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Rating: In 1999, a young man named Colin Meloy from Montana moved to Portland, Oregon, in an attempt to form a band capable of climbing the charts across the globe with an alternative-sounding pop music, almost "gritty".
Little by little, he managed to convince Ezra Holbrook, an unemployed singer, to join his project. The endeavor became more concrete with the recruitment of bassist Nate Query and keyboardist Jenny Conlee. Perhaps he didn't even realize it himself, but a great indie star was being born: the Decemberists. The rest would come later with the release of "Castaway and Cutouts" (2002), "Her Majesty The Decemberists" (2003), the recent "Picaresque" (2005), and an EP ("The Tain") in 2004. The alternative crowd quickly fell in love with them, and the Decemberists enjoyed their well-deserved success, in my opinion.
However, not many know that Meloy's move from Montana to Oregon was not a personal choice, but rather an almost forced decision following the failure of his first band. Indeed, in 1996, a young Colin (freshly graduated from college in Missoula, his hometown) founded Tarkio, a carefree college pop band that lasted just three years, just enough time to release an LP ("I Guess I Was Hoping For Something More") and an EP ("Sea Songs For Landlocked Sailors").
In 2006, the Decemberists' label became aware of Meloy's previous musical adventure and swiftly decided to combine Tarkio’s two works into a collection of twenty-seven tracks, titled "Omnibus", undoubtedly a clever commercial maneuver to leverage the resounding name of the Decemberists (currently on tour). Well, considering the Decemberists' talent, I too decided to purchase this double "Omnibus", certain I had a precious and exquisitely crafted item in my hands. You can imagine my disappointment when the speakers began to emit music that could not be more banal, with a decidedly rough rhythm that was absolutely not in the style of the Decemberists. Honestly, upon listening to the first two tracks (respectively "Keeping me Awake" and "Caroline Ave"), I had the feeling that the clerk had given me the wrong CD. Could this be a reissue of some R.E.M. works? I checked. No, it's Tarkio. But, strangely, the music bears a bothersome resemblance to that of Michael Stipe and company.
Well, I said to myself, too bad about these two, let's listen to the others. It's no use, guys. We're just not there. Perhaps I'm beginning to understand why this band never got much attention. Tarkio nonchalantly switched from R.E.M. to Counting Crows ("Melena Won't Get Stoned") only to redirect their focus back to Stipe's band. I am undeniably disappointed hearing songs performed by a band with good potential but, unfortunately, sounding like a million other well-known groups compared to these Montanans (or however you wish to call them). And so I decide. I'm not interested in hearing all the songs. If they're stubbornly alike, why waste time? Let's try listening to the beginnings. If they're good, maybe they'll deserve a modicum of attention. Otherwise, change the track. Damn, no sooner had I said it. Along comes "Kickaround", track number 7, lasting a good six minutes, which superbly foreshadows the unmistakable sound of the Decemberists. Definitely poetic are the five strings of good Meloy, even though perhaps the song's pace is too slow, but my radar has indeed been revived, and I think only of savoring all these minutes. Ahh, this time I came out satisfied, I think to myself, and damn it, then comes "If I Had More Time" that leaves me dumbfounded because of the absolute similarity of the initial strumming to that of trademark R.E.M. Well, money doesn't grow on trees after all. And this twenty euros were senselessly thrown to the wind for a collection of a group that has little or nothing of its own.
A pity, considering what would have emerged from the ashes of this Montana band. But, as you know, not every ring doughnut comes out with a hole... at least the first ones.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Keeping Me Awake (05:42)
Summer, it came
like a light across the highlands
and we laid it down.
You wore a dress
made of light from the islands
and we sent postcards home.
In dying light
this was not to be forgotten
‘cause we are the chosen few.
Into the sea with the touch of softest cotton
Beneath this angel moon
Its been keeping me awake
Leaving this behind was my first mistake
and I’m not so strong
to be satisfied by all the things I’ve done
and the things it threw away.
You wrote your name
as we lay among the heather.
What you left behind
Following paths that would lead us both together
Let us lose our minds
Its been keeping me awake
Leaving this behind was my first mistake
and I’m not so strong
to be satisfied by all the things I’ve done
by the things it threw away.
Summer, it fell
and it coursed across the highlands
and so quickly gone.
Your faded dress for years now tied away and silent
and the night’s late lullaby
has been keeping me awake.
Leaving this behind was my first mistake
and I’m not so strong
to be satisfied by all the things I’ve done
by all the things it threw away.
By all the things it threw away
By all the things it threw away
By all the things it threw away
02 Caroline Avenue (05:31)
Things you said
were they true?
‘cause I haven’t got a clue
and wouldn’t know if they were not true.
‘Cause I am here, paper doll
and I am waiting for your call
but I won’t wait until tomorrow.
So hard to mention
if you’re in my shoes
but I’m tired of riding shotgun for you
as we glide down Caroline Avenue.
