Two posts in one day? I must be off work!
I am off work, actually.
I am also listening to "Castaways and Cutouts" (Kill Rock Stars, 2003) and compiling SEVEN REASONS WHY THE DECEMBERISTS ARE MY FAVORITE CURRENT AMERICAN BAND (until Scout reforms Firecracker in a blaze of alt.country glory).
1. Colin Meloy. He is America's current best lyricist, in my opinion.
2. The songs are melodic. Catchy, even. I love that.
3. The band's official biography begins with the line: "I'm a poor, drunken orphan with nowhere to go but the grave," wailed a waifish and non-plussed Mr. Chris Funk as he lay supine by the railroad tracks. This is exactly how I would open my band's official biography, if I had a band. Extra points for the use of the word, "supine."
4. The Decemberists are based in Portland, Ore., but leader Colin Meloy grew up in Montana. I lived for five-and-a-half years in Oregon (and all my dad's family were based there) and I lived in Montana when I was about 5 and 6 years old. Eerie.
5. The Decemberists based an entire EP, "The Tain" (Arcuarela Discos, 2004) on the 8th-century Celtic Ulster poem "Tain Bo Cuailinge."
6. Their Web site, located here, includes a featured called "Ask Crutchy McGee," an advice column that is absolutely hilarious.
7. I trust the band on the basis of three works. I don't have the 2005 album "Picaresque," but unless it is total crap, the Decemberists are the most original band currently based in the good old U.S. of A.
I am also listening to "Castaways and Cutouts" (Kill Rock Stars, 2003) and compiling SEVEN REASONS WHY THE DECEMBERISTS ARE MY FAVORITE CURRENT AMERICAN BAND (until Scout reforms Firecracker in a blaze of alt.country glory).
1. Colin Meloy. He is America's current best lyricist, in my opinion.
2. The songs are melodic. Catchy, even. I love that.
3. The band's official biography begins with the line: "I'm a poor, drunken orphan with nowhere to go but the grave," wailed a waifish and non-plussed Mr. Chris Funk as he lay supine by the railroad tracks. This is exactly how I would open my band's official biography, if I had a band. Extra points for the use of the word, "supine."
4. The Decemberists are based in Portland, Ore., but leader Colin Meloy grew up in Montana. I lived for five-and-a-half years in Oregon (and all my dad's family were based there) and I lived in Montana when I was about 5 and 6 years old. Eerie.
5. The Decemberists based an entire EP, "The Tain" (Arcuarela Discos, 2004) on the 8th-century Celtic Ulster poem "Tain Bo Cuailinge."
6. Their Web site, located here, includes a featured called "Ask Crutchy McGee," an advice column that is absolutely hilarious.
7. I trust the band on the basis of three works. I don't have the 2005 album "Picaresque," but unless it is total crap, the Decemberists are the most original band currently based in the good old U.S. of A.
posted by erik hogstrom at 3:03 PM
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