Burnside Introduces: The Decemberists

Burnside Introduces is a new feature here on the site, wherein we will introduce you to one of our favorite bands, and review a tracklist of the songs we think you should check out. It’s a little different from Burnside Mixes…we’re only focusing on one band at a time.

For our first Introduction, we decided on The Decemberists for a few reasons. First of all, they have enough great songs and enough albums to cull from. Secondly, The Decemberists are currently Portland’s most notable band. Third, Colin Meloy’s lyrics are most often described as “literary,” making The Decemberists a perfect fit for this new feature. Finally, I reviewed their new album for this issue.

1. “Angel, Won’t You Call Me” off Five Songs EP - An important rule of the mix is to start strong. In this instance, we’re not starting with the best, but “Angel, Won’t You Call Me” is a good intro, a honky-tonk ballad that gives just enough hook to prime you for the better songs ahead.

2. “Los Angeles, I’m Yours” off Her Majesty The Decemberists - This is the song that pulled me in, a tale “in harrowing detail” of that SoCal town that has drained the life from its neighbors, sucked the Hoover Dam dry, and still somehow holds a special place in all of our hearts. Forget “Entourage” or Matt Leinart, this song is what L.A. is really about.

3. “Oceanside” off Five Songs EP - “Oceanside” seems torn from the Southern Californian life as well, but it’s much sweeter and lovelier. The best songs in The Decemberists’ library all seem to deal with California (wait ‘til later), and this track, despite my Oregonian instincts, makes me long for long days on the San Diego or Santa Barbara beach, maybe sipping cocktails with a few friends at Sharkeez on the South end of State Street.

4. “16 Military Wives” off Picaresque - Could be the best anti-war anthem written so far. “And America does/If America says it’s so.”

5. “The Engine Driver” off Picaresque - I want to be a writer, so, as sappy as it is, “I am a writer/A writer of fictions/I am the heart that you call home/And I’ve written pages upon pages upon pages/Trying to rid you from my bones” always hits hard.

6. “Odalisque” off Castaways and Cutouts - One of those paramount tracks which captures a band’s theme completely. Who would title a song “Odalisque”? I had to look the word up…a frequent issue with Decemberist songs.

7. “Legionnaire’s Lament” off Castaways and Cutouts - Tapping and lovely.

8. “Bagman’s Gambit” off Picaresque - This band tells a story with each song, and “Bagman’s Gambit” is a harrowing spy novel wrapped in beautiful pop music, causing the listener to care more about the narrator’s femme fatale more than any Bond girl in the last 10 years.

9. “Clemetine” off To Elliott: From Portland - The Decemberists do their Portland duty, covering a magnificent song from the great Elliott Smith. Pay attention the clatter in the background. Is that a typewriter?

10. “On the Bus Mall” off Picaresque - With their new record contract, will songs like this ever work again? A beautiful glance at a swipe of Portland every resident can picture in their mind, making this song a private pleasure.

11. “As I Rise” off Her Majesty The Decemberists - A barroom swing dance anyone, Gram Parsons, whoever, would be proud of. Just a nice break in the action.

12. “California One Youth and Beauty Brigade” off Castaways and Cutouts - The last California song, the last song. Even at almost ten minutes, this song is an utter joy from the first cello strings to the final moments. Even with this review finished, I’m just going to sit and listen to this song for a while before going to bed…

(Editor’s Note: We were going to make this mix available on iTunes as an iMix, but only eight of the songs were available. We decided to chuck it. Find a way to listen to these songs. Especially “Oceanside” and “California One Youth and Beauty Brigade”. They are fantastic.)