Life is Music™

Here’s another reason why Umphrey’s McGee treats their fans better than any band in the business.  First it started with incredible sounding live matrix recordings (mix of soundboard and audience) that the band uploaded for anyone to download for free.  Sound caresser, Kevin Browning, did this for several years until it evolved into UMlive where a fan can now take home the night’s show minutes after the show is over, or he/she can download it later in mp3 or FLAC format.

With spontaneity and trust in mind, last October the band then created the Stew Art Series (S2).  In the Stew Art Series (S2), the band selects certain cities they are already playing and releases a very limited amount of tickets to an all out improvisational afternoon concert where the fans dictate what the band plays on the spot.  A Q&A session and a meet and greet follow with each attendee taking home an autographed copy of the performance.  The band works through each idea the fans dictate with complex signals that keep everyone on their toes.  A portion of the proceeds go to the USTORM charity which helps children and young adults to improve their lives by providing access to various music and arts education programs.  What an awesome idea!

Now the band is now stepping it up once more with their own take on American football.  The first annual UMBowl will take place at Lincoln Hall in Chicago on April 24th, 2010. UMBowl is a 4+ hour musical extravaganza where the band will play four quarters of music, each with a different interactive theme.

The first quarter will be comprised of an acoustic set chosen entirely by the attendees who will cast their votes for which songs will be played in advance.  For the second quarter the band goes back to the Stew Art Series and will text their soundman ideas, he will then display them on a big screen and the fans must text in “plays” and march the band down the field.  The third quarter is the all request quarter.  Once again each attendee will fill out a ballot in advance and express how they want the songs and interludes to go.  In the final quarter, the fans are the quarterbacks.  During the songs the band plays, options will be provided on the big screen and the fans can then text in which direction the band should go.  The band aims to please and any attendee of this game will certainly get their moneys worth.

Umphrey’s McGee has come far.  Along this road to prog-rocking legendary status, it’s refreshing to know they never have forgotten their deep and loyal fanbase.  The band now fills theaters and clubs to capacity all across the country yet they still are willing to keep their ticket prices low.  Continually they look for new and unique ideas to impress and grant open access to their fans.  The band has never hid their love of sports and UMBowl again shows that.  This should be a wonderful experience for all those who attend.  Umphrey’s McGee is the best.  Midwest represent!

Also check out the band’s blog, The Floor, for a behind the scenes look into the day to day happenings of the band.

Trey Anastasio and Classic TAB

On Saturday, February 20th, 2010, Trey Anastasio made his triumphant return to the Twin Cities. He was last in Minneapolis in 2005 with his side project, 70 Volt Parade. But most importantly has been the absence of his powerhouse jamband, Phish. The last Phish show in Minneapolis was September, 24th 2000. Jesse Ventura was the governor of Minnesota then. It’s been a while, and most would say too long. But on this night Anastasio tried to make up for lost time with an extensive meandering performance in the company of his original Trey Anastasio Band.

The show opened with “Last Tube” and from there worked into a massive set of TAB tunes as well as the shuffling bass-heavy Phish tune, “Sand”. Their version of “Tuesday” on this night was utterly spectacular.  Trey then stood alone onstage with an acoustic guitar. This is something one doesn’t get to see everyday and it was a real treat. Anastasio wasn’t sure what to play straight off, and fumbled around a bit to the liking of the crowd before finally playing “Joy”.

Trey taps along to the crowd singing "Bathtub Gin"

He then went into four more Phish tunes and had the crowd yelling and singing along emphatically. “Bathtub Gin” had the crowd happily playing their part, and the wonderful acoustics of the State Theatre had Anastasio smiling and laughing. From there, Trey went into “Farmhouse”, a gorgeous “Waste”, and ended with “Chalkdust Torture”.

The Phish tune “Gotta Jibboo” opened up set two. It started off with its repetitive nature, but by the end Trey pushed it as high as it could go. Soon after the band played a slow piano-driven, funk-swinging tune called “Alaska”. This was a nice change of pace to the upbeat nature of most of the show.

Towards the end of set two, singer and trumpeter, Jennifer Hartswick, took the microphone for a ridiculously good version of Led Zeppelin’s “Black Dog”. She nailed this song with the hammer of the gods and seeing Trey’s appreciation for her effort was amusing to say the least. He faced her throughout the song, blasting his Languedoc guitar at her in a way that would have made Jimmy Page proud. She took his energy and wailed!

