| | Full Review | Ratings (564) |
Give your Rating |
| 4.0 excellent | K. Prince | December 24th 10 |
Colin Meloy! Watch him detoxing from a hazardous album of the yesteryear! See him write a celtic song! A country song! An REM song! Hear him and his fabulous Decemberists play sexy tunes on The King is Dead (with 100% less pretense) before you let 2011 get off to a poor start! rAlso, rate the album higher than a four and win the automatic approval of anybody dapper enough to recognise brilliance.
10 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | PuddlesPuddles | December 28th 10 |
Like getting Febreze'd in the face with joy, innocence, and water
4 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | thebhoy | December 23rd 10 |
The Decemberists seem to be having fun making music again. While I wouldn't say they ever stopped enjoying themselves, The Kings is Dead feels so effortless and natural that it makes you wonder why they ever wanted to do such a bloated concept album in the first place.
3 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | StructuresCapableJoy | February 26th 11 |
Listening to the "Decemberists go American!" being hurled about the internet before this album dropped made me nervous, especially since I didn't like Hazards of Love and I adored everything else they'd done. As soon as that first wail of Neil Young's stolen harmonica sounded, however, I was hooked. I'll admit it, I'm a sucker for rootsy Americana, even if it is the freakin' Decemberists playing it.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | duckpride82 | January 30th 11 |
Although the country tinge can feel a bit overdone, The King Is Dead is another great outing for the indie rock outfit.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | OutOfMyself | January 4th 11 |
The Decemberists cut down on the fat that held back their previous release, and it truly shows. The structure of each track has been simplified, but in return, they are actually enjoyable on first listen. 2011 could not have started off any better for these Victorian-influenced folk/indie-rockers.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 0.0 | Motiv3 | December 24th 10 |
with 2010 about to end, 2011 has already kicked off so to speak with a bang. The Decemberists have once again changed their direction and sound with a more folk driven album with nods to country and celtic music. It seems as though they have gone back to their fun driven tunes of Picaresque/Castaways but with a twist, showing that the Decemberists have not gone back to the past rather they are a band that have far from ran out of ideas yet. Their 4th fantastic album in a row.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | qwer7yfreak | December 20th 10 |
The latest Decemberists release goes down easy. While they did change their sound up, they seem more confident and comfortable than ever, and this shows and the music. The music is energetic but never feels rushed or hurried. And speaking of their new sound, it sounds as if The Decemberists had been playing this style for their entire career. It's a very nice fit. This is also definitely the most accessible Decemberists album. The songs are definitely more pop influenced this time around, and it's much shorter than their previous albums. While some might miss the 11 minute long song epics from, say, The Crane Wife, the songs on this album are good enough that you'll forgive them for it. The King is Dead is another excellent addition to the Decemberist's very consistent discography.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | sphygmo | December 20th 10 |
Really, really liking it. lush production, it's just a different sound than they've tried before. lyrics are brilliant as usual.
2 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Kosko | February 11th 12 |
I was wrong for misjudging this album. After some time, it is truly a great album. I may have been expecting something else, because once I was looking for a solid folk album, this album shined.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.0 good | LiquidSwords | January 5th 11 |
Very relaxing. Solid songwriting and great production, but no standout tracks. It won't blow you away but it's a very enjoyable album.
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 3.5 great | omnipanzer | December 30th 10 |
The EPs they were releasing had me worried but this is as good as anything they have ever done and maybe a little better...
1 Bumps | Bump |
| 4.5 superb | Antonius | January 7th 22 |
After two successful concept albums, Colin Meloy and his Decemberists depart from their epic storytelling (The Crane Wife and The Hazards of Love) for a breezy, country-folk escapade. The King Is Dead is full of catchy melodies and lavish harmonies, loads of simple and rousing melodies which are created by some elegant and sweet guitar chords, often ornated with fiddles, accordions and harmonica. The band pushes the limits of songwriting and most importantly, it does it in an over-simplistic manner. For all its rural pedigrees, The King Is Dead is a clean and meticulously crafted album; with a smooth production and unnervingly error-free performances. Recommendations: "Don't Carry It All", "This is Why We Fight", "Down By The Water", "June Hymn", "Rox In The Box".
Bump |
| 3.0 good | sarcasgnostic | October 27th 13 |
Easy and somewhat likeable but mostly forgettable. Listening to this thing gives me the impression that it's probably intended to be a "cool down record" for The Decemberists after the two sprawling and ambitious albums that preceded it. Too bad it couldn't be more entertaining while serving that purpose.
Bump |
| 2.5 average | raggedragamuffin | November 8th 11 |
This album is boring. The Hazards of Love may have been a little overblown, but at least it had some variety, some spice, some life. Even after several listens through this album, I'm still surprised when it ends. When did it even change songs? Please stop the "country"-zation of folk music. Or go put out a country album. O, Valencia...
Bump |
| 2.5 average | skippingboy123 | April 8th 11 |
Good songs. Not much of an album album, more like good songs.
Bump |
| 0.0 | balcaen | January 31st 11 |
it seems as if the decemberists have succumbed to a bad case of dad rock flu this year. do your part to save the band and send them a get-well card.
Bump |
| 4.5 superb | mvdu | January 21st 11 |
This album is growing on me even more. It's like a combination of Ryan Adams and Wilco alt-country mixed with REM mixed with Simon & Garfunkel mixed with their own quirkiness. Deceptively simple and a superb listen throughout. Not far from a 5, but I try to do only a couple of those a year at most. Could be a 5 later.
