The Decemberists, an indie-folk band, released a six track Extended Play (EP) on Nov. 1. The album was titled "Long Live the King." This album contains outtakes from the previous album, "The King is Dead" which was released on Jan. 14, 2011. After "The King is Dead," the Decemberists announced they would be taking a hiatus, so this EP will be the last new music released from the band until further notice.
If you have never listened to the Decemberists before, "The King is Dead" and "Long Live the King" have a totally different sound than their previous albums. Before releasing "The King is Dead," the band had a very Victorian, gypsy-like sound. This eccentric sound only allowed for the band to have an exclusive following, but with the evolution of their music, and a turn towards an American rustic sound, the band's following grew. "Long Live the King" is essentially a continuation of "The King is Dead."
Katie Bennett, a long time fan of the Decemberists, downloaded the album the day it came out. She loves the EP and states, "With ‘The King is Dead,' they really moved away from the story-telling aspect of their songs that was normally so iconic for them. A majority of their older material was all fictional stories with fictional characters. The songs on this EP may be a continuation of "The King is Dead," but they return to their old style of fictional storytelling within the lyrics, while keeping with the more American instrumental style."
Being such a short album, every song on "Long Live the King" would really need to be impressive to consider the EP a success, and the Decemberists did just that. The first track on the album is titled "E. Watson" and with the first few opening lyrics you are plunged into a different time. Like reading a fanciful novel, the detailed lyrics of the Decembrists allow you to picture what is happening before your eyes and submerge yourself in a place you are not. Three of the other six songs on the album very much resemble the first track, but there are two songs that really hold their own and stand out. The two shining tracks on "Long Live the King" are "Foregone" and "I 4 U & U 4 me."
"Foregone" has a southern twang that will make you miss summertime. This style of music is so foreign for the Decemberists, it's almost shocking to hear, but you can't help but bob your head. Even though "Foregone" has a totally different sound than almost anything played by the band, it could easily become a fan favorite because of the outdoors, easy living feel. "I 4 U & U 4 me" is an upbeat demo track on the EP. The unfinished quality of the recording adds a certain charm to the song. It is easy to picture the whole band jamming out while recording this track. Anyone and everyone loves a catchy love song, and the rawness of this track only makes it that much sweeter.
While some fans may not like the shift in the direction of the Decemberists music, it has definitely opened them up to a new world of possible fans. Only good things can be said about this EP "Long Live the King," and it has definitely left us all wanting more.
