Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah they're all pretty great

Album Rating: 4.0

They bring such a unique energy. Occasionally you can hear their influences but they manage to always sound fresh and fun and unique.

Album Rating: 4.0

Agreed. They're pretty much a two trick pony though - they either go over the top theatrical or follow the country-ish americana vibe of their last couple albums. But every time they put something out it always sounds brand new. I think Meloy is just an excellent song crafter.

Album Rating: 4.0

He really is. I love his voice too - it's so emotive.

Album Rating: 4.0

Yeah, very distinctive. It's easy to stand out when you have grating vocals (like so many do now in an attempt to be hip), but it's hard to fit into the poppy-melodic mold and still sound entirely unique.

Album Rating: 4.0

I have to disagree on their two-trick pony esqueness, though. Their first several albums had a lot of quiet folk and indie pop (with their special spin) that wasn't really "theatrical", and which I would not group with their Americana sound.

Album Rating: 4.0

That's true I guess I just group those with the new ones, but you're right there's no americana in castaways or majesty

Album Rating: 4.0

Or Picaresque or Crane Wife. The first hint of Americana was on Hazards.

Album Rating: 4.0

Well yeah but Pic and Crane fall under theatrical

Album Rating: 4.0

True. I mean Picaresque is literally presented as a play, and The Mariner's Revenge Song may as well be a one act play.

Album Rating: 4.0

Everything they've ever done is really unified by Meloy's superb songwriting. I enjoy it when the group employs a bit more theatricality, but they could re-record The Hazards of Love entirely acoustic with a bunch of fiddles and mandolins and it would still rule.

Album Rating: 4.0

I honestly don't think Meloy has written a bad song in his entire career.

Album Rating: 4.0

Cavalry Captain annoys me a bit, but yes, he's fantastic.

Album Rating: 4.0

My only issues with this album are "Better Not Wake The Baby" and "Easy Come, Easy Go", which while good feel kind of pointless, not to mention unmemorable.

'till the water is all long gone' is my jam. Everything on here is really solid, and his voice is so smoothening, almost gives me a mancrush.

Album Rating: 4.0

My Meloy mancrush has been going strong since '08

Album Rating: 4.0

I really like this, but I don't get all of the replay value people seem to think it has. I'm kind of over this album, its pleasant but got kind of old after many repeated listens.

Lake Song is perfect

Album Rating: 3.5

agree

Album Rating: 4.0

Also agree. I put my vast Decemberists collection on random to keep things fresh.



I think Better Not Wake the Baby is totally memorable, if not a bit silly.

Album Rating: 4.0

Outtakes EP coming next month! The new song from it is pretty good, hopefully it will be a worthwhile release.