So Stereogum got an advance copy of The Decemberists' new album The Crane Wife, due October 3rd, and posted the tracklist, praising the album as a masterpiece. And in about 3 seconds I found a link for a site where I could download the entire album. Then I found several sites hosting select mp3's from the new CD. Most of them had taken down the songs after being contacted by Capitol Records (the downside of an indie superstar signing with a major label), but I still got the chance to preview some of the songs. And I'm left with a dilemma.
First of all, the songs I've heard are brilliant. These are probably the most enjoyable Decemberists songs since Castaways and Cutouts, as for me the last two majestic albums weren't as good as I'd hoped (or not as enjoyable as all the hype made them seem). Don't get me wrong, Her Majesty and Picaresque were better than 90% of indie rock out there and 100% of the stuff that ends up on Billboard's charts, but they just didn't live up to the out-of-nowhere joy I felt with their first album. That being said, I haven't listened to the entire new album yet, for I'm not sure I want to ruin it. I want to go out there on October 3rd and buy the CD and rush back to the office and put it in my computer and be surprised or disappointed or overjoyed at the sound. I miss being able to do that, in this digital world, where almost all the best songs I've heard before I actually get around to purchasing the album. And in truth, I'm not buying as many albums as I used to. I'm listening to more music than ever, and downloading many of them legally through emusic and iTunes, but albums - not as much. And that is terribly disappointing for me. So I want to hold out, to leave some joy in discovering the rest of the songs on The Crane Wife until the album is actually released to the public. But I don't know if I can... the songs I've heard might be too good.
Anyway, I'm not posting any of them here... Capitol's too big of a company to fuck with. So here's some older/rare Decemberists to enjoy. But if you want the new album all to yourself, it wouldn't be too hard to find. Just remember to buy the real thing on October 3rd (although admittedly, Capitol probably gets 95% of the profits).
Lauren, you still out there? We want to hear more from you. Do you agree with Bill about the Decemberists? (whoever the hell they are)
Posted by: Bill's Friends (if you can call us that) | August 22, 2006 at 03:37 PM
Funny. Like you don't know who the Decemberists are. Like anyone under the age of 40 (you still make it, right Matt?) wouldn't have heard of one of the best bands to arrive this decade. As Gob Bluth would say, "Come on!"
Posted by: Bill | August 22, 2006 at 04:20 PM
F Bill
Posted by: switsky | August 24, 2006 at 12:13 AM