Music Review: The Decemberists

When the Decemberists signed to Capitol Records, numerous questions arose in the mind of every fan who believes in the name of their old label: Kill Rock Stars. Would they compromise their brand of literary pop for commercial success? Would this success make it more difficult for me to like them? Would Colin Meloy wear. contact lenses?

Their core fans can rest easy-the Decemberists have gone progressive on their new The Crane Wife, aping Jethro Tull while also taking inspiration from an arcane Japanese folk tale. Fans of their The Tain EP will be delighted to hear that the Meloy's merry men and woman have bookended their album with two 10-minute-plus epics.

Their adventures in folky prog allow their penchant for grandiose storytelling to develop while preventing accusations of structural repetition.

Unfortunately, their forays into pop disappoint. Other than the anthemic "O, Valencia!" and the rootsy Civil War duet "Yankee Bayonet," none of the songs can really claim entry into their range of classics. Some, such as the bizarrely heavy "When the War Came" or the sleepily gothic "Shankhill Butchers," the hour-long record clearly could've done without.

Nevertheless, it's a worthy book rock effort. The Decemberists have clearly eschewed the temptation to sell out, and The Crane Wife could be their transition into even more groundbreaking creations.