The night ended with a pretty standard version of “First Tube”. Anastasio took the song out like a Jedi, wielding his guitar overhead and swinging it forward with feedback reverberating.  By this time it was after midnight, and the capacity crowd was stirring wildly. When this lengthy show (over 3 hours) was finally over, it was evident by the look on all the fans faces that they got their moneys worth. Trey Anastasio and his Classic TAB were excellent. Hopefully Anastasio doesn’t forget the Twin Cities fans for long, as a stop on Phish’s fall tour is now a decade overdue.

Live at The State Theatre

Trey Anastasio Band

Trey plays acoustic I

Trey plays acoustic II

Trey Anastasio Band

Trey Anastasio Band

"First Tube" encore

Trey Anastasio with Classic TAB - State Theatre - Minneapolis, MN 2.20.10 Setlist:
Set I:
Last Tube
Shine
Caymen Review
Push on til the Day
Mozambique
Drifting
Night Speaks to a Woman
Tuesday
Sand
Joy (acoustic)
Water in the Sky (acoustic)
Bathtub Gin (acoustic)
Sleep Again (acoustic)
Farmhouse (acoustic)
Waste (acoustic)
Chalkdust Torture (acoustic)

Set II:
Gotta Jibboo
Valentine
Money, Love and Change
Liquid Time
Alaska
Goodbye Head
Mr. Completely
Show of Life
Black Dog (Led Zeppelin cover)
encore:
First Tube

So it seems 2010 is not going to be a great year for music festivals, or at least not in the upper Midwest. First, in December, Minnesota’s annual 10,000 Lakes Music Festival was cancelled indefinitely due to financial issues. Now the real dagger has just been announced. Rothbury Festival will not be back in 2010. Although rumors swirled in December that this festival too was having money problems, according to their website, Rothbury 2010 has been canceled due to the fact that they cannot put together a “cutting edge roster that everyone has come to expect from ROTHBURY”. This news will undoubtedly hit many music fans in the Midwest and all across the country hard, but if things go well, Rothbury should be back in 2011.

Here is the statement published on their website, www.rothburyfestival.com.

“During the past three years, all of us involved with ROTHBURY have greatly appreciated the tremendous outpouring of support for the future of the festival. For 2010, we have had to make the tough decision to postpone our efforts. A contributing factor in our decision is that, due to various artists’ recording and touring schedules, we now believe that timing will not allow for us to assemble the cutting edge roster that everyone has come to expect from ROTHBURY. The result for this year is that we are not able to move forward with the integrity and high standards that we demand from ourselves and for the festival.

Despite the 2010 postponement, we intend to move toward continuing ROTHBURY in 2011. This event is something very special, and we are unwilling to potentially tarnish what ROTHBURY is, and can become, by working under conditions that will produce anything less than a magical experience.

ROTHBURY is more than a festival. It is a mission intended to discover strength in community, and what it means to be a large-scale sustainable event in these times. Our efforts are certainly not coming to an end.

It is important for us to thank the people of Michigan, Oceana County, The Village of Rothbury, Grant Township, and the Double JJ Resort. Also, we thank our team members, volunteers, creative contributors, media partners, and sponsors. We have made many friendships that will last a lifetime.

To all who attended the first two years of ROTHBURY we thank you for the soul you gave the event. Those times entered rarified air because of your energy.

We hope you have a fantastic July 4th this summer.”

In 2008 and 2009, this nearly sustainable music festival held near the west central Michigan town of Rothbury has had the following musicians (to name a few) grace its stages: The Dead, Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews Band, Umphrey’s McGee, Sting Cheese Incident, Widespread Panic, Snoop Dogg, The Black Crowes, John Mayer, Willie Nelson, The Hold Steady, 311, Trey Anastasio, Primus, Michael Franti & Spearhead, The Black Keys, Drive-by Truckers.

Are You Ready?

