The Decemberists have risen to fame by meshing lead singer Colin Meloy’s infectious, yet wordy lyrics with indie folk guitar riffs and their ever present harmonica. Meloy’s infamous song lyrics have always had an awry sense of vocabulary to them and this album is no different. The King is Dead was released in early January and has since been raved about in music magazines everywhere. So far, it’s been predicted as possibly being their best album yet.

As you begin to listen to this masterpiece the first thing that you might notice is the slightly different sound that appears on the album. Heavily inspired by 70s folk-rock, the band joined forces with singer Gillian Welch and Peter Buck (R.E.M. guitarist) to collaborate on their first single from the album “Down By the Water”.  The result is a beautifully crafted song with the enlisted outside forces proving to be an asset to the band. The rest of the album is also laced together perfectly. Songs such as “Rox in the Box” and “This is Why We Fight” showcase Meloy’s genius, yet sometimes dark lyrics and allow fans of the band to become interpreters as they try to figure out the twisted web of lyrics that Meloy has sewn together.  Meloy’s lyrics are also different from other bands in that they are non-autobiographical. Most bands feel the need to encumber their lyrics with their old memories. Instead Meloy takes his time to craft songs that capture the essence of the world and the society around him.

The band truly takes their time in composing their sound and their lyrics, and the time that they put into their music is evident.  The King is Dead has a chance to be one of the best albums that The Decemberists have produced thus far. With its beautifully written songs and its nostalgic influences it has a very good chance of sustaining a lifeline far longer than their previously most popular album The Crane Wife. The Decemberists, once again, have proven themselves to be a band that has separated from the musical pack and have succeeded in their own quirky genre.