"When The War Came"

Fans of the Decemberists will by no means be disappointed by their new offering The Crane Wife. Non-fans, on the other hand, probably won't find anything to turn their views around. For my part, I'm a fan. It's schtick, but it's good schtick. Never one to miss a good political tune, I thought I might as well highlight this part of "When The War Came"

A terrible autonomy
Is grafted onto you and me
A trust put in the government
Is all their lies are heaven sent
'Til the war came
'Til the war came

Or, to put it more shrilly, Bush lied, thousands died.

Comments

Correction: Bush lied, hundred of thousands died.

Posted by FMguru | October 11, 2006 5:34 PM

hundreds, even.

Posted by FMguru | October 11, 2006 5:35 PM

Speaking as a fan of the Decembrists I protest. I was disappointed with the Crane Wife, which, based a few listens, is far too self-indulgent. Maybe its because I haven't met a 10 minute long song that I have liked since college.

Anyway. I think that the Decembrists are a great band and that, even though I am as anti-war as the next guy, everyone, regardless of their political leanings should enjoy them. I would suggest starting with castaways and Cutouts.

Posted by sr | October 11, 2006 5:51 PM

Here's a live Decemberists performance on KCRW from 9/25/06.

http://www.kcrw.com/music/programs/mb/mb060925the_decemberists

Not a huge fan, but I just happened to listen to it today so I thought I'd share it.

Posted by Tim | October 11, 2006 5:54 PM

I like the Decembrists quite a bit, although I can see why they don't appeal to a broader audience. A good friend calls their work "music for English majors", which I think is dead-on, particularly as I have a BA in English myself.

Posted by The Squid | October 11, 2006 6:42 PM

It's a quantum leap in their "schtick," is what it is. "Self-indulgent?" If by "self-indulgent" one means "really fucking good," I suppose.

Fun fact: "When the War Came" is about (to the extent it is about) the Seige of Leningrad, and the Vavilov Institute therein.

Posted by Kip Manley | October 11, 2006 8:08 PM

There is a lot more to even that single verse than just BLTL.

Posted by bob mcmanus | October 11, 2006 8:46 PM

Yglesias lies. I'm a fan of the Decembrists, and I'm disappointed in their new albm.

Posted by ben wolfson | October 11, 2006 9:33 PM

I don't know about their new albm, but their new album is pretty fantastic.

Posted by Christmas | October 11, 2006 9:43 PM

Count me as disappointed. Creeping Death Cabism as I called it elsewhere. With the exception of "Sons and Daughters", nothing seems to go anywhere.

Posted by Aaron Bergman | October 11, 2006 10:34 PM

The new CD is awesome. Atually I think "When the War Came" is the worst song -- but it's damn hard to argue with the titular tracks, the twelve minute prog suite, or "Yankee Bayonet."

Posted by Mike Meginnis | October 11, 2006 10:50 PM

Decemberists.

Posted by John Emerson | October 11, 2006 11:44 PM

John likes the band so much he feels content just saying their name. Decemberists... Decemberists... Decemberists!

Posted by Christmas | October 12, 2006 8:55 AM

I'm a bit disappointed. The songs are catchy, but I don't like the stylistic changes. Landlord's Daughter is a good example -- riveting song, but the instrumentation is ridiculous. I wish I knew which prog rock band to compare it to.

That said, I think they'll be more awesome than ever in concert, and I can't get The Perfect Crime out of my head.

Posted by J-Dub | October 12, 2006 9:14 AM

Over 2,700 dead
For one fortunate son
How many more
Before he's done?

Posted by Matt Buehler | October 12, 2006 10:38 AM

I think this album will disappoint a lot of fans. It's much more proggy and rock-ish than their past albums.

I like it a lot. The music is crisper and the production is better than ever. Those long songs have a Kansas, circa "Point Of No Return," quality to them that I like. The lyrics are still way too precious, but that's not unpardonable.

Posted by Daniel, Esq. | October 12, 2006 11:18 AM

I knew little about The Decemberists before "The Crane Wife" -- I bought it because Atrios made it sound interesting. The idea that someone in 2006 could find new uses for '70s prog-rock tropes was intriguing. I like the album a lot -- the playing is tight, and the Hammond organ noodling on the second movement of "Come and See" is hilarious -- Jethro Tull circa 1972 "Thick as a Brick" reborn.
The reedy singing I'm not so wild about, but it's hard to find rock and pop singers now with voices as resonant as Ian Anderson's or Peter Gabriel's.

Posted by Tombesh | October 12, 2006 11:47 AM

I was just trying to make Wolfson feel bad.

Posted by John Emerson | October 12, 2006 10:22 PM