Time will tell you
that you’re thinking you’re right, when you are wrong.
And I’m thinking that this evening won’t last long, no no,
‘cause I’m getting pretty tired of you waxing so inspired
‘bout the lights down Caroline Avenue.
Serves you right
Feel this way
Be so clinically deranged
that I won’t stand for all of your bullshit.
So take your time,
‘cause we’ve got time.
Remember, what is yours is mine
Don’t let it slide by the wayside.
Reeling from the tension,
it’s all ending here
and I’m chasing shots of whiskey
with everclear
as we glide down Caroline Avenue.
Time will tell you
that you’re thinking you’re right, when you are wrong.
And I’m thinking that this evening won’t last long, no no,
‘cause I’m getting pretty tired of you waxing so inspired
‘bout the lights down Caroline Avenue.
And you’re trying so hard
but it takes more than just flipping off traffic cops
to impress me.
You underestimate me.
Emptied out
Falling free
It will all catch up with me
And I am in control and patient
But I will wait ‘til you decide
It’s all over for the time
and I will stay behind ‘til you decide.
Carry me ‘til daylight
when your wisdom clears
‘til tomorrow finds me shoeless and jaded.
as we glide down Caroline Avenue.
Time will tell you
that you’re thinking you’re right, when you are wrong.
And I’m thinking that this evening won’t last long, no no,
‘cause I’m getting pretty tired of you waxing so inspired
‘bout the lights down Caroline Avenue.
03 Neapolitan Bridesmaid (02:37)
Joshua smiled, said “listen to reason,
don’t blame me when the walls come tumbling
down.”
So I was adrift on the sea of longing
awaiting the trumpets to raise your ivory
gown.
And if only time will tell
Then I can’t stand waiting
While the lights are changing on me
Tell it to my own free will
If I lost this thorn from my side
I think I’d die.
Albert Camus said, “living is anguish,”
but don’t dare let those bastards carry you
down.
And if this is so then I see no reason
for spending the evening doing anything but going down
town.
And if only time will tell
then I can’t stand waiting
while the lights are changing on me.
Tell it to my own free will
If I lost this thorn from my side
I’d probably die.
Most likely die
I think I’d die.
04 Save Yourself (04:57)
Here there is no revelry
The sadness needs no leavening
So loose your boots and sit yourself down
Deep inside the water tank
Over by the riverbank
There I saw my little girl drown
Call it a detour
Ugly and impure
Save yourself
Where is the life line
Here on the highline
Save yourself
I came back here at 24
My friends all say what you're doing this for
Well my father died and passed this shit to me
Rub my hands in turpentine
My prospect's now being undermined
With bankers knocking daily at my door
Call it a detour
Ugly and impure
Save yourself
Where is the life line
Here on the highline
Save yourself
Lost inside the peloton
With the Jerry Lewis telethon
Ticking soft till I fall fast asleep
Slipped away with candlelight
Leather chaps and cattle drives
This is not the life I meant to lead
Call it a detour
Ugly and impure
Save yourself
But where is the life line
Here on the highline
Save yourself
Save yourself
05 Better Half (03:55)
Tender the light,
I left you for your better half.
Tender the light,
I left you for your better half.
It’s not better by half.
But, I’m not the only one who let you down.
I’m not the only one who
I’m not the only one who
turned your head around.
Turned your upper down
Tender the light,
I left you for your better half.
Sweet was the wine.
Sweet was the opium-fettered soul.
Sweet was the wine.
Sweet was the opium-fettered soul,
and I lost control.
But, I’m not the only one who let you down.
I’m not the only one who
I’m not the only one who
turned your head around.
Turned your upper down
Tender the light,
I left you for your better half.
Well, this is the light.
List the coordinates of your heart.
Oh, this is the light.
This is the crankshaft of your car.
It’s not better by far.
But, I’m not the only one who let you down.
I’m not the only one who
I’m not the only one who
turned your head around.
Turned your upper down
Tender the light,
I left you for your better half.
I left you for your better half.
I left you for your better half.
06 Eva Luna (05:59)
Eva Luna
Dressed down in a winter coat
Did turn your ear
Talking backwards
Words written in a sullen tone
Short and sincere
As light hits Brigadoon
The stolen interlude
Torn and battered
Thin and shattered
Spotlight on Eloise
Softly in between
Sweetly haggard
Darkly lacquered
A caution blows
On the good things
And the fine things
Impatience flows
If you take time
It's a fine line
Throw stones in the wishing well
What's next you can never tell
The outline of what we've lived through
Sleep well but when you die
I'll say it serves you right
The outline of what's around you
Won't haunt you anymore now
Dulcinea never settled for simple crap
But I had no choice
Careening madly
It wasn't long before the sun went down
And I lost your voice
Night falls on Araby
Spoken ineffably
And these ankles, so newfangled
Dipped in Erigeron
Basil tarragon
Lost in chatter
Caught in fetters
Silence slows
As the light falls
It's a tough call
And so I fold
Would it take me
To know me?
