuistry (Chris P), Monday, 10 May 2004 04:18 (twenty-two years ago)

I've heard a lot of comparisons with NHM, but to be honest I don't think they sound THAT much like them. Like, they both surely read, but from different stacks in the library. As for the Verlaines, I think they probably read books I don't care for; they never really did much for me (ooh there goes my cred).

I did get The Tain at the show w/ Belle & Sebastian last week, and I love it! It's... I hate to say metal, because it's not like METAL metal, but it's metal.

― Layna, Monday, 10 May 2004 04:25 (twenty-two years ago)

I like some songs. Both albums are solid. Not super great. Search: "Red Right Ankle" "The Bachelor & The Bride" "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" "The Legionairre's Lament" "California One/Youth & Beauty Brigade."

― Ian Johnson (orion), Monday, 10 May 2004 05:30 (twenty-two years ago)

I think they're really excellent, one of my current faves.

― Gear! (Gear!), Monday, 10 May 2004 05:42 (twenty-two years ago)

as usual, Portland, I am ashamed of the bands you let live inside of you.

― jack cole (jackcole), Monday, 10 May 2004 05:46 (twenty-two years ago)

Portland: Sorry. I'm trying to get them to move to Brooklyn.

― scottontharox (scottkundla), Monday, 10 May 2004 11:12 (twenty-two years ago)

you should know that yeah, they're not all THAT similar to NMH. Even Colin Meloy's voice isnt. You will probably think so at first, but the songs are just too different.

I think in general public opinion is that Castaways is the better album, but I like Her Majesty much more.

where the beulah comparison comes in, i dont know. I like beulah ok, but The Decemberists are precious.

you should know that they're currently on tour, I know they'll be in boston on june 12th. you should know that they have a new EP out and plans for a full CD when they're done with this tour. you should know that they're very active and this is good because it looks like that means more cd's and tours.

― AaronK (AaronK), Monday, 10 May 2004 12:18 (twenty-two years ago)

Humanities majors love this band.

― adam (adam), Monday, 10 May 2004 13:05 (twenty-two years ago)

Grace Cathedral Hill is a truly great song. Get it immediately if you don't already have it, Layna.

― Officer Pupp, Monday, 10 May 2004 20:29 (twenty-two years ago)

My friend is in love with them and put Cautionary Song onto one of his mixes for me. I like it, but most of the band's material bores me.

― Atnevon (Atnevon), Monday, 10 May 2004 21:49 (twenty-two years ago)

crap name, too.

― RJG (RJG), Monday, 10 May 2004 22:07 (twenty-two years ago)

"Decembrists" wouldn't be so bad (common spelling of group of 19th century Russian aristocrat revolutionaries, several of them poets)--spelled "Decemberists" is tres lame.

― no opinion, Tuesday, 11 May 2004 04:35 (twenty-two years ago)

three weeks pass...

I saw this band in Toronto yesterday and was completely thrilled by the show (except for the accordion-playing, which was a little embarrassing). What's with all the hate? They're a little pretentious, of course, but nothing unforgivable, and the imagination and the clarity of the imagery in the songs is really refreshing. I don't hear Neutral Milk Hotel in them at all, either.

― antexit (antexit), Monday, 7 June 2004 14:20 (twenty-two years ago)

get the fuck out, indie dunce!

― HAMBURGER NEURON GROUP (ex machina), Monday, 7 June 2004 14:24 (twenty-two years ago)

i don't care for the decemberists myself, but why do you feel obligated to try and bully people for liking a pitchfork-approved indie band? or why would you think anyone would give a shit if you told them to 'get the fuck out'?

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Monday, 7 June 2004 15:16 (twenty-two years ago)

but their email address is so twee!

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Monday, 7 June 2004 15:33 (twenty-two years ago)

oh snap I didnt notice that! how can anyone take them seriously when 'the chimbley sweep' a song title?

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Monday, 7 June 2004 15:51 (twenty-two years ago)

i wasn't talking about the band.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Monday, 7 June 2004 15:53 (twenty-two years ago)

yeah i know, ferriswheel

― christhamrin (christhamrin), Monday, 7 June 2004 15:57 (twenty-two years ago)

now i'm confused.

― fortunate hazel (f. hazel), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:20 (twenty-two years ago)

look this is barely relevant, but since they were mentioned here...plus hunmanities majors...plus reading books...the guy from the verlaines now teaches a university program called a "rock degree" =very shitty bands -maybe this is not so surprising given his "erudite" lyrics

― gluiy, Monday, 7 June 2004 16:23 (twenty-two years ago)

oh i don't know if this is a reason not to like to his band.sorry

― gluiy, Monday, 7 June 2004 16:27 (twenty-two years ago)

i think the problem is the neutral milk hotel comparison.

yeah because the Decemberists sing on key

― nothingleft (nothingleft), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:48 (twenty-two years ago)

MAKING YOU CRY

― HAMBURGER NEURON GROUP (ex machina), Monday, 7 June 2004 16:54 (twenty-two years ago)

antexit OTM - I love them to bits, unashamedly. In fact, I'm listening to them RIGHT NOW. So there.

― Layna Andersen (Layna Andersen), Monday, 7 June 2004 17:47 (twenty-two years ago)

You know the chimney-sweep bit in Run Ronnie Run! that has Jack Black in it? Every time I hear "The Chimbley Sweep" I think of that scene.

(Subthread: Taking Sides: comedians who do Cockney-accented chimney-sweep impressions vs. The Decemberists)

― Nick Mirov (nick), Monday, 7 June 2004 18:02 (twenty-two years ago)

three years pass...

did they *really* call their tour 'the great smiting of the chavs'?

― That one guy that hit it and quit it, Monday, 29 October 2007 17:55 (eighteen years ago)

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