Bump |
| 4.0 excellent | MadMan5500 | January 19th 11 |
Whereas most bands would run out of gas after an album like THOL, The Decemberists instead took a different approach and basically hit the reset button on their sound. They certainly have plenty left in the tank, and I expect another consistent build-up to something grandiose. These songs have a home-grown feel, and certainly remind you that Colin Meloy is, in fact, American. The songs have soul and passion, and bring you back down to Earth after the over-the-top THOL. Great listen.
Bump |
| 3.0 good | Blakout | December 19th 10 |
While not bad by any means, on first listen this is the least interesting of their last few albums. It was a pleasant enough listen, but I'm not in a big hurry to play it again, which is a shame since I really like Down by the Water.
Bump |
| 3.5 great | TwigTW | June 22nd 24 |
| 3.5 great | doofy | January 11th 24 |
| 4.0 excellent | Egarran | February 20th 23 |
| 3.0 good | wwf | December 30th 22 |
| 3.0 good | Oatus | May 18th 22 |
| 5.0 classic | Sowing STAFF | May 11th 20 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mathias STAFF | December 21st 18 |
| 3.5 great | Juanpa | April 22nd 18 |
| 3.5 great | Alexxx | March 19th 18 |
| 2.5 average | Jokurr | November 7th 17 |
| 3.5 great | wg98 | August 27th 17 |
| 2.0 poor | aiioli | August 2nd 17 |
| 3.5 great | Xcal | November 24th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Brad | November 12th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | snakesc | August 9th 16 |
| 3.5 great | Kas | March 18th 16 |
| 4.0 excellent | Tom R. CONTRIBUTOR | September 5th 15 |
| 3.0 good | Fugue | July 21st 15 |
| 4.5 superb | Klkofe | May 26th 15 |
| 3.5 great | JWT155 | March 28th 15 |
| 1.0 awful | fredyk | February 6th 15 |
| 3.0 good | kabik | November 21st 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | CamiloG | November 11th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | ariich | October 4th 14 |
| 4.5 superb | Onirium | September 20th 14 |
| 4.0 excellent | behappy | September 11th 14 |
| 3.5 great | Bidoof | September 3rd 14 |
| 3.5 great | Jaime | June 12th 14 |
| 3.0 good | Amry | February 10th 14 |
| 3.0 good | fog CONTRIBUTOR | July 6th 13 |
| 2.0 poor | tnd | February 15th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | JS19 | February 3rd 13 |
| 3.5 great | Mr16 | January 18th 13 |
| 4.0 excellent | vkristi | January 7th 13 |
| 2.5 average | Lenix | December 31st 12 |
| 2.5 average | DadKungFu STAFF | December 15th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Jarxmas | November 29th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | evanfang | September 29th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | gnotnek | September 8th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Fleeba | September 7th 12 |
| 2.0 poor | Bleak | September 3rd 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | cb123 | May 8th 12 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mr_L | March 20th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Veldin | February 15th 12 |
| 3.0 good | jlech | January 24th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Pipt | January 19th 12 |
| 3.5 great | Sumire | January 15th 12 |
| 3.5 great | gvogel | December 31st 11 |
| 3.5 great | iSkane | December 30th 11 |
| 5.0 classic | vaquero | December 22nd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Mandais | November 20th 11 |
| 3.5 great | TomF | November 14th 11 |
| 3.5 great | vivapo | October 27th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Pugnax | October 21st 11 |
| 3.5 great | iGuter | October 5th 11 |
| 2.5 average | toxin. | September 28th 11 |
| 3.5 great | mcglat | September 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | outline | August 23rd 11 |
| 3.5 great | Prae | August 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Totes | July 20th 11 |
| 3.5 great | kromml | July 11th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | bc013 | June 9th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Teto | May 19th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Guigss | April 30th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Raidho | April 16th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Irving EMERITUS | April 12th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Nrap | April 3rd 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | waffles | March 16th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Asator | March 14th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | trepator | February 19th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Thef | February 18th 11 |
| 3.5 great | John L | February 16th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Apollo | February 6th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | toyour | February 5th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Iai EMERITUS | February 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | G3N3R1C | February 3rd 11 |
| 3.5 great | 32left | January 28th 11 |
| 3.0 good | djigor | January 24th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Guiltor | January 21st 11 |
| 3.0 good | Volk23 | January 21st 11 |
| 2.0 poor | Breeg | January 19th 11 |
| 3.0 good | mx STAFF | January 18th 11 |
| 1.5 very poor | Mendigo | January 18th 11 |
| 3.5 great | MG4390 | January 9th 11 |
| 3.5 great | Photon | January 9th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Rudy K. EMERITUS | January 7th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | HHD87 | January 6th 11 |
| 1.0 awful | fabzn | January 6th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | netromo | January 5th 11 |
| 3.5 great | greg84 EMERITUS | January 4th 11 |
| 2.5 average | Hep Kat | January 4th 11 |
| 3.0 good | Aids | January 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Curse. | January 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Knott- EMERITUS | January 4th 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | Rowdy | January 2nd 11 |
| 3.5 great | occer | January 1st 11 |
| 4.0 excellent | ziroth | December 30th 10 |
| 3.5 great | ti0n | December 26th 10 |
| 4.5 superb | Isola | December 26th 10 |
| 4.0 excellent | mppwns | December 21st 10 |
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