| | Full Review | Ratings (1015) |
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| 5.0 classic | AtavanHalen | April 7th 10 |
Not a bad song in sight. Lyrical genius. Engaging, charming, witty, brilliant, fearless, ridiculous, enthralling. The Crane Wife is everything that The Decemberists is all about. Bow down.
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| 4.5 superb | mx STAFF | October 9th 06 |
Many associate major label debuts by indie bands as a formn of selling out. They don't want the uniqeness of the band dumbed down for the masses, or even worse, they don't want to lose the indie chic of being a dedicated fan of a relatively obscure band. But for the Decemberists, their move to a major label has actually improved their sound. Although the minstrel tinged voice has predictably become more mainstream, the Decemberists feature some of their best songwriting yet, and perhaps more importantly, begin to show a breadth lacking in their previous albums. In the three part track "The Island, Come and See, The Landlord's Daughter", the Decemberists surprisingly display a classic rock influence, while the vocal melody in "When the War Came" sounds eerily like a Led Zeppelin song. While there are some typical Decemberist's songs on here like "Yankee Bayonet", they begin to branch out on song's like "The Perfect Crime", and display surprising musical skill in the process. All in all, the Crane Wife is not a story of a band selling out, but of a band growing up.
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| 4.5 superb | sarcasgnostic | October 9th 13 |
Colin Meloy has an exceptional talent for storytelling, and what I believe to be the finest Decemberists record to date allows him to really shine in that aspect, writing a fluid and creatively structured album made of short, catchy pop tracks to make us sing and dance, and longer, quasi-prog-rock ballads that really are surprisingly deep, moving, heartfelt, and extraordinarily well-written.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | Antonius | March 28th 21 |
Musically, The Crane Wife pushes The Decemberists in the unchartered territory of prog-rock. Albeit the prog-rock influences however, it never escapes the indie character that The Decemberists have shown so far in their lifespan as a band. On the contrary, it shows a versatile and mature band that has used its folk-rock strengths to create a concept album based on a Japanese folktale. Colin Meloy continues exhibiting his exceptional talent in storytelling with canny words and extensive use of the vocabulary. Recommendations: "O, Valencia!", "The Island", "Summersong", "Perfect Crime #2"
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| 4.5 superb | eloimayano | January 22nd 13 |
An album that never left you and that you can still enjoy many years after you've discovered it...
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| 4.5 superb | NateT | October 11th 11 |
Folk + Prog Rock = EpicnessrOnly a few weak songs on this album prevent it from being a 5
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| 4.5 superb | iSkane | January 8th 11 |
When we arrive, sons and daughter, we'll make our homes, on the water. We'll build our homes, aluminum! We'll fill our mouths, with cinnamon, now.
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| 4.5 superb | Progmaster85 | December 21st 09 |
With The Crane Wife, The Decemberists expand their art rock sound and dip into the surface of Progressive Rock, and it works exceptionally well, as this, without out a doubt, is their magnum opus. The album flows effortlessly, and each track is memorable. They also show that they can handle epics well, clearly espoused by the album's key track "The Island" and by the other epic "The Crane Wife 1 and 2". This is easily one of my favorite indie records ever, to not appreciate it's beauty is pure musical blasphemy.
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| 4.5 superb | Ducky_72 | August 30th 08 |
Was recommended by a friend, bought it on this recommendation, love it to bits. Makes me want to wear eccentric Victorian clothes and sing sea shanties.
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| 3.5 great | Iai EMERITUS | January 2nd 08 |
Hmm. There is an argument to be made that most bands experience their commercial or critical peak on the album AFTER the one that deserves it most - note how Kid A is Radiohead's highest charting album in the US, for instance. The critical slavering that greeted the release of The Crane Wife serves as further evidence that there might just be some truth in this theory. Picaresque is the masterpiece, the gloriously technicolour batch of heartfelt, joyful songs. This is a step backward from that. Not to say it's a bad album, of course - it's simply an album of transition, and it should be acknowledged as such. Smart enough to know that they'll never better themselves if they stick to their established sound, this album sees them branch out into prog and classic rock. It's more bombastic than the band have ever been, perhaps reflecting the changing times in indie music (Arcade Fire might be acknowledged as a precedent for the feel of this record). They might well wring another masterpiece out of this sound, but this isn't it. Still damn good stuff though.
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| 0.0 | Free Death #2 | December 11th 07 |
I never thought I would like folk music, but...ta-dah! Done with a million different instruments, but truly well-crafted and catchy.