Throw stones in the wishing well
What's next you can never tell
The outline of what's around you
Sleep well but when you die
I'll say it serves you right
The outline of what we've been through
Won't haunt you anymore now
Liar!
07 Kickaround (05:18)
So I guess I'll make due
with all that was handed down
and shyly return
from this all night kickaround
Quiet and cursed
these tired bones demured
to shuffle it homeward
it's all I could endure
And have I waited too long
or did I not wait long enough?
These old walls remind me
I guess I was hoping for something more
So lost in the live touch
of comfort and company
and whisper so coy
and all that surrounded me
And after we walk
down avenues endlessly
and stave the sunrise
from afirming our misery
And have I waited too long
or did I not wait long enough?
I put it all behind me
I guess I was hoping for something more
I guess I was hoping for something more
08 If I Had More Time (03:34)
Here
is where I left you.
It was to test you.
Did you last that long?
So long.
Now
I understand you,
but can’t comprehend you.
And do I need to work so hard
to not be on to you.
If I had more time
Slow
and I will kiss you.
I’ll most likely miss you.
Its been a long, long time.
And now
won’t you come over?
And like drunken rovers
we’ll stumble ‘round downtown,
and not be on to you.
If I had more time
Underneath your curtained window
I called out your name.
If I had more time
Here
is where I left you.
It was to test you.
And did you last that long?
So long.
And now I understand you,
but can’t comprehend you.
And do I need to work so hard
to not be on to you?
If I had more time
More Time
If I had more time
If I had more time.
10 Helena Won't Get Stoned (03:53)
I'm out on a bender
Drink too much I might get you
You're out on a bender too
Sleep through the morning
Sheets of mine invite me
You sleep through the morning too
And it's only right
You should stay the night
Or stay a month or two
But Helena won't get stoned
Helena won't get stoned
I think it's part of her Catholic education
Helena won't get stoned
For good measure these chains
I wear they chafe me
Just for pleasure sure
Our Lady of the Rockies
Sweet virgin bliss surround me
Sportin' walkie-talkies, yeah
You got your ears on baby
My soft old lady
Leave your past behind
But Helena won't get stoned
Helena won't get stoned
I think it's part of her Catholic education
Helena won't get stoned
And it's only right
You should stay the night
Or stay a month or two
But Helena won't get stoned
Helena won't get stoned
I think it's part of her Catholic education
Helena won't get stoned
11 Your Own Kind (05:13)
So lay back now, can’t you
Let your mind unbraid you
Summer reading, this passage you like
So lay the lights low, can’t you
Let your soul unwind you
Drop the pages of the sheltering sky
And just ride the tumbling down
Your little nowhere town
It’s takin’ you back to your own kind.
It’s takin’ you back to your own kind.
Just ride and never believe we were to come this far
So, take yourself back to your own kind
Take yourself back to your own kind
Because my kind wasn’t good enough
So amazed that
Just to hear your whisper
A little nervous now to safely return
So disregard my clumsy
Attempts to keep you smiling
But I’d forgotten what I thought I had learned
And just ride the tumbling down
Your little nowhere town
It’s takin’ you back to your own kind
It’s takin’ you back to your own kind
Just ride and never believe we were to come this far
So, take yourself back to your own kind
Take yourself back to your own kind
Because my kind wasn’t good enough
So lay back now, can’t you
The summer sun can blind you
You play softly across the bend of your throat
No commitment to the
No agenda followed
Forget the sorrows that have dashed out your hope
And just ride the tumbling down
Your little nowhere town
It’s takin’ you back to your own kind
It’s takin’ you back to your own kind
Just ride and never believe we were to come this far
So, take yourself back to your own kind
Take yourself back to your own kind
Because my kind wasn’t good enough
12 Candle (06:04)
A candle for you
a strong wind
to guide you from the harbour
so take it with you
to leave late
either one will tell you which you never hope to find you
and leave low but, I know
it will raise a wall between us so if you go
if you go
just go.
So we made it this far, we're both tired
distracted from the breakdown
I'll hold a candle to you, a raised glass
another page is turning with another candle burning
and left low, but I know
it will raise a wall between us so if you go
if you go
just go.
13 Standing Still (04:51)
An eight ball
And two and all
Is how I measure the length that I must go
To outrun you standing still
A soft flight
And such delight
A nervous gesture that dropped me to my knees
Now I wonder where you are tonight
A hard fall
And through it all
I never felt so callous
A cut sleeve
And to believe
And once again I walked home alone
This old world counts for nothing
I did all I could do
Now I won't accept your blessing
On this, our final night
Won't live to see the light
Of morning
So I cling to apron strings
As I recall my father's dying words
"Some girls are sweet, some girls are wicked"
From this tree comes ???
An ugly cloister of flat foot bookish boys
Who'd as soon kick you as kiss you
[Chorus]
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