I’ve always appreciated The Decemberists for their more innocent, almost childlike style of indie-folk and on I’ll Be Your Girl they don’t ditch that style completely but they do try to shake things up a bit. Particularly on the first half of the album where they implement synth layers to their songs – to varying degrees of success. I’m not saying that they come off as gimmicky or overtly “hipster” but I have no problem imagining many of the songs here being played at a local renaissance fair or in the soundtrack to one of Wes Anderson’s latest movies, and not in an ironic way either. The whole thing is bursting with sickeningly sweet charm which is ironic because much of the lyrics are anything but. “Everything Is Awful” is hands down the happiest song about life sucking I’ve ever heard and I can’t help but find myself singing along. Which is how I feel about the album as a whole; for as much as I found myself eye rolling, I found myself singing along, which in itself is the ultimate goal of music isn’t it.
David Byrne has always been pleasantly weird and experimental and he once again tries to push the musical envelope. What results from that sincere push is at best, a mess however. It's a mash up of different sounds and influences that, when it works, can be refreshing and exhilarating, but those moments are far too often undercut by clunky breakdowns and unnecessary introductions of new elements.
"Tape Recorder" is a neat and extremely interesting, albeit challenging, album to experience. It's likely to be quite unlike anything you've ever listened to - shimmering with nuanced note choices and a delicate balance of melancholy.
Sonically and melodically The Wombat's latest album is a beautiful record who's bubbling upbeatness is infectious which creates an interesting dynamic between it's content full of heartbreak and a bad love. This may not be one of the deepest nor thought provoking rock albums I've heard in recent memory but it's certainly one of the most enjoyable. And sometimes that's what it's all about.
“So if you’re lost along the way
And if you’re thinking that will always be the case
Won’t you listen to my plea?
You’ll make a sucker’s prayer
Just go and leave it that-a-way”
Have you heard I’ll Be Your Girl? What’d you think about it? Did you find the cheesiness endearing? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave your own ratings and reactions to the album.
The Decemberists – I’ll Be Your Girl Reaction
Conclusion
I'm not saying The Decemberists come off as gimmicky or overtly "hipster" but I have no problem imagining many of the songs here being played at a local renaissance fair or in the soundtrack to one of Wes Anderson's latest movies, and not in an ironic way either. But for as much as I found myself eye rolling, I found myself singing along, which in itself is the ultimate goal of music isn't it.
Fuego!!!
Rusalka, Rusalka / The Wild Rushes
Sucker's Prayer
Everything Is Awful
Starwatcher
