Stereogum Home

 

November 6, 2008

New Decemberists - "Raincoat Song"

thumbnail icon: New Decemberists - "Raincoat Song"

Fresh off a late-night performance of "Days Of Elaine," the Decemberists are back with Always The Bridesmaid: Vol. III A-side "Raincoat Song," which fittingly focuses on a woman named Caroline, angry because at 28 she sleeps "like a spinster." It's a brief, basic, downcast track that doesn't go for "Valerie Plame's group sing-a-long/epic exit. As its title suggests, it's more in the vein of the rainy love story of "O New England," but here there's no love. That's the point: "Going off half-cocked / Not shot full of arrows / From the cherubim / Oh, the nerve of them / To not draw their bow..."

No, not as effective as a "Famous Blue Raincoat."

Always The Bridesmaid: Volume I and Volume II are out now digitally via Capitol and on 12" vinyl via The Decemberists' Y.A.B.B./Jealous Butcher. Volume III, which houses this track, is out 12/2. You can pre-order the complete bundle here.

Posted at 11:02 AM by brandon
Tags:




8 Comments

Possibly the best song out of this whole batch

Posted by: Evan at 11/06/08 11:50 AM  | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

Agreed

Posted by: FBC at 11/06/08 2:50 PM  | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I still don't get their appeal.
And I doubt I ever will.

Posted by: Allah at 11/06/08 5:23 PM  | Reply
Score = -3 Vote up Vote down

I find that hard to fathom! They are the fucking Decemberists. I can't think of many more lovable bands. They aren't douchebags, they sing songs about whatever they want and it is frequently quite interesting to hear, they use pretty words, Colin has quite the unique voice, etc. But at the same time, I guess if you don't get it, you don't get it.

This song is beautiful.

Posted by: hunter w. profile link  in reply to Allah's comment at 11/07/08 3:43 AM  | Reply
Score = 3 Vote up Vote down

I prefer Record Year.

But as a long-(long)-time Decemberists fan, this whole batch is pretty sub-par.

Posted by: Two Headed Boy profile link at 11/06/08 7:29 PM  | Reply
Score = -2 Vote up Vote down

hmm i think this is one of their best songs--doesnt try too hard, y'know? malloy's got talent if he lets it out unadulterated.

Posted by: christian at 11/06/08 9:59 PM  | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

i like it alot

Posted by: mother of twins profile link at 11/06/08 10:52 PM  | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

All of the new songs have sounded great thus far (though I'm not sure about "Days of Elaine") so hopefully this means they've moved past their "Perfect Crime #2" phase.

Posted by: Cherry_Ghost at 11/07/08 10:31 AM  | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

Leave a comment


Staff

  • Founder/Editor-In-Chief: Scott Lapatine
  • Executive Editor: Amrit Singh
  • Senior Writer: Brandon Stosuy

Info

Contact

Get Flash to see our mp3 player. Here are our mp3s: Jonathan Boulet - A Community Service Announcement (The Album Leaf Remix) (»)
El Guincho - Antillas (XXXchange remix) (»)
El Guincho - Antillas (»)
Wolf People - October Fires (»)
Fan Death - Cannibal (»)
Fan Death - Reunited (CCENTURIESS Remix) (»)
Chll Pll - Dick Moves (»)
Chll Pll - Pass Out (»)
Beck - Harry Partch (»)
Tim Cohen - Haunted Hymns (»)
Tim Cohen - Take Aim Goliath (»)
Ducktails - Sandglider (»)
tUnE-YaRdS - Hatari (Drunkenmonkey Remix) (»)
tUnE-YaRdS - Hatari (Karn Remix) (»)
Beach House - Norway (»)
The Golden Filter - Thunderbird (»)
Crystal Antlers - It's All Over Now, Baby Blue (Bob Dylan Cover) (»)
CFCF - How Bizarre (OMC Cover) (»)
The Acorn - Strange Animal (Gowan Cover) (»)
Black Tambourine - Black Car (»)
Boyracer - Sunshine And Violence (»)
Henry's Dress - 1620 (»)
Honeybunch - Mine Your Own Business (»)
Lilys - Claire Hates Me (»)
Lilys - February Fourteenth (»)
Lorelei - Today's Shrug (»)
Sleepyhead - Different Colored Letters (»)
Small Factory - Merry-Go-Round (»)
Swirlies - Sarah Sitting (»)
The Ropers - Waiting (»)
Velocity Girl - My Forgotten Favorite (»)
Monsters Of Folk - Say Please (»)
Rain Machine - Give Blood (»)
Wetdog - Tidy Up Your Bedroom (»)
Brendan Benson - Feel Like Taking You Home (»)
Yeasayer - Ambling Alp (Memory Tapes Remix) (»)
Solange - Stillness Is The Move (Dirty Projectors Cover) (»)
Pearl Harbor - California Shakedown (»)
LoneLady - Immaterial (»)
Andrew Cedermark - Hard Livin' (»)
Family Portrait - Super Cool (»)
The Soft Pack - Answer To Yourself (»)
Bear In Heaven - Dust Cloud (»)
Bear In Heaven - Lovesick Teenagers (»)
Atlas Sound - Doctor (Five Discs Cover) (»)
Atlas Sound - The Screens (»)
Cloud Nothings - Hey Cool Kid (»)
The Mary Onettes - Dare (»)
The Mary Onettes - Puzzles (»)
Digital Leather - Photo Lie (»)
Memory Tapes - Easy Pert Mom (»)
Memory Tapes - Graphics (Sci-Fi Edit) (»)

Progress Report logo
Commercial Appeal logo
Premature Evaluation logo
Band to Watch logo
Quit Your Day Job logo
The Outsiders logo
The 'Gum Drop logo