The Decemberists – INDIE ROCK CAFE

‘Just OK’ Album Releases of 2009: The Decemberists

Posted on 03/23/200902/27/2016 by Max Hammer

This week you’ll see some reviews of much talked about recent releases by groups like The Decemberists, Beirut and U2. I’m probably going to get some spitfire emails, but just trying to keep it real (one person’s opinion). Let’s start off with a band that was a favorite of mine for years.

Then, not so long ago, The Decemberists ‘crossed over’ and signed with a major label – Capitol Records. That was a bit hard to take for a band that helped boost the popularity of true indie labels. Anyways, my fear that their music would change has come true, and not in the best way.

And so what is the freaking hype for? First off, I have been a huge Decemberists’ fan since first hearing The Crane Wife. After hearing that record, I immediately bought everything they ever released – and I was hooked man. The upcoming release of The Hazards of Love marks a new direction for the band that personally I am not a fan of.

There are really only a handful of songs on Hazards that are keepers for me, among them “The Rake Song” and “The Wanting Comes in Waves”. I am more inclined to go back and listen to their merchant sailing songs and bucolic ballads from bygone days.

The NPR music dudes from All Songs Considered recently “bet” after The Decemberists’ SXSW show last week in Austin that Hazards will be the best album of 2009.

What?! First of all guys, it’s only freaking March. Secondly, I’ve heard dozens of better albums so far this year from bands few have heard of. Sometimes NPR irks me. For the last few years, NPR’s musical staff druels over a handful of bands and commonly declare, prematurely notwithstanding, the contenders for ‘best albums of the year’, and eagerly enough, the sure-fire, got-to-be, hands down winner – with an entire freaking nine months in the year left.

Please guys. Time for a reality check at NPR music. If you don’t believe me, dig through the IRC archives for this year and check out some of the other albums on the list to the right of this page; I promise there are better albums in that list than The Hazards of Love.

Next up in “Just OK” New Releases: Beirut and U2

New Indie Songs of 2009: Ben Kweller, Bishop Allen and The Decemberists

Posted on 02/12/200912/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Ben Kweller’s new album is creating plenty of buzz even as the new resident of Austin adds country to his repertoire; indeed, changing horses.

On his blog, Kweller says about his newest album: “People are asking me, ‘why did you wake up and decide to make a country album?’ To them I say, ‘I didn’t. It’s been in me the whole time, I just never put it on tape.'”

Also, the new album from Bishop Allen simply titled Grrr is receiving wide praise. The anticipation keeps building in lieu of the release of the new Decemberists’ album Hazards of Love, due out at the end of March.

“Things That I Like To Do” – Ben Kweller from Changing Horses

– Buy the album from Ben’s website
– Ben Kweller’s MySpace page
– Download other Ben MP3s

“Dimmer” – Bishop Allen from Grrr…

“The Rake Song” – The Decemberists from upcoming release The Hazards of Love

The Decemberists Offer Free Song Download From Forth Coming Album

Posted on 01/18/200912/18/2019 by Max Hammer

Colin Meloy and The Decemberists, satisfying a craving of fans for some sounds from the upcoming release of their new album, The Hazards of Love, have made the track “A Rake Song” available as a free download.

To get the song, just go to the band’s official website and provide a valid email address. You will be emailed a link to download the song.

The album is scheduled for release on March 24.

Die-hard fans can follow Colin on Twitter.

The Decemberists Release Updated U.S. Tour Schedule

Posted on 01/28/200712/18/2019 by Max Hammer

After the much publicized “green-screen challenge” with Stephen Colbert of Comedy Central, we are happy to say it has been put to rest. Or has it?

Regardless, The Decemberists gained a lot of new fans from the Colbert Nation show who are probably to see them live.

IRC has obtained the quirky indie pop group’s most updated concert dates (listed below) to support their latest album, The Crane Wife.

The gig-packed tour begins March 21 in New Jersey with My Brightest Diamond opening the show. Many of the venues are small, which is reportedly what the band members prefer. (Now there’s some real independent thinking). The group will tour through early May.

Decemberists‘ Tour Dates:

03/21 – Jersey City, NJ – Loews Theater
03/22 – Jersey City, NJ – Loews Theater
03/23 – Boston, MA – Avalon
03/24 – Boston, MA – Avalon
03/26 – North Bethesda, MD – Strathmore Music Center
03/27 – Upper Darby, PA – Tower Theater
03/29 – Wellesley, MA – Wellesley College (students only)
03/30 – Buffalo, NY – Center for the Arts
03/31 – Grantham, PA – Messiah College
04/01 – Norfolk, VA – The Norva
04/02 – Raleigh, NC – Meymendi Concert Hall
04/04 – Knoxville, TN – Tennessee Theater
04/05 – Nashville, TN City Hall
04/06 – Atlanta, GA – Tabernacle*
04/08 – Orlando, FL – Hard Rock Live
04/09 – Tallahassee, FL – The Moon
04/10 – Birmingham, AL – Alabama Theater
04/11 – Memphis, TN – New Daisy Theater
04/13 – Louisville, KY – Brown Theater
04/14 – St. Louis, MO – The Pageant
04/15 – Champaign, IL – Foellinger Auditorium (University Of Illinois)
04/16 – Milwaukee, WI – Pabst Theater
04/18 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater
04/19 – Chicago, IL – Riviera Theater
04/20 – Madison, WI – Orpheum Theater
04/21 – Kansas City, MO – Uptown Theater
04/22 – Denver, CO – Fillmore Auditorium
04/25 – San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theater
04/26 – San Francisco, CA – Warfield Theater
05/03 – Eugene, OR – McDonald Theater
05/04 – Seattle, WA – Paramount Theater
05/05 – Bellingham, WA – Western Washington University

Related Links:

The Decemberists – Official Website
The Decemberists and Stephen Colbert – Green-Screen Challenge
The Final Video – “O Valencia“