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| 4.0 excellent | Iluvatar | December 26th 06 |
While I had enjoyed about half of Picaresque, I hadn?t expected to enjoy The Crane Wife quite as much as I ended up. However, they?ve toned down the excess instruments and gone to a more streamlined, poppy sound that works magnificently for them. It also helps they have an extended track to match the heights of ?The Mariner?s Revenge Song? with ?The Crane Wife 1 and 2?
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| 4.0 excellent | jacobxross | December 16th 06 |
Some fine Indie. Worth a listen. Probably one of their top albums, The Crane Wife has great mellodies and tasteful lyrics.
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| 4.7 superb | Ryan P STAFF | August 30th 25 |
| 4.5 superb | furpa | May 23rd 25 |
| 4.0 excellent | TwigTW | June 22nd 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Sunnyvale EMERITUS | April 22nd 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Icebloom | December 18th 22 |
| 4.0 excellent | Oatus | May 18th 22 |
| 3.5 great | Naseki | October 29th 21 |
| 3.5 great | dte | March 12th 21 |
| 4.0 excellent | mmmonty | July 22nd 20 |
| 4.5 superb | Sowing STAFF | May 11th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Flomink | February 10th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mchi | January 13th 20 |
| 5.0 classic | yoil | December 31st 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brett W | December 8th 19 |
| 3.5 great | doofy | November 25th 19 |
| 3.5 great | Corney | November 1st 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brabiz | September 18th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ben | July 20th 19 |
| 4.0 excellent | Simerix | January 7th 19 |
| 4.5 superb | Mathias EMERITUS | December 21st 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Josh | November 15th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | jkoh | November 15th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | KevinMM | September 3rd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | FelkFg | August 8th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Miguee7 | June 26th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Stkyle | May 29th 18 |
| 4.5 superb | NathC4 | May 22nd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Juanpa | April 22nd 18 |
| 1.5 very poor | goy | April 12th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | YayoG1 | April 6th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | PaabL | April 3rd 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Strills | March 28th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Alexxx | March 19th 18 |
| 4.0 excellent | Nrap | December 28th 17 |
| 4.5 superb | Jokurr | November 7th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | wg98 | August 14th 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | ab1897 | June 1st 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | mRA | April 26th 17 |
| 3.0 good | 2ool | February 22nd 17 |
| 4.0 excellent | Preston | January 24th 17 |
| 5.0 classic | Xcal | November 24th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Brad | November 12th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | jackled | October 11th 16 |
| 4.5 superb | Cygnus | June 28th 16 |
| 2.0 poor | marggy | April 22nd 16 |
| 3.5 great | nyshago | February 24th 16 |
| 3.5 great | daFigz | November 22nd 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Archaic | October 1st 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Tom R. EMERITUS | September 5th 15 |
| 3.0 good | mzeet | August 16th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Klkofe | May 26th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | swoen | May 17th 15 |
| 3.5 great | Mojito | April 13th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Karluk | March 29th 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Trifod | March 21st 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | seifer | March 12th 15 |
| 1.0 awful | fredyk | February 6th 15 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jiag | February 3rd 15 |
| 4.5 superb | kabik | November 21st 14 |
| 3.5 great | Walt | November 8th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | CamiloG | November 7th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Bidoof | October 4th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | ariich | October 4th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ralphims | September 22nd 14 |
| 4.5 superb | wwf | September 11th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | behappy | September 11th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | JJOMan | July 17th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jaime | June 12th 14 |
| 3.0 good | whaka | May 27th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Gard3n | April 7th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Renba7 | April 1st 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | Onirium | March 15th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | jtswope | July 16th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | djbytes | June 23rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | June 21st 13 |
| 3.5 great | John L | April 19th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | matteok | March 29th 13 |
| 3.5 great | JS19 | February 3rd 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | gp0942 | January 30th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mr16 | January 18th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | vkristi | January 7th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | Drpibb | December 10th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Penlord | December 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Jarxmas | November 29th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | ZGP1992 | October 14th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Melanin | October 6th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | evanfang | September 29th 12 |
| 3.5 great | j1myz | September 9th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | gnotnek | September 8th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fleeba | September 7th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | Amos81 | August 11th 12 |
| 4.5 superb | aerius | March 30th 12 |
| 3.0 good | Mike08 | February 22nd 12 |
| 3.5 great | nwagner | February 15th 12 |
| 2.5 average | jlech | January 24th 12 |
| 3.5 great | mttgry | January 21st 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Pipt | January 19th 12 |
| 5.0 classic | Sumire | January 15th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Vuzin2 | January 14th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | eusless | January 4th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | gvogel | December 31st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | JPaller | December 27th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | jg777 | December 27th 11 |
| 3.5 great | mort | December 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | vaquero | December 22nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | veteli | December 9th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mandais | November 20th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Project | November 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | PieRye | November 11th 11 |
