The Decemberists' "The Crane Wife"

The Crane Wife
The Decemberists
Released October 3rd, 2006 (Capitol)
Written by S.V.

With all the symphonic flourish of Picaresque, this album one-ups its predecessor with sheer force of Capitol's production resources. Here is a compromise between Meloy's grandiloquent conceits and the key element nascent on the band's previous record - wider scope in sound; bigger instrumentation. Producers Chris Walla and Tucker Martine have a field day, though earlier Decemberist fans baulk at these perceived quislings. Whatever. Excepting perhaps "Yankee Bayonet" and "Summer Song" there's little of Meloy's loquacious folk poesy. However, the Decemberists keep the tone of their records pretty consistent and their tenebrous beauty is undoubtedly present, if wrought differently. For instance, a track pick of mine, "Perfect Crime" is easily the album's enfant terrible if you're listening for delicate harmonies and acoustic guitars; too bad alt-rock isn't made on the floors of the CBGB anymore. Capitol seems to see some merit in being lenient with their apprised troubador's proclivities for the histrionic and the literay. Note this is the band's longest LP, clocking in at an hour. Nearly half of the album is taken up by the eponymous three-part "Crane Wife" and the 12-minute Shakespearean prog epic "The Island", the latter sporting an intro that sounds like something off of Atom Heart Mother. The rest of the album is highly urbane indie pop. There's the band, and then there's how Capitol thinks an indie rock band should be marketed. Still, I find Meloy at his most lachrymose when the album delves into the title songs. That means there's plenty to get sad about, for all you loser scene kids reading this.

TRACK PICKS:
"The Perfect Crime No. 2"; "Summersong" -S.V.
"Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)"; "Shankill Butchers" -S.M.
IDEAL LISTENING SETTING:
Right before heading across the ocean to fight a war, except not in present times because modern weaponry could pwn yr muskets.
BE SURE TO CHECK:
Neutral Milk Hotel, Belle & Sebastian, The Shins, The Magnetic Fields