Early last month, we told you about the Decembrists’ upcoming singles series, Always the Bridesmaid. (Just think back… past the failed $700 billion bailout, past A.I.G., past Merrill Lynch, past Lehman.) Well in advance of its Oct. 14 release date, Stereogum has posted the first single (via YouTube). It’s called “Valerie Plame”—yes, Read More
The Decemberists, that lovable and literary indie rock band from Portland, Ore., and their bookish frontman, Colin Meloy, are known for writing songs with narratives—similar to the ones you read in English class—about subjects like seafarers, pirates, soldiers, chimney sweeps, trapeze artists, etc. Add to that list ‘outed CIA operatives.’ Yes, the band has written Read More
The year was 1993. The Pixies were fizzling out. It was time for a new quirky pop band to fill the void. (Who would provide that first track on some angsty 16-year-old’s mix-tape?) The Breeders, featuring Pixies bassist Kim Deal (imagine that!), were that band. But alas, after a few semi-hits—“Cannonball” is the only song Read More
Fall Out Boy, Maroon 5, the Academy Is …, Cartel, Coheed and Cambria, Colbie Caillat, Hot Hot Heat and the Decemberists will all be participating in MySpace’s Rock for Darfur concert on November 10, MTVNews.com reports. A total of 32 concerts will take place on four continents to raise awareness about the Darfur conflict Read More
Central Park is at its most perfect–its greenest, sunniest, its coolest–when the Summerstage concert series rolls around. This July, the Decemberists (a band made famous by a song named “July, July!“) will be headlining a big show with the big Brooklyn act Grizzly Bear.
The Fifth Avenue doyennes will love it. Indie Read More
And so this week comes the release of Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible (Merge).
There are certain things, in certain circles, that one had better talk around—things to gesture at, perhaps, or drop in archly at the non-business end of a knowing simile, but never, for fear of embarrassing all involved, address directly. This became clear Read More
In the beginning of September, Beyoncé celebrated her birthday and Justin Timberlake brought the sexy back. For the rest of the month, we’ll have to make do with releases from more, ahem, autumnal performers: Janet Jackson, if you’re nasty; Alan Jackson, if you’re Nashville; and the earnest singer-songwriting of the Indigo Girls and Elton John. Read More
In the beginning of September, Beyoncé celebrated her birthday and Justin Timberlake brought the sexy back. For the rest of the month, we’ll have to make do with releases from more, ahem, autumnal performers: Janet Jackson, if you’re nasty; Alan Jackson, if you’re Nashville; and the earnest singer-songwriting of the Indigo Girls and Elton John. Read More
Small-label bands are like ghosts, borderland entities haunting the periphery of the musical landscape. These wayward souls produce albums that are but faint impressions, evaporating as quickly as hot breath on a window. Concerts are sightings, convincingly real yet short-lived, with no promise of ever repeating. Without a celebrity imprimatur, like Clap Your Hands Say Read More
