The Decemberists - The King is Dead (Review)

The Decemberists have never been a band known for keeping things simple. Melodic tapestries, sprawling tales of love, revenge, and longing, and rock operas abounding, they have a reputation for the dramatic, and delivering plenty of memorable tracks along the way. There have been murder ballads, ironic whiskey-fueled somber, and everything in between. But with a new year has brought a new sound for Colin Meloy and his band of folk rockers; a tightened, reined in, more controlled sound. One that while it is easily described as less grandiose, still proves just as effective in the scheme of making a great album.

The little complexities are there, although not as noticeable, especially since Meloy has for the most part dropped his prose style song-writing and gone for a bit more of a direct approach. The music relies on harmonicas, fiddles, accordion, pedal steel, enough extra instruments for a folk jamboree. “Rox in the Box” almost seems to take a book out of the Celtic songbook, with a sing-songy riff backed by accordion, and some of Meloy’s most simple yet still poignant narratives (“And you won’t make a dime on this gray Granite Mountain Mine, of dirt you’re made and to dirt you will return”). And who hasn’t thought about rocking out to an accordion solo?

The band’s first single off of The King is Dead, “Down by the Water,” has been noted by several critics for taking an R.E.M. approach, relative in its musical style and Meloy’s vocal performance. You can definitely notice that almost right away, like a “Man on the Moon” that drives a bit harder, with some extra touches of folk. It’s just a shining example of what could be a clearer direction for The Decemberists, after pulling off so many 60-plus epics it became almost impossible to top themselves.

It shows this band’s true ability to create a wonderful listening experience, that after being used to a certain thing after so many years, to switch it up, and show just how far simplicity can take us, or how far they can take us with their simplicity. It’s an eye-opening revelation for these veterans of the folk rock scene, and one can only wonder what tricks they have up their sleeve in the years to come. But their versatility cannot be questioned, for they’ve shown they can pack just as much punch in forty minutes as they have in their much longer efforts. The King is Dead is another great album in the long line of great albums for these indie darlings.

4 out of 5 stars