Decemberists
(Capitol)
It's a familiar story arc: band begins distinctively, improves musically, grows ambitiously, waxes pretentiously, wanes organically. The Decemberists have so far followed this plot to the letter, getting ever more elaborate with each album, mixing indie pop, British folk and ‘70s prog into a complex tapestry that climaxed with the madly ambitious rock opera The Hazards of Love, a record both impressive in its skill and scope and nearly impenetrable in its intent.
After building such a towering edifice, there's only one thing for such sonic architects to do: construct a modest, comfortable bungalow. On The King Iis Dead, the Portland quintet strips its sound down to simpler forms, de-emphasizing conceptual connectivity and sweeping arrangements in favor of more straightforward melodies and obvious hooks. Leader Colin Meloy deliberately keeps his song structures simple, sticking with basic folk- and country-rock tunes that allude more directly to his early inspirations. "Don't Carry It All," "January Hymn" and "Rox in the Box" (which interpolates the melody from the old British tune "The Raggle Taggle Gypsy") stand as some of Meloy's catchiest tunes, easy to sing along with after a single spin. In a direct homage to R.E.M., one of the band's main influences, the band has guitarist Peter Buck, no stranger to hooky tunes, adds his sparkle to "Calamity Song" and the ridiculously memorable "Down By the Water."
As usual, Meloy's lyrics range from the straightforward (the countrified "All Arise," the lovely "Dear Avery") to the highly literary (the rocking "This is Why We Fight," the Dylanesque "June Hymn"). But even when he's at his most convoluted - "Calamity Song" begins with the line "You and me and the war of the enzymes" - Meloy is careful to marry the libretto to music with near-instant appeal. It's possible recent fans may be disappointed in the easy accessibility of The King Is Dead, but a satchel full of hooks rarely hurt anybody, and it just makes the Decemberists more likeable to non-geeks without compromising their essential artistic vision.
DOWNLOAD: "Down By the Water," "Dear Avery," "Rox in the Box" MICHAEL TOLAND