Unfortunately The Verve’s 2008 reunion was short lived.  But in its ashes, singer Richard Ashcroft put together a new band called United Nations of Sound.  Ashcroft liked the work producer, No I.D., did on Jay-Z’s song “D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)” and hired him on as executive producer.  The new album entitled Redemption is due March 29th, 2010 and has the singer teaming with a host of new musical collaborators.  At this point I cannot confirm if former Verve drummer, Peter Salisbury, is once again backing Richard Ashcroft as he did on Ashcroft’s three previous solo releases.

Redemption is Ashcroft’s fourth solo album and hopefully a welcome follow up to his respectable yet somewhat spotty 2006 release Keys to the World.  NME exclusively unveiled the first material from Ashcroft’s new project.  The song “Are You Ready?” doesn’t run far from his past work, still thematically thick in spirituality, but the lengthy guitar solo taking out the song is a nice addition and something I don’t recall in his previous works. 

Check out the new video here and form your own opinion.

I wish everyone a happy new year in 2010 and invite in this new decade with eternal optimism.  I’m sincerely grateful for everyone who took the time in 2009 to stop by here and read.  Please keep coming back and don’t be afraid to comment!  : ) 

Peace and love in the new decade,

Chad
Life is Music™

10,000 Lakes Music Festival will not be back in 2010.  Announced today, the wonderful midwestern music festival held for the past seven years in Detroit Lakes, MN will be on an indefinite hiatus due to financial issues.  Minnesota Public Radio reported on their website that promoter Rand Levy said the costs involved were so large the event can’t pay for itself, and that only two of the seven festivals broke even.  Levy says he wants to take a year off and rethink, and the event may come back in another form in future years. 

“We want you to know we have heard your voices as community and the 10,000 Lakes Festival wants to deeply thank all of our fans, artists and attendees for seven amazing years at Soo Pass Ranch,” festival promoter Rand Levy said in a statement.

2009 brought in headliners Wilco, Widespread Panic and Dave Matthews Band.  Approximately 17,000 fans attended the 2009 festival, yet according to the Detroit Lakes Tribune, promoters were expecting a much larger attendance. 

Despite adding a more mainstream headliner, Dave Matthews, fans didn’t turn out in 2009 as organizers had hoped. Levy said before the event he expected 10,000 to 15,000 people to buy single-day tickets for the Matthews finale, in addition to those with full festival passes. Shortly before the July 25 headlining set, an organizer estimated overall festival attendance around 17,000.

10,000 Lakes Music Festival has hosted a mix of national touring acts and north country favorites since 2003. Past performers include: Dave Matthews Band, The Allman Brothers Band, Phil Lesh & Friends, Bob Weir & RatDog, Trey Anastasio Band, John Mayer, 311, Mike Gordon, Wilco, O.A.R., String Cheese Incident, the Disco Biscuits, Umphrey’s McGee, moe., Galactic, MMW, Leftover Salmon, Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings and The Roots.

I am a great believer in quality over quantity, therefore 2009 was a good year for me musically.  I hope the new decade is filled with more great music for everyone.  Here are my top nine concerts of 2009.  Minnesota ROCKS!

