Decemberists preview

The Decemberists
Riviera Theatre, Chicago
Saturday, November 11, 2006

Literary folk rocker and chief Sufjan Stevens competitor Colin Meloy’s Decemberists return with their headiest, yet most loosely constructed album yet, The Crane Wife (Capitol).

Inspired mainly by, though not hinged upon a Japanese tale, Meloy is instantly less pretentious on the Crane Wife, disavowing the notion he’s I Am Kloot’s John Bramwell run amok in some obscure university’s musical conservatory. Oddly, the album makes brief nods to CSN&Y/Tull classic prog rock (“Come And See”) and Led Zeppelin (“When The War Came”), but comes together most fully with radio-ready pop of the *Romeo & Juliet-styled “O Valencia!” and “The Perfect Crime #2,” which, try as it might, doesn’t suck. Yes there’s a preponderance of less-subtle classic rock flourishes (is that goddamn “Wonderwall”?) and the incantation of words like “bellfry” are outwardly contrived. The inclusion of two 10-minutes-plus compositions, winding through multiple sections, does not reek of indulgence, but sense: Meloy isn’t afraid to blast through indie rock’s archaic sensibilities and thus sounds more liberated in bringing his Victorian broom to dust the corners.

Granted, a recording of this scope probably deserves (or insists upon) more stringent examination, but the purpose here is to recommend (or not) a show. In this case, you can still bring the kids but you can leave the books at home.

— Steve Forstneger

Click here to download a Decemberists wallpaper.

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly