The Decemberists
Play Radio
Listen to The Decemberists Radio,
featuring artists like Colin Meloy, Tarkio, Iron & Wine, The New Pornographers and more…
-
Search on Spotify
Yes, it scrobbles! Learn more
47,976,454 plays (1,185,550 listeners)
Portland, Oregon, United States (2000 – present)
The Decemberists are a folk rock band which formed in 2000 in Portland, Oregon, United States. The band currently consists of Colin Meloy (vocals, guitar), Chris Funk (guitar, mandolin, dulcimer, pedal steel guitar), Jenny Conlee (organ, piano, accordion), Nate Query (electric bass, acoustic bass, cello) and John Moen (drums). Notable former members include Rachel Blumberg (drums, vocals) and Jesse Emerson (bass). The band’s most recent album, The King Is Dead was released on 17 January 2011.
Named both in reference to the Russian Decembrist Revolt (they use the national anthem of the Soviet Union as an introduction at many concerts) and to the atmosphere associated with the month of December, the Decemberists write songs that range from upbeat pop to instrumentally lush ballads. They often employ instruments like the accordion, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer organ, and upright bass. In their lyrics, they eschew the angst and introspection common to modern rock, instead favoring a storytelling approach, as evidenced in songs such as “My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist” from the 5 Songs EP and “The Mariner’s Revenge Song” on Picaresque. Their songs convey tales ranging from whimsical (“Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect”) to epic (“The Tain”) to truly dark (“Odalisque”). They often invoke historical events and themes from around the world. Early in their career, The Decemberists’ musical and lyrical aesthetics frequently prompted critics to compare them to Neutral Milk Hotel.
Named both in reference to the Russian Decembrist Revolt (they use the national anthem of the Soviet Union as an introduction at many concerts) and to the atmosphere associated with the month of December, the Decemberists write songs that range from upbeat pop to instrumentally lush ballads. They often employ instruments like the accordion, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer organ, and upright bass. In their lyrics, they eschew the angst and introspection common to modern rock, instead favoring a storytelling approach, as evidenced in songs such as “My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist” from the 5 Songs EP and “
The Mariner’s Revenge Song” on Picaresque. Their songs convey tales ranging from whimsical (“Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect”) to epic (“The Tain”) to truly dark (“Odalisque”). They often invoke historical events and themes from around the world. Early in their career, The Decemberists’ musical and lyrical aesthetics frequently prompted critics to compare them to Neutral Milk Hotel.
Shouts:
3,480 shouts
Top Albums
-
The King Is Dead
The Decemberists
Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $7.99
- 7digital $8.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $10.00
- eBay Search
-
The Crane Wife
The Decemberists Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
- 7digital $8.99
- iTunes $9.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $9.81
- eBay Search
-
Picaresque
The Decemberists Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $7.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $11.54
- eBay Search
-
Castaways and Cutouts
The Decemberists Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $8.99
- 7digital $9.99
- iTunes $7.99
- Buy Album
- Amazon $10.32
- eBay Search
Shoutbox
-
kissesneverdie wrote:
@Predelink: that is a testament to the sheer glory of the album. i'm guessing a lot of people even bought the album because of its' title similarity to the smiths' album.
-
bubba_ch wrote:
althought the king is dead and the crane wife are my favourites, hazards still needs more love.
-
Jaanisk wrote:
Down By The Water
-
VK1990 wrote:
Rise To Me
-
Predelnik wrote:
That's funny, probably the only one band, i know, that have the last album in the top of the chart after so much time has already passed.
-
ChinkyindaBrain wrote:
and i'll play the clarinet use clamshells for castinets we play with our bags on our shoulders my sweet lady lioness
-
mast3rjke wrote:
♥ (^ - ^) ♥
-
shins_fan09 wrote:
Just got new headphones and the first thing I do is play the Hazards of Love album; huge chill bumps are the result.
-
heart_indie wrote:
@funereal_waif -- ditto
-
TabooEv wrote:
The King Is Dead is among the top selling albums of 2011 and landed on #13.
-
funereal_waif wrote:
Colin Meloy's voice is haunting my mind. You guys are amazing. I LOVE YOU! thank you for existing.
-
thingsoflove wrote:
Totally in love with this band, I spent my Saturday! :)
-
clockworkwombat wrote:
why must we always end in putting down one of their records? really, they're all great.
-
CosmonotMusic wrote:
The Decemberists made it into the "Best Songs of 2011" http://aircoreyell.wordpress.com/2011/12/09/best-songs-of-2011-31-40/
-
WeirdoRipper wrote:
you indie rock fans never think big enough which is why you hate hazards when it is their best album
-
lizinhars wrote:
<3
-
foodandliquor wrote:
missoula 4 lyf
-
diver000 wrote:
creepy
-
VK1990 wrote:
rise to me
-
BtBaM27 wrote:
The King is Dead is pretty close to AOTY for me.
Videos
-
Play
Calamity Song
-
Play
This Is Why We Fight
-
Play
O Valencia!
-
Play
Don´t Carry It All + Lyrics…
1 shout
News
Long Live The King Available Now
1 Nov 2011 | from decemberists.com
– - —— Order CD (with instant download) �� � � �
� �� — —— Order Vinyl (with instant download) Long Live The
King 1. E. Watson 2. Foregone 3. Burying Davy 4. I 4 U & U 4 Me
…
-
3 Oct 2011 | from decemberists.com -
The Decemberists in Troutdale, OR on August 26, 2011
26 Aug 2011 | from decemberists.com -
The Decemberists in Troutdale, OR on August 25, 2011
25 Aug 2011 | from decemberists.com
Listening Now
Top Listeners
-
noneviljen
Top Listener
-
baka-rust
Top Listener
-
rowlikewow
Top Listener
-
impqueen
Top Listener
Recent Activity
-
VanillaBones, DNWC, outquisition and 21 other people added The Decemberists to their libraries. 35 minutes ago
-
nielsjbak wrote about The Decemberists – The King Is Dead in The best albums of 2011. yesterday afternoon
-
nielsjbak wrote about The Decemberists in The best albums of 2011. yesterday afternoon
-
kariefarley311 added The Decemberists to kariefarley311’s library. yesterday afternoon
-
Ronusan tagged The Decemberists with storytelling, story telling, story tellers and 16 other tags. yesterday afternoon
-
Topheriskris and latthet added The Decemberists to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
-
Ronusan tagged The Decemberists with contemporary, rock, progressive and 11 other tags. yesterday afternoon
-
edooley87, rwatson558, fingerfoods and 22 other people added The Decemberists to their libraries. yesterday afternoon
-
Confessions87 wrote about The Decemberists – The King Is Dead in TOP 52 ALBUMS OF 2011. Thursday evening
-
Confessions87 wrote about The Decemberists in TOP 52 ALBUMS OF 2011. Thursday evening
Related Journals
-
The best albums of 2011
by nielsjbak |
3 Feb 2012 | Add comment
-
My Top Albums of 2011
by drtuss |
29 Jan 2012 | Add comment
-
2011's favorites Part 2. 30-1!
by ChudleyCannons |
27 Jan 2012 | Add comment
Groups (460)
-
Orate Clubhouse
42 members
-
The Milk Carton
46 members
-
pmono.no
56 members
-
Youth and Beauty Brigade
1,154 members
-
The Decemberists
453 members
More Information
- Links
- Band Members
- Labels
