Album Reviews

The Decemberists

Picaresque

2005-03-31

It’s that voice.

You either like Colin Meloy’s reedy vocals, or you don’t. And depending on your answer, you either like or don’t like The Decemberists, since the entire band is built around him. There’s some nice songwriting and Meloy knows the tricks of the trade: pop hooks and minor-major key wind-up.

A college radio staple, Picaresque may be one of the band’s most commercial-sounding releases in recent memory. You’re entering a world of sea-farers, vagabonds, hucksters, soldiers and angels. No samples here, folks, they’re the real deal from Hammond organ, accordion, earnest strumming, and ok, throw in a tam-tam.

Stella

Quick Links:

Official site

all reviews | all rock reviews

More reviews tagged #Rock

reviewed 05/2006
Pinetop Seven
The Night's Bloom
reviewed 10/2009
ROSIE FLORES & THE PINE VALLEY COSMONAUTS
GIRL OF THE CENTURY
reviewed 11/2013
THE GORIES
The Shaw Tapes: Live in Detroit 5/27/88
reviewed 01/2006
THE UNIVERSE
The Outer Void Intrepid Sailor
reviewed 09/2015
Hugh Cornwell
The Fall And Rise of Hugh Cornwell
reviewed 03/2009
Nathan Kalish and The Wildfire
Waterbirds

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.