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The Decemberists

February 13th, 2010 · Posted by Skuds in Music · No Comments · Music

I had heard of the Decemberists, of course I had.  I had even heard some of their stuff and seen them on TV, but I don’t think I ever really listened to them properly until tonight.  I am now starting to think I have been missing out a bit.It all started when I followed a link on somebody’s Tweet to an article about Decemberist cover versions.  This is a list of all the cover versions they have done of other artists’ songs, mostly performed live, and it includes links to MP3s for them as well.   So far the list is up to 59 songs ranging from old Pink Floyd to Kate Bush via Squeeze, Morissey and Robin Hitchcock.  Actually there is a lot of Robin Hitchcock in the list.

Listening to a few led me to listen again to The Crane Wife on Spotify.  I had played it before but must have not been paying attention as I never noticed just how English it sounds.  At times they sound like the missing link between folk and prog.  One track in particular (The Island?) sounded like it could have been early 70’s Genesis.

Interesting how some American acts get so fond of English music that they end up sounding more English than then most current English musicians – who all seem to be trying to sound American or at least mid-Atlantic.  Having seen from their choice of covers that they are obviously big fans of Robin Hitchcock I now realise what it was about them I couldn’t quite put my finger on before – the singer really does sound quite similar to Hitchcock.

Having had a closer listen than before I think I can see how the Decemberists can inspire a devoted, obsessive, cult-style following, much as Robin Hitchcock himself has I suppose.  It is easy to imagine that RH has picked up quite a few fans who were introduced to him by the Decemberists’ unashamed fandom.

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