This year, The Decemberists are back with a brand new album titled “The King is Dead.” No, it’s not a tribute album to Michael Jackson. Instead, it’s an intelligent, well-thought-out, folk-infused album that seeks the attention of the sensible, intellectual listener, rather than the pop-culture-starving masses.
Here’s the thing: I just don’t hear songs like these being played on the radio. It would take the average listener some effort to seek out this kind of music. That just doesn’t happen for someone desiring the immediate gratification of the radio-friendly tunes on Billboard’s Top 100 list — and that’s OK.
The album’s title alone draws images of an older, simpler time. This is the mood that the band seeks to evoke on this project. It’s grey and solemn like a fall day when the sky is absent of bright colors. However, this is only the mood of the album that I’m talking about. If I were talking about the music, I would definitely say that there are bright spots to be found.
When you look up what genre the band falls into, several descriptions follow: indie, rock, baroque, progressive, alt-country, and folk. “The King is Dead” leaves no doubt which of those labels the band has embraced. The harmonica, the melodica, the accordion, the string bass, and the violin all attest to the folk sound that the band favors on the album.
All of these instruments combined with the pleasant voice of lead singer Colin Meloy and the accompanying harmonies of a singer like Gillian Welch, a popular contemporary folk artist, on the track “Down by the Water,” make for some memorable recordings. They pull the album out of the boring zone, which folk albums often fall into.
Many tracks on the album are good enough without having to consider what genre they are. One excellent example is the track, “This is why we Fight.” Other highlights on the album include: “Don’t Carry it All,” “Rox in the Box,” and “June Hymn.”
This is definitely not an album, or a band for everybody. They are an acquired taste. The album is soft and gentle. It will make you want to reflect and read a good book, rather than get out on the dance floor or bang your head against the wall. “The King is Dead” is in stores now.
