The Decemberists - Picaresque

Tracklist:
01. The Infanta
02. We Both Go Down Together
03. Eli, The Barrow Boy
04. The Sporting Life
05. The Bagman's Gambit
06. From My Own True Love (Lost At Sea)
07. 16 Military Wives
08. The Engine Driver
09. On The Bus Mall
10. The Mariner's Revenge Song
11. Of Angels and Angles

If You Like: Death Cab For Cutie, Margot & The Nuclear So and So's, The Format

'Picaresque' is more accessible, fast-paced, and grounded in the present than previous releases. It somewhat replaces the steel guitar with other instruments which are louder, but songs like 'From My Own True Love' still utilize the acoustic power the band has. The music and Meloy's voice are still pirate-y, characteristic of most of their albums besides 'The Tain', but it seems like they learned how to dilute it into more common indie, folk, and alternative sounds. Besides this, they haven't changed the sound much except by making things more complex. I think both the stripped-down and (perhaps) overly-orchestrated styles work for them. A good album if you have to introduce yourself to the band. 7/10