1. The Hold Steady at Basilica Block Party - Minneapolis, MN 7.11.09- Wow, wow, wow!  This show was a musical riot.  It was spiritual.  It was energetic.  It was a perfect summer evening.  When The Hold Steady play Minneapolis one can expect fireworks, but I didn’t expect this.  Standing front and center of The Hold Steady’s preacher, Craig Finn, as the historic Basilica of St. Mary church shadowed the crowd from behind is something I will never forget.  I have been a part of many rock concerts, but there are only a handful of shows I have witnessed that compared to this.  The band was insane and the crowd was dieing for more.  It was a fist-pumping, musical uniting, rock-n-roll religious experience for the ages.  This was easily a top 10 concert ever for me.
2. The Decemberists at Walker Art Center - Minneapolis, MN 6.20.09- 2009’s version of “Rock the Garden” was a great success.  It was a hot summer day but thankfully when the headliner, The Decemberists, hit the stage, the sun had finally surrendered.  The band wasted no time working straight through their gorgeous 2009 rock-opera album, The Hazards of Love.  The addition of Becky Stark who played the role of the beautiful princess, and Shara Worden who played the evil forest queen was priceless.  Their added theatrics made this much more than any old rock concert.  I witnessed poetry in motion.  Singer/songwriter, Colin Meloy, appeared to be having a blast as 10,000 fans rocked across the grassy landscape behind the wonderful Walker Art Center.  Once again the crowd was terrific making this an unforgettable summer evening. 
3. Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit at The Turf Club - St. Paul, MN 4.15.09 - This was the most soulful concert I witnessed in 2009.  The former Drive-by Truckers singer and guitarist has been on his own for a few years, and on this night he showed all of the strengths of that experience.  Jason Isbell’s voice is pure.  Very few voices move me the way Isbell’s can, and I was fortunate to witness him at his very best this night.  His backing band, the 400 Unit, must be complimented as well.  They played flawlessly to a respectfully attentive sell-out crowd.  This night was beautiful, and leagues better than when they returned to the The Turf Club on November 20th.  That night they sounded tired.
4. Wilco at 10,000 Lakes Music Festival - Detroit Lakes, MN 7.23.09 - Leave it to Wilco to cue “The Price is Right” theme song before stepping on stage.  Wilco was the main stage headliner on Thursday night of the seventh annual 10,000 Lakes Music Festival in Detroit Lakes, MN.  Having the alt-rocking powerhouse band, Wilco, headline a night at a predominantly jamband festival had me a bit worried, but Wilco prevailed, even while being under the barrage of glowsticks at one point.  Although Jeff Tweedy is the singer/songwriter of the band, there really is no leader.  Wilco is a band, the very definition of it.  Each member is a master of their instruments and while a good portion of the crowd seemed unfamiliar with their work, Wilco proceeded along with their eternal professionalism and had the crowd rocking.  Most of the material was from their 2009 album, Wilco (the album), but they balanced their set wonderfully with songs from the past.  This show was fantastic, and added a wonderful mix to a wonderful festival.
5. Umphrey’s McGee at First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN 1.31.09 - Night two of Umphrey’s McGee’s three-night run at First Avenue rocked!!  Just over a week after the release of their brilliant prog-rocking album, Mantis, the band introduced the new tunes with force while mixing in plenty of older favorites.  Friday night was for the rookies, but this night was for the pros.  First Avenue was filled with the hardcores, making it an amazing experience.  The night opened with the heavy head-bobbing “Push the Pig”, and ended with an awesome “Syncopated Strangers > Cemetery Walk II > Syncopated Strangers” mash.  This was an amazing night that shook the cold winter blues.  I’m grateful for the new friends I made this weekend.
6. The Swell Season at The State Theatre - Minneapolis, MN 12.5.09 - This was a beautiful show.  The Swell Season are made up of The Frames’, Glen Hansard, and Czech pianist, Marketa Irglova.  Together they won a an Academy Award for Best Song from a Motion Picture for the ballad “Falling Slowly” from the low budget Irish film, Once (a must see if you haven’t already).  On this tour they were supported by Hansard’s band, The Frames.  The night was mixed with songs by the duo, Glen Hansard playing solo, and together with the addition of The Frames.  They even included a nice cover of “Two-Step” by the Minnesota band, Low.  The State Theatre was the absolute perfect venue for this wonderfully moving show. 
7. The Jayhawks at Basilica Block Party - Minneapolis, MN 7.10.09 - Seeing the Basilica of St. Mary gospel choir back up The Jayhawks on “Blue” while rain fell steadily is one of my biggest musical highlights of 2009.  There was a lot of anticipation for this show since the only other date the band reunited for in 2009 was for a festival in Barcelona, Spain.  It was unfortunate that it rained through most of the concert, but the packed crowd welcomed the music with little regard.  All night the fans could be heard singing along to the songs of these Minneapolis alt-rocking legends.  And Gary Louris’ guitar work impressed me more than I ever could have imagined.  I am very grateful to have been a part of this show.
8. Trampled by Turtles at First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN 11.6.09 - There is no questioning that this band is for real.  Trampled by Turtles is a quintet from Duluth, MN who play their own brand of bluegrass.  On this night they were on, and the sold-out crowd that packed First Avenue to witness it were blessed with an amazing performance.  I’ve seen Trampled by Turtles a lot of times, but this night was special.  A Radiohead cover started things off, and from their they hammered through songs from their four albums and also tunes from their currently untitled fifth album which is due next April.  It was a great night to celebrate Minnesota, a great night to celebrate Trampled by Turtles.  This band deserves the success they are starting to see.
9. Dan Auerbach at First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN 3.7.09 - I am probably one of the only ones around who think that Dan Auerbach is better with his solo band than he is with drummer, Patrick Carney, as the duo, The Black Keys.  This show at First Avenue made me realize how great of a songwriter Auerbach really is.  He plays guitar like an old bluesman sitting on a front porch, yet with catchy bounce that is hard to resist.  His solo album, Keep It Hid, that he was touring behind is fantastic.  The band, Hacienda, acted as his band on the record and tour and they were very impressive.  The addition of My Morning Jacket’s, Patrick Hallahan, on percussion certainly didn’t hurt matters either.  This was a great show.  Dan Auerbach is a legend in the making. 

