Sometime things just don't work out. You really think that you're going to be friends with the new kid at work. They're fun and different and interesting. You spend loads of time learning about them and hanging out and interacting and basically you say.. 'wow! best person ever!!!", then it hits you.
They aren't the same anymore. It's as if they have done a cool 180 and now are annoying. The sound that made you so pumped now gives you a migraine that no drug will dull. It's sad, but you'll always remember the good times- the joy you had, but there will be no new memories being made. Its best to just move on with a handshake.
And so it is, my relationship with The Decemberists. Now nothing more than a Grateful Dead style weed band its hard for me to imagine ever considering them one of the greatest bands of all time. They were.. but they are no longer. "Long Live The King", the ep to follow the horrific "The King Is Dead" is nothing more than a nightmare of sound that is really just Dead gone bad. There is no other description I can offer other than…
This ep absolutely sucks.
The twang of guitar, the pathetic oomp ah ah drum, and Melloy who once had the most intricate voice in alt now simply sounds like a nasal Buck Owens. I absolutely hate this ep. "Row Jimmy" made me want to bash my own head in with a wrench. The only redemption? It's only six songs of hell. Thank You God.
A bright spot (other than the short length?) none.
The dark spots? The pathetic patchouli stained monotony of a band who decided to venture back to hippie town to try and grab the Phish crowd. I will say I am slightly angry. After such amazing work ash "Hazards of Love", "the Cranes Wife" and "Picaresque", getting this is like being kicked in the gut.
There is no grade low enough to describe how truly awful this is. So unless your a white boy with dreadlocks and a hackysack bag… RUN.