Picaresque
March 23rd 2005
Let me give you an example of how the music buying process should work:
Last week, I found a band called The Decemberists on iTunes, and since I liked their sound from the samples, I went out and bought their CD “Castaways and Cutouts” at Ameoba the very next day. The CD was so good that I listened to it nonstop for the next three days, and found out that the band was releasing a new CD (Picaresque) the very next tuesday.
Simply based on the fact that I liked their first CD a whole lot, I didn’t even give a second thought about buying the new one. For the music you get, fifteen bucks is a bargain. It’s probably worth at least $50 by today’s musical standards. The album really is excellent. The songs are all unique and beautiful, sometimes energetic and sometimes melancholy and sad, but all really good. There’s so much story, so much intelligence and literary influence, so many brilliant melodies and rhythms and lyrics. Let’s just say it’s the kind of CD you buy without thinking; it’s just awesome music. The new album was produced with Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie (ironically, I first heard of The Decemberists because they’re right behind DCFC in the music stores), and you can hear a little influence; it just makes it better.
Obviously, I give it 5/5 if you want a score like that. It’s topping the list at Metacritic with an incredible score of 89.
Amazon did an interview with the lead singer Colin Meloy (who apparently knows how to play the online crowd) with 4 full tracks available. Check it out.
I just listened to all their albums a few times though and didn’t have to leave my desk. Not to mention the new Kings of Leon, Black Keys, and Moby (which I would have never bough). I love Rhapsody. It is like being a record reviewer that doesn’t have feel remorse for not liking something that they bought.
BTW, The Decemberists are at Bimbos tonight. If I was down in the BA, I’d check that out.
Subscription does sound very nice. I’ll have to try it. Still not impressed with the audio quality of any online music service though; makes it seem like it’s a waste of money if I do like the album and then have to buy a higher quality version.
Argh! I’m stuck in southern california all week. Thanks for the tip though. I’d definately check it out if I were up there.