Decemberists: Three Songs at NPR

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I spent the summer of 2007 completely obsessed with this band. I've kept track of their album releases ever since, including the most recent full-length album, The King is Dead (January 2011). These three songs -- "Down by the Water," "Rox in the Box," and "June Hymn" -- are off that album, though obviously the full band was not present for this performance. (That's Nickel Creek's Sarah Watkins on fiddle.)

This video originally appeared in this NPR story, in which the author references the rather tepid response this album received when released. I agree that it didn't really knock my socks off. It doesn't approach the genius of 2006's Crane Wife or 2009's Hazards of Love. But a few of the songs are catchy -- they picked three of the best to showcase -- and it's helpful that I'm already a fan and therefore already strangely addicted to Colin Meloy's voice. It's like he's got a bunch of extra space in his mouth when he sings. And there is a twang that is not identifiable to any region. Even the false start on the third song is endearing.

Now more than ever, I want to work for NPR someday.

Thanks to Jessie for sending me this video!

Colin Meloy: "We Both Go Down Together"

In high school an old friend sent me a set of mixed CDs filled with stuff I'd never heard before - Death Cab for Cutie, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists, Ben Kweller, the Dandy Warhols, and the Decemberists, to name a few. She was much cooler than me, so I took the CDs and studied them carefully. The Decemberists immediately stood out; their odd instrumentation (which regularly includes an accordion) coupled with storytelling lyrics and originality hooked me. I was an impressionable youth.

The Decemberists formed in 2001 in Portland and have released five EPs and six albums, all of them awesome. They tell great stories, and use weird instruments, and generally have a great time on stage. I've seen them live more than any other band. Thanks to the power of YouTube, I can now enjoy Colin's weird facial expressions and one-of-a-kind voice within the confines of an elevator.

Dreams really do come true.

Fun fact: Most of the Decemberists' artwork is produced by Meloy's wife, Carson Ellis. She's also done work for Weezer. And it all comes together...

Enjoy.

"We Both Go Down Together," performed by Colin Meloy of the Decemberists.
Original on the Decemberists' "Picaresque" (2005).