The Decemberists

This entry is not about The Decembrists' failed revolt against Tsar Nicholas I of Russia in December 1825.

The Decemberists are an indie rock band from Portland, Oregon. Melodically, their songs range from catchy pop to slower, instrumentally lush arrangements. In their lyrics, they eschew the angst and introspection common to modern rock, instead favoring a storytelling approach with lines like "My mother was a Chinese trapeze artist / In pre-war Paris / Smuggling bombs for the underground" (from "My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist", on 5 Songs) and "I'm really sorry Steven / but your bicycle's been stolen" (from "Apology Song", on 5 Songs). Their songs convey tales ranging from whimsical to epic to truly dark.

While they boast a genuinely original sound (which often features the accordion), their demeanor and approach often finds The Decemberists compared to Neutral Milk Hotel.

Band Members

Colin Meloy, lead singer and songwriter
Rachel Blumberg
Chris Funk
Jenny Conlee
Nate Query
Jesse Emerson (former member)

Discography

5 Songs EP (self-released 2001, Hush reissue 2002)
Castaways and Cutouts LP (Hush release 2002, Kill Rock Stars reissue 2003)
Her Majesty The Decemberists LP (Kill Rock Stars, 2003)
The Tain EP (Acuarela Discos, 2004)

External Links

Official Website (http://www.decemberists.com)
Decemberists Bandnews (http://bandnews.org/band/Decemberists,%20The)

This article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it (http://www.mywiseowl.com/index.php?title=The_Decemberists&action=edit).

Retrieved from "http://www.mywiseowl.com/articles/The_Decemberists"

This page has been accessed 77 times. This page was last modified 20:57, 25 Oct 2004. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License (see Copyrights for details).