8. The Decemberists - The King Is Dead
These guys made number four in my 2009 list here, and I'm sure they would have been in the top five when The Crane Wife was released. After the anthemic, rock opera, Hazards of Love, Colin Meloy decided to take a step back and put out something seemingly simple. However, crafting timeless songs is, I'm sure, more work than the Portlandians bargained for. It's understandable, during the '09 tour they played Hazards from beginning to end, and their tour lasted most of the year. That was followed by another ten song set. It was a glorious time to see them live. Gillian Welch is guest vocalist on many of the tracks. I believe this is partly due to Jenny Conlee being treated for cancer with chemo most of this last year. During the tour this year, Sara Watkins filled in as best she could for the exuberant songstress. The King Is Dead is much more rooted in Americana as opposed to British folk. The songs may not have all the complexity as the last two albums, but I am not worried. Crane Wife and Hazards were both a magnum opus and the quiet, pastoral songs on this album are enduring gems.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment