Cover of The Decemberists The King Is Dead
Emi

• Rating:

For fans of the decemberists, lovers of american folk and indie folk, listeners who appreciate acoustic and nuanced music, followers of bruce springsteen and neil young influences
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LA RECENSIONE

The Decemberists strip down.

Having reached their sixth studio album, tested by a series of perhaps overly intricate releases and recovering from the unsuccessful (for the writer) "The Hazards Of Love", a complicated work too influenced by the British Progressive reminiscences, our band retreats to a farm in Oregon and creates a truly American album.

The group dives into a Folk sound that is not at all pretentious but rich in nuances, drawing heavily from artists like Bruce Springsteen and Neil Young, influences perfectly noticeable in the first single "Down by The Water", without forgetting their own roots. It becomes natural to compare it to "Castaways And Cutouts", of which this album can be considered the most accessible (and perhaps more mature) successor.

For forty minutes, we breathe an atmosphere of harmonicas, acoustic guitar and steel guitar, blending to form something akin to Bright Eyes’ "I’m Wide Awake", for an album that represents the less complex and more immediate phase of the Decemberists, who prove themselves quite adept at reinventing themselves.

Not unmissable, but very enjoyable

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Summary by Bot

The Decemberists return with their sixth album, 'The King Is Dead,' embracing a simpler, folk-driven sound influenced by American music legends. Moving away from earlier complexity, this album blends acoustic and steel guitars with harmonicas to craft an accessible and mature work. The band showcases a successful reinvention with warm, unpretentious tones. It's not a groundbreaking record but a very enjoyable listen.

Tracklist Videos

01   Don't Carry It All (04:17)

02   Calamity Song (03:49)

03   Rise to Me (04:59)

04   Rox in the Box (03:09)

05   January Hymn (03:13)

06   Down by the Water (03:41)

07   All Arise! (03:09)

08   June Hymn (03:57)

09   This Is Why We Fight (05:30)

10   Dear Avery (04:51)

The Decemberists

The Decemberists are an American indie rock/folk band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 2000 and led by Colin Meloy. Known for literary storytelling, rich arrangements, and occasional rock-opera ambitions, they’ve released acclaimed albums from Castaways and Cutouts to The Crane Wife and The King Is Dead.
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