Um, so feel free to tell me if I’m wrong, but…

What is the point of Colin Meloy singing live? Really. Cos he’s just singing The Decemberists material, of which he is the lead singer, so….you get a mix album of The Decemberists shit without the bass, drums, and keyboard, as well as the occasional tambourine and female vocals. And whatever else. So, again, I ask, what is the point? I think it’s a bit redundant.

And by the way, I haven’t heard the album save a few tracks and I do really like The Decemberists. Just so you know, before you think I’m starting a Meloy bashfest. I’m not a basher.

Maybe I’ll write you guys back when I’ve given the whole album a listen. I had to get these thoughts out to you, though. Damon, being a consummate Decemberists lover, is going to virtually kick my ass.

Colin Meloy | Myspazz | Buy It

 Colin Meloy - Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect/Dreams [4:56m]: Play in Popup | Download (548)

This is what I’ve been listening to on the iPod this past week. Enjoy your weekend, mine is over, and the beginning of the workweek starts for me now. Happy April.

And the picture is from this past week of me being sick AGAIN. Hope you like my pink toenails.

 Never Met a German - Brazilian Girls [2:35m]: Play in Popup | Download
 A Long Walk - Jill Scott [4:41m]: Play in Popup | Download (615)
 Red Right Ankle - The Decemberists [3:29m]: Play in Popup | Download
 The Wicked Messenger - The Black Keys (I'm Not There Soundtrack) [3:58m]: Play in Popup | Download (414)
 Nutshell - Alice in Chains [4:19m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Good to Sea - Pinback [3:14m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Stellar - Incubus [3:21m]: Play in Popup | Download

Since a lot of what I listen to isn’t classified as ‘new’, or released in 2007, I’m going to write up some albums and/or artists I enjoyed during 2007. If I can remember. Since I probably won’t, my Last FM account will come in handy.

Each item is linked to a relevant item on LTM. If theres no link, it is evidence of us sucking. We know. Damon can’t believe we have nothing on The Decemberists’ Castaways and Cutouts. Shame shame.

Jen’s Best of 2007 HEARD List: 

Tyler Ramsey - A Long Dream Swimming Across the Sea

Tool - 10,000 Days

Rodrigo y Gabriela - Rodrigo y Gabriela

Arcade Fire - Neon Bible

Feist - The Reminder

Bjork - Volta (2)

The Cat Empire - Two Shoes (2)(3)

Danger Mouse - Grey Album

The Decemberists - Castaways and Cutouts

Dikanda

Explosions In the Sky - All of a Sudden I Miss Everyone

The White Stripes - Icky Thump

My Morning Jacket (2)(3)

The Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Show Your Bones

Broken Social Scene - Feel Good Lost

John Butler Trio - Grand National (more)

The Veils - Nux Vomica

Nickel Creek

The Shins - Wincing the Night Away

Sprout Soundtrack

Regina Spektor - Songs

The Killers - Hot Fuss

Lily Allen - Alright Still

Minnie Driver - Seastories

Modest Mouse - We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank & Good New for People Who Loves Bad News

Patrick Wolf - The Magic Position

Fischerspooner - Odyssey

Great Lake Swimmers - Bodies and Minds

John Butler Trio - Better Than

Patrick Watson - Close to Paradise

 Patrick Watson - Slip Into Your skin [3:38m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Daniella - John Butler Trio [4:18m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Arcade Fire - Rebellion (Lies) [5:11m]: Play in Popup | Download
 Dikanda - Lazito [2:34m]: Play in Popup | Download

So about a month ago Jen sent me ’round to check out Captain Obvious, on account of they’re located near her where she used to live. Being the whore for covers that I am, I was naturally drawn to this post. The item there that most caught my eye was the Decemberists’ version of Björk’s “Human Behavior” because (1) I love the Decemberists, (2) Björk is supremely intriguing to me, and (3) the idea of covering Björk songs has long seemed impossible to me, until I heard Death Cab for Cutie do it. More on that later.

So the weird connection here is that I have issues listening to our favourite Icelandic pixie because I love to sing along, but singing along with Björk is an exercise in frustration. Last night, however, I was trying to sing a portion of “Human Behavior” to prove a point and I discovered that me trying to sing likeBjörk ends up sounding like Colin Meloy. WEIRD!

 The Decemberists - Human Behavior (Bjork Cover) [4:17m]: Play in Popup | Download

The Decemberists

Regina Spektor

Ben Harper

The Police

BORAT!

The Crane Wife - The Decemberists

The Decemberists Official Website

Label :  Capitol Records

On the Crane Wife, the Decemberists step beyond the realm of quirky indie band and deliver a sweeping epic that's as gritty as it is romantic. The storytelling is, as always, superb. The vocabulary is advanced without being tacky or pretentious. The music is among the most immediate I've heard from them. The album has a much more somber tone than previous releases. Death pervades nearly every track. Even the catchy first single, "O Valencia!", is a tale of forbidden love, with the female's accidental death at the hand of her jealous brother as the climax. Also providing a contrast to previous material, "Shankill Butchers" has essentially the same moral as "A Cautionary Song" but a more gruesome consequence. Musically it's very different, too. While the Decemberists have always had a fairly broad spectrum of sound, but the Crane Wife sees shades of Pink Floyd ["Come and See" from the Island set is reminiscent of the Animals era] and Led Zeppelin ["When the War Came" reminds me of "No Quarter" in more than one way]. "The Perfect Crime #2" shows a far heavier groove than we've seen from the band at this point. All this is indicative of a band with potential to outlast an indie-friendly musical environment and continue to create fantastic music.

Final Verdict: Modern Classic, wrap your head around it.

Audio 

[audio:http://mp3download.myspace.com/music.ashx?bandid=17584765&songid=18928721&name=17584765_bd18ad7b]

Related Links :

Buy This CD!

The Decemberists Official Website