If you like stupid things... don't buy this.
Fred Thomas | Tahoe USA | 12/01/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have only listened to this 50 or so times. I have only just heard about the Decemberists, and let me tell you, I feel pretty stupid. I have tried to describe this cd specifically to some of my friends, but I always end up just thrusting this tri-fold masterpiece at them and storming off. I would take this cd out of my walkman, put it into my cd player in my kitchen, take it up to the bathroom while I showered, put it in my car, hum it at work, then put it back in my walkman so I could listen to it in bed. Now I am trying to see if it is one of those cds that is good enough to impress various women. Shallow? You bet. But it means that, as pathetic as I may be, I have placed this album alongside the beta band, king crimson, the pixies, temple of the dog... etc. The may sound nothing alike, but we're talking quality people. This is noteworthy, worthy of note. Buy this album and you will not be disappointed, and if you are... well, you and I wouldn't get along very well."
The Tain
Mark Twain | Florida, MO USA | 01/02/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
""The Tain," at almost 19 minutes, is currently the longest continuous song on my computer. That's not a bad thing, in fact, it is a beautifully crafted song. My opinion of the Decemberists was that they didn't make any good songs before Picaresque, but this EP proved me wrong. I'm curious as to whether there is a different version in which the album is broken up into 5 songs, because most websites have it divided into parts. I think I'd have a problem with that because it's hard to start in the middle of a song like this, especially when it contains Colin Meloy and his great talent for story telling. Another thing that's great about this song is that it is in no way repetative, and there is no chorus that is sung after each verse. In fact, it actually sounds like 5 completely different songs pushed together into one (which, essentially, is what it is). This is most definately the Decemberists at their finest, and a greatly inspirational piece of work."
Must have for Decemberists fans!
Chris S. Hayzlett | Nashville, TN | 10/22/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This very possibly might be the best progressive effort made by the decemberists, with the exception of The Crane Wife... maybe. Absolutely a great piece of music!"