The Decemberists are a whimsical shapeshifting eclectic roots rock band formed in Portland, Oregon at the turn of the century. Since their 2002 debut album Castaways and Cutouts they have released a total of eight albums including their most recent I’ll Be Your Girl from 2018. Within the last two decades their musical direction has shifted everywhere from the 1960s British Folk Revival to country blues Americana and beyond. Contemporary influences include 1980s Waterboys, Morrissey and REM as well as indie rock acts Death Cab For Cutie, The Postal Service, Modest Mouse and The Shins. Lead vocalist and primary songwriter Colin Meloy holds sway over much of the eleven tracks that make up I’ll Be Your Girl, aided by the lush full instrumentation provided by the band’s two contributing multi-instrumentalists, keyboard player Jenny Conlee (piano/organ/vibraphone/accordion/synthesizer) and lead guitarist Chris Funk (acoustic & electric guitars/banjo/bouzouki/mandolin/synthesizer). Additional members Nate Query (electric and upright bass/cello) and John Moen (drums/percussion) hold their own as the quintet’s rhythm section. Of particular note on this latest record are the highly evocative vintage analogue synth sounds heard throughout as well as the wonderfully surprising Bowie inspired sax solo courtesy of guest artist Joe Cunningham. Fresh, fun and upbeat (even while espousing sentiments like “Everything is awful” and “We all die young”) I’ll Be Your Girl manages to stay clear of the kind of chanty anthemic clichés and intolerably earnest naval gazing introspection that mars much of today’s acoustic roots rock scene. This record should be of particular interest to fans of legendary Canadian west coast roots rockers Spirit Of The West and their 1993 masterwork Faithlift. Standout tracks include Severed, Sucker’s Prayer, Your Ghost and We All Die Young.
Rating: 8/10
Star Rating: 3/5
2018 Song Of The Day Club Album Review 10/52