March 17, 2005 | Posted by dave w at 11:03 AM

Picaresque
Decemberists--The Engine Driver .

For those who weren't quick enough when the upcoming Decemberists album leaked a few months ago, Amazon is streaming four songs from Picaresque, which comes out Tuesday. Above is also the track that Kill Rock Starshas got up. "Engine Driver" doesn't really show you the more prog-rock direction that the Decemberists seem to be heading in--first seen on The Tain, but if you listen to the Amazon tracks, you definitely get a feel for it right off the bat with "We Both Go Down Together". To me it seems similar to when Belle and Sebastian started taking some major departures from their original sound. Which I was all for. And in the case of the Decemberists, I think the darker tone of their songs lends itself to the sound. I'm curious to see how the rock plays in their shows--new tour starts tonight, but I won't see 'em til May , so let me know how it's going.

Comments

I'm going to see them tonight... should be a great show!

Posted by: Jeremy at March 17, 2005 07:47 PM

I'm going to the LA show... next Thursday should be NICE!

Posted by: Derek at March 17, 2005 10:15 PM

I had heard a couple of the new tracks live last October and felt they were sort of flat, but this renews my hope that the new album will be good - really like the addition of backing vocals.

Posted by: Jay D at March 18, 2005 12:14 PM

Pitchfork reported today that all of their instruments were stolen. Supposedly their tour won't be delayed, but that still sucks something fierce.

Posted by: Eff at March 18, 2005 04:02 PM

Their instruments were stolen, the morning of the show I went to (yesterday), but they were, with the help of a lot of local musicians and stores, able to replace or substitute everything. So while it definitely is a horrible thing and a setback, they aren't postponing everything. And they played everything last night on their "new" instruments, and it was still amazing, so...

Posted by: Jeremy at March 19, 2005 12:18 AM

these guys rock. i knew it the first time i heard them a year ago.
may~ so far away!

Posted by: teh at March 21, 2005 07:19 PM
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