The End Of The Decemberists B-Sides Hunt
Colin completists, consider your day "made." Back in October we tracked down two of the b-sides to The Decemberists latest, and mentioned that there were three more -- "The Perfect Crime #1," "The Day I Knew You'd Not Come Back," and "Hurdles Even Here," -- that had yet to surface. Well treat yourself the tunes deemed unfit for the Gummy-approved album here. (Thanks, Alicia and Doctah Ignazio!)
The first two have been combined to make one horn-laden 15:15 track, while "Hurdles" sees Colin solo with a fuzzed-out electric, singing about ovaries -- and all three come compliments of the Starbucks release of The Crane Wife. Thank them with your next five-dollar latte!
Posted at 9:36 AM in MP3
Tags: The Decemberists
Gaaaaah! My ears...
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No comment on how horrible they are?
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I'm as big a Decemberists fan as they come, but these songs are absolutely awful. They should have just left them in the trash.
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*happy sigh*
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These are some weak tracks, but they're not entirely unlistenable.
But, well, there's a reason they're b-sides. And that'd be it.
It's not like anyone's catalog of b-sides is free of weak tracks (Pop Is Dead, anyone?)
Culling Of The Fold's the only Crane Wife b-side that I think's as good as any of the album tracks (though it clearly wouldn't have fit in well on the record).
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I like "Hurdles Even Here". PC1 and TDIKYWECB (God that's long) are just okay, to me.
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Hahahaha
I remember reading a while back in a Pitchfork interview in which Colin Meloy explained his range is small enough that he really has to constrain himself in the space of the songs he writes.
I also read that the story behind the Perfect Crime #1 was one of the band members (Chris Funk, I believe) came to Colin with the idea of doing Perfect Crime #1 as an upbeat, blues rock track complete with horns and everything, and being the experimental musician that he is, Colin decided to go with it.
I for one, support trying new things. But this... is too funny. It's bad, yeah, but in a way it's endearing- Colin isn't kidding, he can't sing outside his range and he tries here to disastrous effect. But you have to love them for trying.
And the other songs ain't too bad. To me, most of these B-Sides were songs the Decemberists thought about and said, "this just doesn't sound enough like us to be on the record."
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Don't you like "After the bombs"?
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Weren't they plastered on absinthe when they recorded 'The Perfect Crime 1'?.. I think it's purely meant to be for laughs.
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LOL, Perfect Crime #1 is awesome. Colin was obviously a bit drunk when this was recorded. But it's still pretty good. I agree it wouldn't have fit on The Crane Wife, but as a "B-Side," it's pretty cool. I like the horn section! LMAO this song is so funny, you can't help but enjoy it. I too like it when they experiment with new concepts. Everyone (Decemberists fans that is) seems to dislike Perfect Crime #2, but I love it and think it's pure genius. It steps outside of their normal style, but perhaps that's why I like it so much??
Anyway, thanks for posting these B-sides. I liked Hurdles Even here. Not sure why so many of you are calling these songs "trash." Culling of the Fold is friggen great, too.
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"Culling of the Fold" is one of the best songs they have, and I absolutely love the group.
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Haha the perfect crime 1 is silly sounding. I guess if you're an artist you be creative then judge your work later. It isn't that bad
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Perfect Crime 1 has horns though
that made me happy :D
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You know, I know that they aren't as good as what was actually on The Crane Wife, but I have to be honest, I enjoy these tracks a bunch.
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Okay, I'm actually getting all the way through that first track (the 15 minute monster), and I love it. It starts so fun and rocking and silly, and it becomes, basically, The Decemberists performing an extended jazz jam session. AWESOME horns, and the music is just so COOL! How can you seriously not like this? And for those of you discussing the experimentalism of the music: Take a listen to Chris Funk's side project. I wonder if maybe he was more of a creative force on these songs than Colin was?
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I agree with you Christina. Since discovering this track, The Perfect Crime #1 has become one of my favorite Decemberists songs out there. Everyone else is right, it doesn't fit on the album, which is why it's good they didn't include it. While it's a departure from their usual sound, the lyrical style and reflective nature of the lyrics connect it to what has always been the core of the Decmeberists sound: good song writing. Colin is a crazy genius, and it really shines through on these tracks.
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