The Decemberists - The Crane Wife (Capitol)

Many fans of the band wondered how their beloved group of modern day bards would change their sound after switching over to Capitol Records. Fear not, Decemberists fans! The Crane Wife is a progressive leap - not only do they have their most prog-rock songs since “The Tain” on here, but the songs are also the defining moments of the album. The Decemberists have their usual agenda of singing songs about murders, theives and pirate rapists(!), but also tell the tale of a Japanese folk story as the centerpiece of the album. The band tends to create songs as if they were from a previous era and continue doing so in The Crane Wife, evoking the 70s in the almost-disco track “The Perfect Crime #2,” and the very Pink Floyd-esque three-parter “The Island.” There are a few low points in the middle of the album, but it’s still a good album and worth checking out. While The Crane Wife isn’t their best work, it certainly shows of their talent and is a good album to get into the band.

– Tamon Go