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 04/2010
MAYER HAWTHORNE
A Strange Arrangement
reviewed 07/2012
VARIOUS ARTISTS ORIGINAL MOTION PICTURE SOUNDTRACK
Beneath The Darkness Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
reviewed 04/2005
Martha Wainwright
Martha Wainwright
reviewed 09/2004
Citizen Cope
The Clarence Greenwood Recordings
reviewed 05/2008
THE LONG BLONDES
"Couples"
reviewed 03/2015
The Sleeping Gypsies
The Sleeping Gypsies

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.