The Decemberists
Castaways And Cut-Outs (2003)

Review by: Dustin Pangonis
Date: 2/1/04

Themes one might encounter in Decemberists songs: pirates, chimney sweeps, legionnaires, bootleggers running gin, Californian highways and gay soldiers. Looking at that in a list, it seems a little silly, but that's until you see how it all comes together.

Lyricist Colin Meloy weaves historical themes and rich imagery with surprisingly emotional songwriting. Even the legionnaire song I alluded to sports an aching chorus longing for the homeland. In one two-song sequence alone on Castaways I go from misty eyes ("Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect") to bobbing around in my chair to the upbeat rhythm ("July, July!"). Meloy is able to turn abstract themes and recall imaginary past events and somehow make them more sincere and emotional than most straightfoward love songs that have been written in years. They are a truly original group, which the only frequent parallel I've heard being Neutral Milk Hotel, but even that is more in spirit than the sound.

If music history is just, the Decemberists will be looked back on as one of the classic indie bands of this decade.