Glen Hansard

The Swell Season ended their 2009 US tour in Minneapolis, MN on Saturday, December 5th. The unlikely Oscar-winning duo made up of The Frames’ front man, Glen Hansard, and the soft spoken Czech, Marketa Irglova, were nothing short of brilliant.

The always lovely and eternally heartbroken Rachael Yamagata opened the show to a filled State Theatre of considerate yet enthusiastic fans. Yamagata’s set was short and sweet, with her imagery of each song oftentimes leaning towards the fixture of love, and her troubles in keeping it.

Glen and Marketa took the stage alone and opened their set on their knees with “Fallen From the Sky”; a pinging digital drum track from a small Casio keyboard provided the rhythm. Marketa looked a bit like a gypsy while wearing a traditional eastern European skirt and blouse, while Glen Hansard looked like a true Irishman, bushy red hair and beard moreover. Together they put on one of the most sincere and intimate shows I can remember.

Glen Hansard is a true singer/songwriter. He is earnest, appreciative, and genuine with a tattered acoustic guitar baring the skeletal structure of his passion. He and Irglova worked through a few songs as a duo before The Frames also took the stage to add more instrumentation. They worked through most of the songs from the fantastic movie Once (which everyone must see), other Swell Season songs, a few older songs by The Frames, and towards the end of the set Hansard covered “Astral Weeks” by fellow Irishman, Van Morrison. His poignant playing of that song induced a standing ovation.

Throughout the evening Glen wasn’t afraid to keep the crowd’s consideration with some lively endearing banter. Before a song when an 18th century violin was accidentally knocked over from its stand by The Frames’ violinist, Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Glen took several minutes to heal the beautiful instrument with some monk-like chanting. Thankfully the instrument lingered unscathed. But when he took time to describe the old women he had met recently who had lost her son in the World Trade Center attacks, I think a good portion of the crowd was on the edge of tears. From that story he went to the rim of the stage and half screamed out the most dynamic song of the night, “Say it to Me Now”. It was truly chilling.

One of the last songs he played solo was a traditional Irish song that he dedicated to the last remaining member of the original Irish rock-n-roll band, The Clancy Brothers, who had passed away just the day before. This time it was Glen who seemed to be on the edge of tears as he had the crowd singing along, “Raise a glass”.

The Frames have been around for twenty years. Their intricate playing complimented Hansard and Irglova beautifully, not once overpowering the duo as they embarked on perhaps their last US gig together for some time. Throughout the evening the tension of their relationship was palpable, and those emotions rang through every song.

Glen Hansard took the show out with an all-acoustic and unplugged version of “You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere” by Bob Dylan. The full cast of the night’s show including Rachael Yamagata joined in. The song started at the front edge of the stage and ended with Hansard leading a snaking march around the stage with everyone following. The crowd was singing along, “Hoo wee, Ride me high, Tomorrow’s the day my bride’s gonna come, Hoo wee, Are we gonna fly, Down into the easy chair?”

I went to this show with no expectations, and left thoroughly in awe. The Swell Season were fantastic on this chilly late fall evening in Minneapolis. It was clear that Glen Hansard warmed the hearts of many though. He is a shining man. His love for music is real.

