NEW MUSIC CORNER # 64 THE DECEMBERISTS/GLEN CAMPBELL

[RJhog (Admin)]

Well, it seems as though I have been in a folk/country mood for the last month or so of 2011.  So, that's what you get for the last NMC of the year.  I know CRB is a classic rock site, but I truly love all types of music, and Glen Campbell is one of my favorite older country artists.

The Decemberists - The King Is Dead

1. Don't Carry It All

2. Rox In The Box

3. January Hymn

4. Down By The Water

5. This Is Why We Fight

The Decemberists are folk rock.  From what I have heard, they also put out an EP late in the year called Long Live The King, but this came very early in 2011.  I also think they have called it a day since.  Either way, tell me what band they remind you of, especially on the track Down By The Water.  If I haven't already mentioned it, I like this stuff.

Glen Campbell - Ghost On The Canvas

6. Ghost On The Canvas

7. A Thousand Lifetimes

8. In My Arms

9. Nothing But The Whole Wide World

10. Hold On Hope

I'd say my posting Glen Campbell on Classic Rock Bottom is more of a tribute than anything else.  This is supposedly his last studio album, as he has announced that he has Alzheimer's Disease.  He had help on the album from Billy Corgan, Jakob Dylan, Paul Westerberg, Chris Isaak and others.  I don't know if he plays much guitar on the album, but let me say this, dude can still sing.  I'd say A Thousand Lifetimes is as good as anything I've every heard from him.  I'm very glad I purchased this.

[Scott]

THE DECEMBERISTS ... Two greasy thumbs even

I get the appeal of this style, lyrically folk music can be cool and allows us to create a soundtrack of ourselves in many ways, usually at emotional times, right?  But...  this is one just ok for me.  I wont deadpan it because for me its more like Chicken McNuggets, it has real parts in some of the pieces that make me feel good and want to eat another one, but alas at the end it leaves me feeling full and unfulfilled.

 

GLEN CAMPBELL ... Thumbs 93.666666666667% up

So he's got alzheimers, thats very sad to know.  I wish him well...  But thats a ton of pressure on me to not write something bad about the album because it may be his last.  So I won't, but mostly because the opener is really solid and I connected with it immediately!  The second track continues the trend ... Third track is too country for me, I didnt care for that one but thats not a bad thing.  4th and 5th tracks were also solid.  Congrats to Campbell on a real nice effort!!  This may turn into apurchase for me, I will have to download and listen to the rest...

[Jon]

The Decemberists--Two greasy thumbs even, trending down with some hawked spit on the side

  Yep, copying Scott! It's below ok for me though. You know who they reminded me of? 10,000 Maniacs with a male singer, maybe a dash of REM.

Glen Campbell--Thumbs Up

I was pleasantly surprised at this, it rocked a bit more than I thought it would. I don't have an issue with GC, hell I even know all the words to "Rhinestone Cowboy" for some reason. Again, this is a total surprise to me on how much I liked it, it may turn into a purchase.