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The DecemberistsThe King is Dead75 Based on 14 reviews 2011 Ranking: #195 / 498
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REVIEWS
It’s hard to deny the power of The Decemberists’ renewed commitment to basic songcraft.
The King Is Dead is as different to its predecessor as it’s possible to be while still remaining very much a Decemberists record.
It’s good to have Meloy and his band settling back to Earth and writing songs for the sake of the songs themselves.
It's missing a little vulnerability-- the best Americana records tend to feel a little lawless, but the Decemberists just can't quite relinquish control.
This album is accomplished and a great listen, but in losing their quirkiness and bold concepts they have also somewhat lost the one thing that set them apart from the crowd.
At best, The King Is Dead is a patchwork of genre exercises, giving listeners little more than a chance to play “spot the influence.”
DETAILS
RATINGS
| 100 | A.V. Club |
| 85 | Paste |
| 80 | Consequence of Sound |
| 80 | musicOMH |
| 80 | No Ripcord |
| 80 | PopMatters |
| 77 | Coke Machine Glow [src ] |
| 74 | Beats Per Minute |
| 72 | Pitchfork |
| 70 | AllMusic |
| 70 | Drowned in Sound |
| 70 | Spin |
| 40 | NME |
| 20 | Tiny Mix Tapes |
| # 10 - | A.V. Club |
| # 3 - | Amazon |
| # 32 - | American Songwriter |
| # 21 - | BBC |
| # 49 - | musicOMH |
| # 10 - | Paste |
| # 29 - | Pazz and Jop |
| # 13 - | PopMatters |
| # 7 - | Rolling Stone |
| # 26 - | Uncut |
- Don't Carry It All
- Calamity Song
- Rise to Me
- Rox in the Box
- January Hymn
- Down by the Water
- All Arise!
- June Hymn
- This is Why We Fight
- Dear Avery
