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The Crane Wife: Decemberists' Ambitious Leap to Capitol Records
11 Oct
Summary
- The Decemberists signed with Capitol Records, moving to a larger stage.
- Their fourth album, The Crane Wife, diversifies styles from folk-rock to blues and prog.
- Colin Meloy's songwriting emphasizes character-driven stories with evolving themes.
The Decemberists have embarked on a new chapter, signing with Capitol Records after establishing themselves on indie labels. This move signals an ambition for a larger stage and audience, with their crucial fourth album, The Crane Wife, serving as a testament to this growth. The record impressively magnifies and refines the band's distinct folk-rock sound.
On The Crane Wife, the band showcases a remarkable stylistic versatility. Alongside their sharp folk-rock, they incorporate a smuggler's blues track, a haunting lullaby, a powerful Led Zeppelin-esque stomp, and a divisive, multi-part progressive rock epic stretching over ten minutes. These varied sonic landscapes underscore Colin Meloy's imaginative storytelling.
Meloy's inventive songwriting continues to be the central force, with a renewed emphasis on character autonomy within his tales. While retaining their characteristic undertones, the band's protagonists now seem to act more out of free will than predetermined design, adding a new layer of depth to their narratives.
