The Scene
Decemberists Release New Album, This Weekend in Marlborough
Jon Gourd talks about the latest album from The Decemberists, and lets readers know what the local music scene will look like this weekend.
The Decemberists' follow-up to 2009's ambitious, sprawling folk-rock opera "The Hazards Of Love" sees the band take a decidedly different, simpler, more straightforward direction that will undoubtedly be welcomed by some fans and reviled by others. Gone are the epic tales of swashbuckling mariners, doomed Victorian-era love affairs, wood nymphs, and Chinese trapeze artists. "King" seems free of any particular concept at all, and it's ten tracks clock in at a mere 40 minutes, the shortest of any of the band's studio albums. The first track, "Don't Carry It All", sets the stage for the drastic change in sound from their previous few releases, imploring listeners to "raise a glass to turnings of the season." The song also serves as a …
Ryan O'Toole
5:32 pm on Friday, January 7, 2011
You are lucky to have had an advanced listen to this album. I am hearing a lot of good things about it. I've only heard the single. The harmonica intro is great. It's a very well assembled tune. I can't believe the album is only 40 minutes. One of their past works, "The Tain" is practically 20 min. on its own. Still, I am really looking forward to hearing the new sound. Good to know they are … more ›