By Max Luebbers ’16, Entertainment Editor
Over the past decade or so the Decemberists have proven to be one of the most versatile acts in indie music. Their fantastic song writing ranges from pop-rock to sea shanties to progressive ballads. They’re responsible for some of the most celebrated folk-rock concept albums in recent years including Crane Wife and The King is Dead. It’s a shame then that they have received very little mainstream recognition other than a Grammy nomination for their single “Down by the Water”. Despite their fantastic writing ability and their affinity for creating catchy singles, The Decemberists have weathered some criticism for being too wordy. Their lyrics often mirror fairy tales and histories, making allusions to myths and politics. Their fantastical style of storytelling has largely kept them from the spotlight and has relegated the group to mainly being known as an art band. However with the release of their latest album, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World they have steadily been working against their high-concept approach. They may still be the butt of joke you might see in an episode of Portlandia but their songs have become less about kings, farmers, and a curiously expansive knowledge of sailing, and more about singer Colin Meloy’s personal life.
I was surprised that so soon after the release of What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World earlier this year that the Decemberists announced they would be releasing a five-track EP this fall. In long doses the band can drag out, but a short collection of cutting-room singles intrigued me. My suspicions were confirmed. Florasongs delivers 18 minutes of solid Decemberists singles. While some tracks are better than others, the song selection is diverse. While the release isn’t cohesive, any fan of the group will find something to like. Personally I liked “Why would I now?” and “Stateside”, the two tracks to bookend the EP. However if you prefer the groups more folk-y sound “Riverswim” is your best option.
Florasongs delivers some classic Decemberists style tunes, with their signature deep instrumentation, often incorporating less-common rock instruments like accordions and Hammond organs. The group has always done a good job mixing their tracks as well. With such a wide array of instruments and musicians playing at once they succeed in allowing each instrument to be clearly heard. The middle track, “Fits and Starts”, however, gets uncharacteristically muddled. The band opts for a more traditional alt-rock style and the mix of keyboard, distorted electric guitar, and vocals can at points become confusing and disorienting. Another outlier in the Decemberists’ canon comes directly after “Fits and Starts”. “Harrowed and Unhaunted” is a simple track textured with an unusual echo. It’s a solid single, even if it is uninspired and unabashedly pop-y. No doubt the biggest surprise was “Stateside”. It only features Colin Meloy’s fantastic vocal work and a slow electric guitar riff instead of the vast arrangements seen in the groups more upbeat songs. It works though. The simple and melancholy track is a good end to the EP.
It’s a strange release overall and very unusual for the Decemberists, who prefer cohesive studio work and identifiable, over-arching themes to the scatterbrained approach of Florasongs. The first two tracks, “Why Would I Now?” and “Riverswim” are straight Decemberists tunes. The others are more of a departure from their standard sound but nevertheless show off the band’s versatility. If you’re only looking for more Decemberists you’re bound to find something to love in this latest EP, but if you were expecting the next folk-opera like Crane Wife you may want to give Florasongs and What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World a pass.
Max’s Recommendations:
Rainy Day Music by The Jayhawks: This Minneapolis alt-country group has a lot to offer if you enjoy the Decemberists’ more folk-y style. The Jayhawks can deliver both fantastic acoustic and loud electric tracks. Rainy Day Music, released in 2003, is packed with classics like “Angelyne”, “Tailspin” and “Save it for a Rainy Day”. Although the second half tends to drag along like that of many folk albums, the album as a whole is supported by its stellar opening tracks.
Welcome Interstate Managers by Fountains of Wayne: When thinking of great versatile rock bands, Fountains of Wayne always comes to mind. Their ability to write fantastic acoustic folk tunes like “Hackensack” and “Valley Winter Song” while releasing humorous power-pop singles like the oft quoted “Stacy’s Mom” is legendary. Fountains of Wayne puts out a vast amount of material and are responsible for some of the classic songs of the early 2000’s.
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