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August 22, 2008

The Decemberists Return With A Bunch Of Singles And An Ode To Valerie Plame

thumbnail icon: The Decemberists Return With A Bunch Of Singles And An Ode To Valerie Plame

It's not exactly like Colin & The Gang have been out of sight since dropping The Crane Wife, but sure and yes, a new batch of Decemberists songs sounds great thank you. As far as we know the promise for an album in 2009 still stands, although this is not it; the project's dubbed Always The Bridesmaid: A Singles Series, and will unfold in three volumes, beginning this October. As you already read a few inches above, it includes a song about outed C.I.A. operative Valerie Plame, entitled "Valerie Plame," press-release described as being from "the point-of-view of one of Plame's inside contacts upon discovering her true identity, the song is an amorous tribute to the onetime CIA operative." You can buy it on 10/14 in Volume I, or you can watch it performed live on Conan the night of 11/3 aka Election Eve. Very political, these Decemberists. Lots of purchase info below.

Here's the press release rehash: You've got three volumes, all out on vinyl and digitally. The first volume will be out 10/14 and will feature "Valerie Plame" and "O New England." Volume II contains "Days Of Elaine / Days Of Elaine (Long)" and "I'm Sticking With You," out 11/4. The last installment, which has been titled Volume III in keeping with conventions of roman numerals and logic, comprises "Record Year" and "Raincoat Song." This last one comes out 12/2. All three volumes come digitally via Capitol, and on 12" vinyl via the band's Y.A.B.B./Jealous Butcher Records. Pre-order all three here and receive it on limited edition colored vinyl.

Posted at 9:35 AM by amrit
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17 Comments

grace6697

ugh, valencia.

Posted by: grace6697 profile link at 08/22/08 10:36 AM | Reply
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Don't refer to Valencia like that. It is a great great great city. Great partying and very very cultural. The best paella ever. Of course you would need to have gone there to actually know that....

Posted by: missskitttin profile link in reply to grace6697's comment at 08/22/08 11:32 AM | Reply
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hmd1987

haha ugh indeed in regards to valencia...i will wait to listen to this stuff once it's available for purchase.
: )

Posted by: hmd1987 profile link at 08/22/08 10:55 AM | Reply
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I am still mesmerized by O'Valencia and they are already coming out with a new album! Happiness!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Posted by: Claudette at 08/22/08 11:29 AM | Reply
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Does Colin Meloy dream of electric sheep?

Posted by: recordplaya profile link at 08/22/08 11:32 AM | Reply
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Actually, I'm stoked to hear the full length. Didn't care for the Crane Wife, and sometimes I feel like I'm dealing with a less awesome and wimpier Stephin Merritt, but I do think Meloy will deliver on his next batch.

Posted by: recordplaya profile link at 08/22/08 11:33 AM | Reply
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a boring jeff mangum comes to mind instead

Posted by: grover in reply to recordplaya's comment at 08/22/08 3:55 PM | Reply
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About half of their songs are good, but they just come off really lame. Look at Meloy and his luitar. Looks like a Renaissance Fair busker with that thing, the guy who is convinced that you want him to play guitar for you in public.

And let us not forget the travesty that was Chris Funk on Colbert's shred-off. I'd expect somebody who is at least halfway decent at their instrument to pull of a shredding solo that sounds better than I was at shredding after a week of playing guitar.(shredding is terribly easy and shouldn't be considered an art form)

Posted by: Alan Knut at 08/22/08 1:07 PM | Reply
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Great comments here guys, good job.

Posted by: Wulfo profile link at 08/22/08 5:39 PM | Reply
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you all suck. go post in the '17 bands who hate radiohead' thread. the decemberists put out great albums and are fantastic live. can't wait for the new stuff.

Posted by: veep at 08/22/08 6:04 PM | Reply
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agreed

Posted by: hutch in reply to veep's comment at 08/23/08 2:19 AM | Reply
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agreed x2.

Posted by: massromantic in reply to veep's comment at 08/25/08 10:57 PM | Reply
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ive seen radiohead live and ive seen the decemberists live and the decemberists are every bit as good live as radiohead

Posted by: annie onymous profile link in reply to veep's comment at 08/25/08 11:28 PM | Reply
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victor

Will there be an ode to Barack Obama on the next album?

Posted by: victor profile link at 08/23/08 3:09 PM | Reply
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Yaaaayy!! This sounds amazing!

(Also, O Valencia! is about Valencia St. in San Francisco, not the Spanish city.)

Posted by: korinna at 08/24/08 6:37 PM | Reply
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Awesome! I can't wait. =]

Posted by: Morgan at 08/24/08 7:25 PM | Reply
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The Starlight Mints were talking about Valerie Plame back on their debut album, big deal. Or was it Valerie Flame? Either way, she's a muse.

Posted by: whistle at 08/25/08 5:21 PM | Reply
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