The Swell Season at The State Theatre, Minneapolis, MN 12.5.09 Setlist
Fallen From the Sky (duet)
Lies (duet)
Low Rising
Feeling the Pull
In These Arms
The Moon
If You Want Me (sung by Irglova)
Fantasy Man (sung by Irglova)
Say It to Me Now (Hansard solo)
Leave (Hansard solo)
What Happens When the Heart Stops? (Hansard solo)
Astral Weeks (Van Morrison cover, Hansard solo)
Traditional Irish song (Hansard solo)
The Court of Newton (violin solo by Colm Mac Con Iomaire)
Alone Apart (sung by Irglova)
Two-Step (Low cover)
When Your Mind’s Made Up

Encore:
Falling Slowly (duet)
High Hope
All This Means Nothing Without You (sung by opener Rachael Yamagata)
High Horses

Second encore:
Red Chord
You Ain’t Goin’ Nowhere (Bob Dylan cover)

The Swell Season sell out the State Theatre

The Swell Season

Glen Hansard of The Swell Season

photo courtesy of Trampled by Turtles

Born from the Superior shores of Duluth, MN, Trampled by Turtles have gained tremendous momentum since their inception as a band back in 2003. Like a snowball rolling down a hill, with each new show and each new album, the fan base grows exponentially. The band now spans out far past the Midwest, playing shows in wonderful venues all across the United States, Canada, and even Europe. But no matter where they are, Trampled by Turtles does not forget their humble beginnings in Minnesota and the fans that helped them attain their modern success.

Original members Dave Simonett, Dave Carroll, and Erik Berry started Trampled by Turtles as a novelty side act to their respective rock bands, but as circumstances would have it, Trampled by Turtles wasn’t ready to play second fiddle to any band.

Singer and guitarist, Dave Simonett, explained the origins of the band in a recent telephone interview, “Well three of us started the band, that’s Eric Berry, Dave Carroll and myself. None of us had ever really played bluegrass before, or this style of acoustic music but we were really getting into it. We’d been playing rock music before, and this band was started as an acoustic side project to those bands. But as time went on, all those bands split and this band was all that was left. I was dead broke and left with just my acoustic guitar, after someone stole my electric guitar and my amp while loading out gear after the last show with my previous band. And like I said, the other bands were gone, and all my gear was gone, so this just naturally happened.” An escalating amount of fans across the country are grateful for that.

One of the most memorable moments for the band in the last year was playing the main stage and the seventh annual 10,000 Lakes Festival in Detroit Lakes, MN. Their growth at this fantastic festival precisely represents their evolution as a band and the direction they are headed in the future. After starting on the small saloon stage in 2004, then growing to the festival’s barn stage in 2006 and 2007, then finally playing for fans as far as the eyes could see on the main stage in 2009, the band has come full circle. “That was a blast!” Simonett said proudly. “That was really something that was so exciting for all of us.”

With a new management team on board, Trampled by Turtles have a tour schedule full of larger venues including the recently announced Stagecoach Festival next April in California. But don’t expect these larger shows to start going to their heads, “We spend enough time packed into a little van and staying on people’s floors to stay grounded.” Dave said when asked if there was a definitive moment that made him realize the band was getting big and he could make a career out of music. “As far as making a career out of it, that was something that I knew personally before I even made my first dollar. Playing music is what I always wanted to do. Before we even started touring or selling any albums, we made that decision to see if we could do it.”

This quintet from Duluth has come a long way with their unique take on bluegrass music and their live show is not to be missed. Seated in chairs, the band bangs out enough raw energy to part the sea and if a listener is brave enough to stand in their way, the music will surely shroud every last bit their being. Their music is as much rock as it is folk, as much metal as it is bluegrass, but one thing it definitely is not, is lacking in sheer power. When asked what part of the country gets the rowdiest at their shows, Simonett responded with a laugh, “Probably the Midwest, but it really depends on where we are playing.”

With four albums under their belts and a new and currently untitled release due out next April, Trampled by Turtles are on a mission to spread their music far and wide. Currently they are doing just that, one unassuming step at a time with fans ever-enthusiastic holding on in the wake of the flood.

Who: Trampled by Turtles
Where: The Aquarium
When: Friday, November 20th
Cost: $15, 21+

Written for High Plains Reader in Fargo, ND for their November 19th, 2009 issue.

The Decemberists are an indie folk rock band who sound as if they’ve been trapped in a wooden vessel on the deep blue sea for centuries, only to recently make landfall on the shores of America.  Colin Meloy leads the group with a troubadour’s tongue, while Chris Funk, Jenny Conlee, John Moen and Nate Query round out the band with distinction.  Since their debut in 2002, The Decemberists have sharpened their talents with each subsequent release making them the epitome of indie rock.  Below is a review of each of their full-length albums in the order I would rank them.

