5 Songs [EP]

The Decemberists | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 4, 2003)
• Original Release Date: 2003
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: EP
• Label: Hush Records
• ASIN: B00008DKBN
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,191 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #52 in Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo-Fi > Chamber Pop
  • #60 in Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Indie & Lo Fi

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good Companion to Decemberist's Albums, October 31, 2003

By 

M. Starr "Amneziak" (Kansas City) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 5 Songs (Audio CD)

I've always enjoyed music that evokes feelings of lukewarm summer evenings. Cold wintry days always seem to bring me down to a level I quickly want to be removed from. Instead, I take pleasure in evenings where the sun seems to never want to hide itself behind the horizon. The kind of evening that just doesn't seem to come around too often in my neck of the woods. Coming from the Midwest, I've always had the ability to take long drives down the highways and countryside simply for the sake of my own enjoyment. The Decemberists are a band that incorporates images of all these feelings. If you've read any of my music reviews in the past, you know that although I'm not the biggest fan of country music, per se, I am a true believer in the steel guitar. I'll even take it in the format of a pedal steel if that's all I can get. The steel guitar has just always had the ability to express true heartfelt sorrow and beauty to me.

With their Five Songs EP, The Decemberists have showcased steel guitarist Chris Funk to send the majority of this morsel straight into the pearly gates of carefree rock heaven. "Oceanside" opens with perfectly strummed acoustic guitars that are married with Colin Meloy's unobtrusive, yet confident, vocals. If you give him some time, he'll even show you that lyrics are still important to music in a time of instrumental bands. "Shiny," the next song, is such a terrific song. To be honest, it's one of the nicest damn songs I've heard in months. The chords that have been used seem to say so many things by themselves, and the steel guitar is the true star. How could anyone feel bad when listening to a song such as this one? It seems to be the mold that all others have copied. The same could be said for the next song, "My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist." It has the same vibe as the previous track, and makes me wonder how these guys could know exactly what I like in my music. It's easy to see why they have received so much critical acclaim for their album Castaways and Cutouts.

The Decemberists will captivate you with their innocent and introverted sounds. Nothing here is forced, nor will it sound forced upon you. In a time when there is so much turmoil and hatred in the world, it's almost imperative that artists like this make music to remind us of a more simple time. This is also the type of music that tends to bridge the gap between today's music, and music the baby boomers enjoyed two decades ago. Although there are only six tracks here (go figure), I'd say this is a purchase that is worth every penny spent.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As seen reclining on an ocean swell, May 31, 2006

By 

S. Cameron - See all my reviews

This review is from: 5 Songs (Audio CD)

I view the Decemberists as something like fine wine - an acquired taste, but they get better with time. In 5 SONGS, which actually consists of six, Colin Meloy's uniquely wonderful vocals, masterful storytelling and intimidating vocabulary come to a head - and combined with accordionistas, violinists, and your standard guitar/percussion/bass, you'd be hardpressed to find indie folk rock that sounded fresher or more exciting than this.

The songs themselves are six different stories in the ever-eclectic yarn of the Decemberists, with subjects ranging from World War II love stories ("My Mother Was A Chinese Trapeze Artist") to a heartfelt apology for losing a friend's bicycle ("Apology Song"). The wavering accordion-playing and acoustic guitar-strumming skates on impressive rhyme schemes stitched together with words like "provincial" and "ubiquitous," which make 5 SONGS, and indeed each successive Decemberists album, seem like a nineteenth century British novel. But who says there's anything wrong with that?

Whether you're a fan of altrock, folk rock, or indie in general, and if you're ready for something new and inimitably unique, I suggest you start here - and keep going.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Is this a B sides cd??, September 6, 2005

By 

Marc Frontario (Orlando, Florida United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: 5 Songs (Audio CD)

If it is, then it is still better than anything else out there.
The songs are all catchy, quirky and charming. I heard some comments about apology song. The comment mentioned, it is some song about some kids bike that got stolen while a friend was watching it for the summer. I think if you listen closely the end reveals that not only was the bike stolen, but so was his girlfriend. I liked the final reveal, but the song that stole my heart and rendered me listless into my mudhole of mediocrity was 'My mother the trapese artist.' This is possibly the decemberists finest song. 'my sister was found by a communist who had deserted his rank and followed his dream, to start up a punk rock band in South Carolina' the writing is that good through the entire song. These guys are just too good. They make me realize just how average I really am.