| 3.5 great | vivapo | October 27th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Pugnax | October 21st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Knave | October 9th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | ti0n | October 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | aflak7 | September 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Veldin | September 12th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | LumpSum | August 23rd 11 |
| 3.5 great | Eko | August 19th 11 |
| 3.0 good | kanker | August 5th 11 |
| 2.5 average | wylpyl | August 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Prae | August 1st 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Totes | July 20th 11 |
| 2.0 poor | Niels | June 13th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Drifts | May 29th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Muzix | May 25th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Irving EMERITUS | April 29th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Raidho | April 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rowdy | April 11th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | iGuter | March 23rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | derekkp | March 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | tehaj1 | March 2nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | hesperus | February 22nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | itchy | February 15th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | bjorkil | January 24th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Volk23 | January 21st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | mallen- | January 15th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | MrD | January 12th 11 |
| 4.5 superb | Curse. | January 4th 11 |
| 3.5 great | ntoman | December 26th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | bab808 | December 23rd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | c0ffee | December 16th 10 |
| 3.5 great | gnr61 | December 5th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | mdub662 | November 21st 10 |
| 4.5 superb | mehd10s | November 18th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Roomex | November 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Deathcar | November 11th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | aleoh1 | November 3rd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | jubilee | November 1st 10 |
| 3.5 great | Thor | October 16th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | mvood | September 29th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | JWT155 | September 22nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | occer | September 20th 10 |
| 5.0 classic | Kosko | September 2nd 10 |
| 3.0 good | DayMan | August 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ydun | August 20th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | djigor | August 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | CutMan | August 13th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Zoso4 | July 31st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | lblelnl | July 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | MrCalum | June 29th 10 |
| 3.0 good | nyc87 | June 21st 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Guiltor | June 12th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | mppwns | June 10th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | ferrum | April 20th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | Ramos29 | April 7th 10 |
| 3.5 great | durkl | March 24th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | JackFr | March 2nd 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | fcmogul | February 8th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Mendigo | January 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | matt4 | January 12th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | HHD87 | January 2nd 10 |
| 5.0 classic | mmmyeap | December 21st 09 |
| 2.5 average | Wizard | December 12th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Bsmith7 | December 1st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Artinuis | November 22nd 09 |
| 4.5 superb | cirq | November 12th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | mouette | October 18th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Ricven | October 15th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | TEM | October 14th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | eunit75 | October 10th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Thef | September 29th 09 |
| 5.0 classic | proxymo | September 24th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | MrChuck | September 9th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Gelade | September 1st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Azeta86 | August 31st 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | dev4ll | August 18th 09 |
| 3.5 great | JoRos | August 8th 09 |
| 2.5 average | ebay | July 31st 09 |
| 2.5 average | Yotimi | July 17th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | Aids | June 13th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | djejew | June 9th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | mvdu | June 6th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | duma57 | May 19th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tjeerd | May 11th 09 |
| 4.5 superb | cody72 | April 28th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | dwade3 | April 25th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Spence | April 23rd 09 |
| 1.0 awful | kitsch | April 20th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Bleak | April 10th 09 |
| 2.5 average | cafitz | March 30th 09 |
| 3.0 good | roofi | March 29th 09 |
| 3.5 great | ziroth | March 4th 09 |
| 3.5 great | Acre | February 18th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | valrus | January 9th 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rudy K. EMERITUS | January 3rd 09 |
| 4.0 excellent | Glomp | December 16th 08 |
| 3.5 great | Ikin | December 7th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | kingsoby1 EMERITUS | December 4th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | trepator | November 17th 08 |
| 5.0 classic | irak22 | November 10th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | dukes | October 25th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | armfarm | October 17th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | pynguin | July 30th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | GOme | May 7th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | lewser | April 17th 08 |
| 4.0 excellent | ind13 | April 4th 08 |
| 3.0 good | natey | February 19th 08 |
| 4.5 superb | thecity | February 1st 08 |
| 4.5 superb | thebhoy | December 27th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Kyle | December 20th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | donovr | December 12th 07 |
| 3.5 great | Sleepy | November 10th 07 |
| 3.5 great | Kiran EMERITUS | November 3rd 07 |
| 4.5 superb | tuff | November 2nd 07 |
| 3.5 great | Regole | August 29th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | Isola | August 25th 07 |
| 4.0 excellent | aikdog | August 12th 07 |
| 3.0 good | doqtor | August 5th 07 |
| 4.5 superb | Clumpy | June 27th 07 |
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