Entertainment For Lively Minds
The Decemberists
Posted by barneytabasco on 18 January 2010 - 8:53pm.
What's it called?:
The Hazards Of Love
What It Sounds Like:
Nothing I've ever heard before. Prog-folk anyone? I thought I'd hate this record, as I'm not a huge fan of their earlier stuff, and everything I've read about them makes it all sound a bit look too much hard work. Then a whole thread started up among the massive on the website about how fab it really is, so I gave it a go on Spotify, then downloaded the entire album, and haven't stopped listening to it since. It's incredible. All of it.
What Does It All "Mean"?:
It restores my love of music.
Goes well with...:
A night at Dennis Severs' house in Spitalfields. Or sitting at home in front of a log fire reading a book about the Irish potato famine.
Might Suit People Who Like...:
No idea. Old folk stuff maybe, concept albums, proper stories, social history, church hymns.
It's one of those albums
that I really want to like but I just can't get past his irritating voice - just does my head in. Like Modest Mouse, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - musically I think they are alright but the singers just make it impossible for me to enjoy.
Is there any advice for me to get over this? Anyone have a tip on a "different way of listening" so I can deal with the vocals...?!
Hmmmm
I sort of know what you mean. When I first heard 'The Rake's Song' on a Word CD I was a little disappointed because the vocals seemed to be self-consciously of an American trying to sound British.
Then I listened to the album in its entirety on Spotify and was completely knocked for six with how splendid it is, so much so that I started a thread last week (which may be the one that Barney is referring to in his review). What I found so alluring about it is that it has a semi-operatic structure with recurring lyrical and melodic themes as well as a genuine narrative with twists and turns. It's a little contrived but then it has to be. I still grin like an idiot every time I hear the children's voices in 'Revenge'. It is macabre, gothic and sublime - not in the bland meaning of these terms but in their genuine literary significance. And it rocks.
It has been a long, long time since I encountered any music that I simply could not stop listening to. The Hazards of Love has reminded me of what it was like when I was in my late teens and discovering new music that would take over my world. I want to run up to people and tell them all about it.
And the Massive tell me that it isn't even their best album...
Good review yourself there Con
Maybe I should do that, try and stick with the album beginning to end a couple of times.
I must say that "Infanta" from Picaresque is a superb track which is one reason why I wanted to really like them more than I do!
Thanks
Thanks, Retro.
2006
Was the year in which I first encountered the band, through a friend, around the release of "Picaresque" and two things stood out for me when I first heard the album. First, the amount of words I didn't know the meaning of in "The Infanta", and the fact Meloy wasn't just conforming to the moon/june school of songwriting; and then "We Both Go Down Together" knocked me off my feet and other clichés.
Perhaps his voice is an acquired taste, but I've never found it a problem.