Track Review – Summersong – The Decemberists

I’ve gotta hand it to P*tchf*rk, they are getting some way-decent exclusive tracks to leak these days. (Although, to be fair, The Crane Wife, upcoming 10/3/2006, has been available on various p2p networks for a few days.) Unfortunately, they did very little to judge the track, so I will pick up where they so politely left off.

Sidebar: They also can’t go 2 sentences without mentioning the Hold Steady. I suppose that’s one thing MaxEnt and PitFor have in common…

Anyways, Summersong is a fairly standard Decemberists song, albeit more stripped down and subdued than most of Picaresque. The verses have almost a Neil Young feel to them, and Meloy’s delivery of the verses sounds almost natural and calm, as opposed to his usual high-pitched, strained, yet melodic delivery. He returns to his usual vocal style for the choruses, and even throws in some “la-de-da-de-dahs” for good measure. The instrumentals are also kept to a minimum: I heard guitar, drums, bass, and some very simple strings in the background. The focus is clearly on the lead vocals, and the cute back-up “bum-pum-bum” and “ohh-ahh-ohh” vocals. (I’m getting paid by the onomatopoeia on this review. Wait…is scat singing actually onomatopoeia?…)

Lyrically, this song only requires a B.A. in English Lit, as opposed to the usual PhD. Shockingly, not once during this song did I need to consult a dictionary. Not once. (I did, however, have to consult a dictionary for that “onomatopoeia” comment above.) Summersong paints a picture of the coming and passing of summer, evoking the usual aquatic references: “Been saved the warmer the waves//I felt a slip into a watery grave.” He introduces a girl in “linen and curls” and uses her as a metaphor for the quickly passing summer. He also elegantly describes the bay and beach she is traversing. The beach clearly being a metaphor for the Bush Administration. (NOTE: Given that I was not an English major, any metaphors I have identified are probably not actually there. Listen for yourself.)

If this track is any indication, we are in for a double treat on 10/3/2006.

What’s that you say? The Killers are also releasing an album on 10/3?!?!?!!? Looks like death by new release! HAHAHAAHAHAH!! Get it…Killers…death by…

God, the Killers fucking suck.