
We’re there, fifteen girls to a man. The word 'picaresque' refers to a form of satirical prose originating in Spain, depicting realistically and often humorously the adventures of a low-born, roguish hero living by Coming down, back on the East India lane. Picaresque is the third studio album from The Decemberists.It was released in 2005 on the Kill Rock Stars record label.
Coming down, back on the East India lane. Bring her around, filling tight with the wind. We’re there, fifteen girls to a man.
Decemberists Lyrics Picaresque Full Size Eli The
The group’s output has slowed recently, as Meloy has worked on other projects like children’s literature. While they’re broadly categorised as folk-rock, their work runs the gamut from the concise and hooky Americana of 2011’s The King is Dead to the dense 2009 progressive rock opera The Hazards of Love. The Decemberists - Picaresque Lyrics and Tracklist Genius image.I sincerely enjoy The Decemberists, but you might want to bear in mind that as a bearded history graduate, I’m their target demographic. But I enjoy their wordplay, and they’ve built up a consistent body of work since 2002’s Castaways and Cutouts. There are plenty of antecedents for their indie folk, like Neutral Milk Hotel and Belle and Sebastian, and Meloy’s braying voice has similarities to Jeff Mangum’s.The Decemberists Eli, the Barrow Boy Lyrics Genius Lyrics go the full size Eli The. Despite their American heritage, they’re staunch Anglophiles many of their early songs are set in Victorian England, while leader Colin Meloy is a fan of English folkies like Shirley Collins and Nic Jones, and other British acts like The Smiths and The Waterboys.Picaresque showcases a sunnier and poppier Decemberists unlike Her Majesty, the best songs here are often when they depart the furthest from the previous Decemberists’ style.These songs are often less complex apart from the multi-part ‘The Bagman’s Gambit’ and the lengthy ‘Mariner’s Revenge Song’, they’re largely conventional verse/chorus structures.The Decemberists aren’t especially innovative musically – they’re a straightforward indie folk band who colour their music with accordions and fiddles. All aboard to pull us down.The band most likely to win a Scrabble tournament, The Decemberists hail from Portland, Oregon, and are notable for flaunting their extensive vocabulary in song.
My other favourite song is the late addition, ‘Apology Song’, an unusually personal song where Meloy apologises for not properly looking after his friend’s bicycle.It’s not as essential as most of their full length records, but 5 Songs is an enjoyable listen, a fascinating step in the group’s development.The Decemberists’ first LP, Castaways And Cutouts, is a remarkably assured debut, with the band’s bookish folk rock style already fleshed out. Opener ‘Oceanside’ is deceptively short at a minute and a half, fading out while still in full bloom. ‘My Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze Artist’ is certainly a portent of things to come – it’s a strong piece, and the title alone is representative of their future direction.Elsewhere, the record is tuneful and enjoyable. It’s one of those debut EPs that shows a group’s development here The Decemberists are a straightforward indie folk-rock outfit, that hadn’t fully committed to their epic historical and theatrical shtick. Decemberists Album ReviewsThe Decemberists’ confusingly titled debut EP now features six songs the 2003 edition added ‘Apology Song’.
‘The Bachelor And The Bride’ has a great chord progression, propulsive acoustic guitar, great support parts with warm organ and guitar arpeggios, all adding up to create a subtly masterful song. The salty opener ‘Shanty For The Arethusa’ has an appealingly epic quality, and ‘The Chimbley Sweep’ hops along nicely on its accordion groove, but both can be grating and both feel like the band is on the verge of parodying itself.Most of standouts from Her Majesty The Decemberists are in the vein of their first album. A couple of the accordion based pieces (‘Legionaire’s Lament’, ‘A Cautionary Song’) aren’t as pleasantly engaging as the rest of the record, but they also play an important role in shaping the band’s identity.Castaways And Cutouts largely eschews gimmicky tracks in favour of solid songs it’s a remarkably assured debut.After the freshness of Castaways And Cutouts, there’s something less appealing about sophomore effort Her Majesty The Decemberists, as if the band let their mid-nineteenth century Victoriana whimsy distract them. ‘Odalisque’ and ‘Cocoon’ are both gorgeous, and while ‘Grace Cathedral Hill’ isn’t the best song written about the San Francisco landmark (see the Red House Painters first self titled record) it’s still heartfelt and the ten minute closer ‘California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade’ is also extremely convincing.

There is one major misstep on Picaresque in the form of the nautical shaggy dog tale ‘The Mariner’s Revenge Song’ while it is entertaining, it is very reliant on its narrative for effect, so that it doesn’t stand up to repeat listens.Like The Decemberists’ previous full length album, Picaresque can be frustrating – there are some genuinely inspired songs here, but it’s more patchy than it needs to be from a vibrant band seemingly at the peak of their powers.The Crane Wife is the Decemberists’ first album with major label Capitol, and while it placed higher on the US charts than any of their previous efforts, otherwise it’s business as usual for the band. ‘The Infanta’ does a much better job of the dramatic album opener than ‘Shanty For The Aretheusa’ did on the previous record, while ‘We Both Go Down Together’ is punctuated by a beautiful string part. Less characteristically, ’16 Military Wives’ and ‘The Sporting Life’ are both upbeat and infectious, the former with nonsensical lyrics, a Fender Rhodes groove, and a punchy, horn driven chorus , while the latter feels like a Decemberists’ take on a sixties Motown groove. The net result is The Decemberists’ most accessible album yet – with less archaic lyrics and less braying vocals, some of these songs sound like they could be potential radio hits.The most accessible material includes the gorgeous, acoustic ‘The Engine Driver’, with its harmonised “If you don’t love me/Let me go” chorus, and ‘On The Bus Mall’ which mines a similar acoustic vein. The group also use more outside musicians than before, with orchestration, and a horn section on ’16 Military Wives’.