1. The Crane Wife - The Crane Wife was released October 3rd, 2006 and is the first album on major label, Capitol Records, for the band.  Many fans stressed about the move to a major label for a band whose sound is the very essence of indie, but Colin Meloy and the rest of the band put minds at ease with a brilliantly clean album that follows an old Japanese tale about a man who nurses a wounded crane back to health.  Meloy’s writing has always been heavily influenced by literature and The Crane Wife is no exception.  He paints imaginative tales of love and war with diverse and colorful strokes, and the folk-rock the band is known for is sharpened to the point of becoming the prog-rock they display on The Hazards of Love.  The Crane Wife is a fantastic album from beginning to end and is perhaps the most important record the band will ever make considering their move to a major label.  My favorites from the album are the three-part track “The Island”, “The Perfect Crime #2″ and “The Crane Wife 1 and 2″.
2. Picaresque - Picaresque is the third album for these indie-rockers from Portland, OR.  It was released on Olympia, Washington’s Kill Rock Stars label and Chris Walla from the band Death Cab for Cutie produced it.  Picaresque rocks more than the two previous releases and was a big step up towards their indie-rock prominence.  Opening track, “The Infanta” starts Picaresque off with a thunderstorm of banging toms and the album ends with the ballad, ”Of Angels and Angles”.  What fills the in-between are some of the most accessible tracks the band has ever laid down including one of Meloy’s best ever, “The Engine Driver“.  “On the Bus Mall” is also fantastic as is the aforementioned opening track “The Infanta”.  Picaresque loses the theatrics and the result is an upbeat indie-rock record that’s a terrific place for any newbie of the band to start.
3. The Hazards of Love - The Hazards of Love is a major artistic accomplishment.  After releasing just one lp on Capitol Records, The Decemberists returned with a rock-opera of all things, and not surprisingly it works wonders.  The Hazards of Love was released March 24th, 2009, debuting at #14 on the Billboard 200 making it the most successful release by the band.  The album follows a tale of a woman named Margaret who falls in love with a shape shifting forest dweller named William, while an evil forest queen tries to wreak havoc on the two.  Becky Stark of the band Lavender Diamond sings the role of Margaret beautifully, while Colin Meloy plays William, and Sharon Worden of My Brightest Diamond plays the queen.  The Hazards of Love needs to be listened to as whole.  With each song folding into the next, Meloy put together a creatively theatrical masterpiece with plenty of progressive influence to display the maturation of the band.  If you had the opportunity to see The Hazards of Love performed live in its entirety, consider yourself lucky.  My full review of this album can be found here.
4. Her Majesty - Her Majesty opens with “Shanty for the Aretheusa”, a fantastic historical voyage into the depths of everything The Decemberists are known for.  There are references to spices, rum and tea leaves while an accordion fills in the musical spaces along with singer Colin Meloy’s voice.  By the end of the song,  Meloy is wailing as the acoustic and electric guitars grind away.  Released September 9th, 2003 on Kill Rock Stars,  Her Majesty is a relatively scattered album whose highlights succeed as a much as anything the band has ever written, but it also lacks the cohesiveness of the later albums.  It’s an ambitious prelude to Picaresque though, with my favorites being the opening track “Shanty for the Aretheusa”, the blatantly satirical “Los Angeles, I’m Yours” and the absolutely stunning “The Bachelor and the Bride“.
5. Castaways and Cutouts - Castaways and Cutouts is the impressive full-length debut by The Decemberists.  It was originally released May 21st, 2002 on Hush Records then reissued a year later on Kill Rock Stars.  Musically, the album revolves heavily around the the accordian and Hammond organ stylings of Jenny Conlee.  “Castaways and Cutouts” is an appropriate title for an album that is filled with tales of ghosts, prostitutes, gypsies and other castaways that songwriter Colin Meloy seems to invent at ease.  Overall Castaways and Cutouts is a nice consistent album albeit somewhat slow paced through the middle.  The ghostly opening tale “Leslie Anne Levine” is fantastic, as is the bass heavy “Odalisque”, and the epic finale, “California One / Youth and Beauty Brigade”.