Picaresque

Today's Music That Is Pretty Great is the Decemberists' Picaresque. I'm a little surprised that I haven't written about this album yet; though it's not my favorite Decemberists album, that has more to do with my personal connections to some of their other music and isn't really a judgment on the quality of this work. It does seem to be one of, if not the most well-received album from Colin Meloy and his band in general.

This is a marvelous album, with all the hallmarks of the Decemberists' sound: many instruments, somewhat nasal (not far from Stipe-ish) vocals, lyrics that seem to be lifted from 19th-century literature, just a bit of a flippant attitude. The balance on this album is exemplary, as there are a reasonable number of ballads and uptempo songs; some tracks are dark, whereas others are more good-natured. Overall I am more fond of the more boisterous arrangements of The Crane Wife or the simple charm of Castaways and Cutouts, but I don't have much to complain about here. I especially appreciate the gaul of this album's six and seven minute tracks, and one that falls just shy of nine minutes! Piss off, popular radio!

"The Infanta" is an inspired opener for an album, and it has enough energy to carry through the somber following tracks to "The Sporting Life". I know that "The Mariner's Revenge Song" is probably the crown jewel of this album, but I'm more partial to "Sixteen Military Wives". Still, the tracks are ordered impeccably, with the gentle "Of Angels and Angles" serving as the album's closer. Its brief, comforting melody is a nice contrast to the epic "The Mariner's Revenge Song".

I really have a hard time faulting this album for anything. They make interesting, enjoyable music that doesn't ever insult my intelligence; most of their songs stand alone very well, but their albums are really things of beauty to be appreciated as complete entities. Cripes, my inner fanboy is not bashful today.

In Other News:
When it rains, it pours. Why aren't things ever consistent?