Decemberists Expand Picaresque On LP, Tour
The Decemberists are releasing a vinyl version of their third album Picturesque today on Kill Rock Stars and Jealous Butcher.
The vinyl also tacks on "Picaresqueties," five kinda new songs from Colin Meloy and co., including the Decemberists' cover of Joanna Newsom's "Bridges and Balloons," as featured on The Believer magazine's much-maligned Music Issue companion CD.Not to be unpopular, but I have liked them in concert less each time I've seen them. I first saw them at Mercury Lounge, where they were awesome, then at Bowery Ballroom, where they were OK but less awesome, then at Warsaw where... well, I really didn't enjoy that show at all. Full list of tour dates here.
I'll probably go to the show at Webster Hall anyway, because I want to like them live enough. I'm just not sure that I can ever love Colin Meloy as much as he loves himself.
From Pitchfork news.
Posted at 10:36 AM
Well, I guess it begs the question *why* you've liked them less and less in concert each time. Are you growing weary of the interactive "whale" routine? Personally, I think the drummer gets way too much face time for, well, a drummer. I caught them in Bloomington IN, and he dissed the restaurant that gave them free pancakes that morning. The crowd grew silent. Then Colin smoothed things over by way of introducing "16 Military Wives," saying "the US is serving the world burnt pancakes."
Has anyone else heard their cover of "Human Behaviour?"
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It was posted once upon a time at http://www.stereogum.com/archives/000302.html.
The cover, I mean.
I like them less because there has been a steady increase in annoying stage antics coupled with a steady decrease of cute girl drummers who sing back-p vocals.
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The Decemberist's cover of Human Behavior
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I agree. I'm totally beyond them; I've moved on to the Januaryists. They're pretty much the same as the Decemberists, but tend to be about 10 degrees colder.
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wasnt aware html doesnt work
http://www.ddesfolio.org/jimmybobbin/the%20decemberists%20-%20human%20behavior.mp3
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odd, i find their live shows to be basically the same as from the first time i saw them (August 2002) to the last time (July 2005) - more antics at Intonation, but then again, they were entertaining 15,000 people there vs. the 200-ish at the Grog Shop in Cleveland.
and isn't the former girl-drummer the one who plays the violin and sings more on tours now?
you know, this girl:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/poulsbo/26829289/in/set-608317/
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I'm pretty sure that that is a picture of Petra Hayden, who was touring with them the last time I saw them (about 4 months ago). I'm not sure if she's still touring with them, seeing as she's an established solo artist in her own right.
Although if she is still touring with them, I'd love to hear them cover a Rentals tune, preferably "The Love I'm Searching For."
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Yeah, it seems that, since their image is based around a novelty (albeit a rather broad one), their live show (like Sufjan's) would be as well.
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Jed you're taking personal pronouns to the house, homes!
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Petra was there at Summerstage last month.
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Petra was supposed to be there when I saw them, but was resting her voice. The opening chick filled in well for her--I can't remember her name.
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Yes, that is a picture of Petra. The "former girl drummer" is the fabulous Rachel Blumberg, who left to focus on her other band, Norfolk and Western (www.norfolkandwestern.org). I konw this because I play bass for Norfolk and Western.
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that last comment (from dave) is wonderful! he's spot on and petra is officially a member of the band.
and scott, can you please elaborate on: I'm just not sure that I can ever love Colin Meloy as much as he loves himself.
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Elaboration: CM seems a little, I dunno, smug sometimes. I don't know him personally, and he has a standing invite to come over for tea, but I find his stage persona a little grating. I don't need to see the "tiny acoustic guitar played ironically behind the head" routine on every tour, you know?
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yeah, thanks for saying so, it's true. i saw them at the echo and loved them, at the troubadour and liked them, then at the el rey and was annoyed. cause i guess you can only have the blast of seeing them and being amazed by them for the first time once...
and yes, cm is making increasingly annoying comments in various outlets.
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Scott, shutup. A personal attack on Meloy without any substantiative claims as to why. You're just pissed cause they're not playing your wedding and you thought having a blog makes you cool enough to get the Decemberists to play your wedding.
Don't believe me, it's right here.
http://www.stereogum.com/archives/000570.html
Having a blog only means shit to people who read blogs. Which seems to be all the people on the periphery of the music industry and little else. Get over your inflated sense of self importance.
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Um, lay off Scott, since he didn't write the post. And it's hardly an "attack" on Colin Meloy. I said he seems smug on stage. I'm not saying I wish he'd died in hurricane Katrina.
It seems like a bit of a stretch to imply that Scott thought that "having a blog makes [him] cool enough to get the Decemberists to play [his] wedding."
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Milo, shutup. A personal attack on Scott without any substantiative claims as to why. You're just pissed cause they're not playing Scott's wedding and you thought reading a blog makes you cool enough to get the Decemberists to play Scott's wedding.
Don't believe me, it's right here.
http://www.stereogum.com/archives/001820.html
Reading a blog only means shit to people who read blogs. Which seems to be all the people on the periphery of the music industry and little else. Get over your inflated sense of self importance.
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Who doesn't seem "smug" on stage? I like my rock stars to have an inflated sense of self-importance. That's why they're rock stars.
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Aw, crap, they aren't very good live? I have tickets to see them later on this month.
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They put on a great show opening for *gasp* Dashboard Confessional at Bumbershoot last week. I ended up buying a couple of their albums after the show. I was entertained.
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I just got back from seeing them tonight and they were excellent. Colin gets a bad rap, but if your band is know for pretention, then it's not that hard to believe that he'd be a little smug.
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I saw them at Bumbershoot and thought they were just OK. Granted, I'm not terribly familiar with the body of their work, but I thought Petra/Rachel/the girl playing violin didn't get to show off vocally so much during the set as she did during the warm-up. I thought the second half of the show was much better, but overall preferred the Okkervil River show.
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well, i like the whale routine, granted i was tipsy, but whatever. people with talent are often smug, and if nothing else, you can love the decemberists for what they do best, albums.
they are headed towards the tinsel, as colin astutely put it, he was meant for the stage (plywood, paint and lights that make you sweat like ben gibbard). i staunchly maintain that his ego is irrelevant, as long as he keeps cranking out the melodies, he's set for a little while at least.
-north
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