Much to my surprise, the new Decemberisits album is quite good. I never used to be much of a fan of this band, but after hearing this record, I'm convinced that it's on the best of the year.
In typicially grandiloquent fasion, the album is based on an old Japanese folk tale by the same name. It turns out that they really pulled off this concept. However, understanding why this record works so well requires that you know the Crane Wife story in advance - the lyrics themsevles don't fully tell the story, especially since it's broken into three parts with the third part appearing first. So without further ado, here's the jist:
In typicially grandiloquent fasion, the album is based on an old Japanese folk tale by the same name. It turns out that they really pulled off this concept. However, understanding why this record works so well requires that you know the Crane Wife story in advance - the lyrics themsevles don't fully tell the story, especially since it's broken into three parts with the third part appearing first. So without further ado, here's the jist:
While there are many variations of the tale, a common version is that a poor man finds an injured crane on his doorstep (or outside with an arrow in it), takes it in and nurses it back to health. After releasing it, a woman appears at his doorstep who he falls in love with and marries. Because they are in need of money, his wife offers to weave great silk cloths that they could sell at the market, but only if he agrees never to watch her when she is making it. They begin to sell them and live a comfortable life, but he began to make her weave more and more. Oblivious to his wife's diminishing health, his greed increases and he eventually peeks in to see what she is doing to make the silk she weaves so desirable. He is shocked to discover that at the loom is a crane plucking feathers from her body and weaving them into the loom. The crane, seeing him, flies away and never returns. (From Wikipedia)
Now, go and listen to the song cylce from this album stream. Hopefully you'll agree with me that The Decemberists handle this story incredibly well. I simple haven't heard music this pregnant with genuine emotion in a long time. The story is beautiful, the songwriting is excellent, and the production is both stark and invigorating. I really can't say about about this record. Plus, the Decemberists have publicly claimed that their official drink is Orangina, which is just about the most endearing thing I've ever heard about a band.The Decemberists hit NYC on November 3rd, appearing at Hammerstein Ballroom. Alasdair Roberts and Levender Diamond will be supporting.
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