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The King Is Dead
 
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The King Is Dead

The DecemberistsMP3 Music
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (153 customer reviews)

Price: $9.49
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  • Original Release Date: January 14, 2011
  • Format - Music: MP3
  • Compatible with MP3 Players (including with iPod®), iTunes, Windows Media Player
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  Song Title Time Price  
Play   1. Don't Carry It All 4:16 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   2. Calamity Song 3:48 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   3. Rise To Me 4:59 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   4. Rox In The Box 3:07 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   5. January Hymn 3:12 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   6. Down By The Water 3:41 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   7. All Arise! 3:08 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   8. June Hymn 3:57 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play   9. This Is Why We Fight 5:30 $1.29  Buy MP3 
Play 10. Dear Avery 4:51 $1.29  Buy MP3 
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Customer Reviews

The sounds have a country folk feel with an alternative music vibe. Jesse M. Andrade  |  27 reviewers made a similar statement
Loved from the first listen! William Fleenor  |  24 reviewers made a similar statement
I can throw on this album whenever I want and enjoy it. Erik J. Malvick  |  17 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
137 of 153 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars Escape a little closer to home January 18, 2011
Format:MP3 Music
It took this album to make me admit I haven't loved The Decemberists more recent work as much as I would have liked. For all the great moments on The Hazards of Love and The Crane Wife (and there are many), there were also copious amounts of convolution and sort of awkward prog rock (see: The Island/...). The result was never strong enough to rob The Decemberists of their title as my favorite band, it just left me feeling like I should still be loving them more.

One listen of The King is Dead is all it took for me to remember why I still love this band, and it took none of the effort I had to invest in their bigger albums. The Decemberists, to me, don't write pretty music or clever lyrics as much as they conjure up a portal to somewhere far more romantic and beautifully tragic. Songs like Grace Cathedral Hill or On The Bus Mall still never fail to pull me into their worlds. This time around, things are far simpler than they ever have been, but the effect is similar. There are no long songs, nothing that will require 15 minutes of focus and a dictionary to figure out, nothing set in the late 1800s, and no tragically doomed romance. The result is a beautifully coherent album that may not pull you out of reality like their past works, but it will wrap this world in a gauzy glow for the sublime 40 minutes it sticks around.

I'm once again very excited to see where they go from here, but so grateful to have this in the meantime.

4.5/5
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60 of 70 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars The Decemberists - Long live the king January 18, 2011
Format:Audio CD
"The King is Dead" the new and sixth album by Portland's finest "The Decemberists" sees Colin Meloy and chums return with an album of much more straightforward songs than their previous theatrical concept outing "The Hazards of Love". The consequence for this reviewer is unadulterated pleasure since while Hazards was an impressive piece of work it is the Decemberists of the "Picaresque" era which really starts the pulses racing. Having listened to this album for two weeks streaming on NPR you will find a hugely accessible and accomplished set full of crisp Americana based songs with enough hooks to catch mackerel as evidenced by the thumping opener "Don't carry it all". In the background throughout "TKID" you will also detect the influence of two master musicians namely the jangle guitar miester Peter Buck from REM and one of gods representatives on earth, Gillian Welch the great Appalachian style country singer who sings on seven of the ten tracks.

Listen to the huge alt country ballad "Rise to me" or the gentling rolling "All arise" full of guitars, fiddle, accordion, harmonica and pedal steel to detect Welch's direct influence and it is a force for good. Not that this greater simplicity has blunted Meloy's wordy gymnastics. Anyone who can rhyme "enzymes" with "fault line" deserves a pat on the back as does the use of REM style "Reckoning" era motifs in the brilliant "Calamity song". The rootsy "Rox in the box" sounds like a nod to Mike Scott and his folk fest "Room to roam" and for good measure the Decemberists throw in a snatch of the folk standard "Raggle Taggle Gypsy" to add spice. Meloy's acoustic guitar picked ballads are always lovely and sumptuous and "January Hymn" is one of his finest yet and will one day figure on the "Best of the Decemberists". To add icing to the cake they partly reprise it with the equally sublime "June Hymn" later in the album. Another of the album's many highlights "Down by the water" starts with a haunting Springsteen like harmonica and brilliant backing vocals from Welch and combines with faint echoes of REMs "The One I love" tantalizing in the background. It's stirring stuff and destined to rock summer festivals. Meloy also admits that the excellent "This is why we fight" owes a huge debt to the Smiths with its Johnny Marr guitar lines and rousing pace (perhaps the title of the album also tips a nod to the Smiths epic "the Queen is dead"?). The brakes are put on however for the final track the ever so gentle "Dear Avery" where Welch enlists her musical partners Dave Rawlings and fellow Portlander Laura Viers to provide backing vocals.

"The King is Dead" is an understated album devoid of complexity, twelve minute prog epics and Gentle Giant like chord progressions. As such if this is what attracts you to this great band then some disappointment will follow since the template here is Neil Young's simple wonder "Comes a time" which has provided Meloy with the source inspiration for the mood of the album. This is very much the Decemberists "Americana" roots album, strong on songs, melodies and with choruses designed to infiltrate your head with greater effectiveness than a Paul McKenna hypnotist session. It is a real pearl of an album and proves what a great songwriter Colin Meloy has become. All in all a fantastic opener for 2011.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Addition to the Decemberist Catalogue January 20, 2011
Format:MP3 Music
This album is amazing. It's accessible, beautiful, and evergreen.

I loved the previous album (The Hazards of Love), but there was something about it that made it difficult to simply turn on in the middle of the day or during a party. It needed a full audience with full attention. The Kind is Dead works on every level for any listener.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars Great to listen to with a cup of coffee! Small scratch in product -...
I love this CD! Easy listening sound - mix of pop, folk, and alternative blended into a smooth sound. Love it! Read more
Published 4 days ago by Jeff S
5.0 out of 5 stars Love their sound
The Decembrists have a great sound, and a great name. And distinctive lead vocals.There is something old world about them.
Published 13 days ago by ekmb
5.0 out of 5 stars If you love early REM...
You'll love this album. Peter Buck is all over it, but Colin Meloy is one of the best song writers around and the band and session players are tight and focused. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Robin G. Ashton
5.0 out of 5 stars Their best so far
I'm a fan of the Decemberists. I love their instrumentation, their tight, accurate but passionate or whimsical performances, and Colin's beautiful writing. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Christopher Abbey
4.0 out of 5 stars My son has dragged me from my 70"s music.
My oldest son loves the Decemberists and had put several of their songs on a CD for me. I bought the album and still liked the same songs, but lack the patience to keep hearing the... Read more
Published 2 months ago by D. Wright
5.0 out of 5 stars Cross between country-style Byrds and The Band from the 60's
Having heard a song or two on the Philly station 88.5, I thought I'd give this band a chance, and bought this CD. Most excellent! Read more
Published 2 months ago by S. Henkels
5.0 out of 5 stars Great cd
I like to listen to alternative this is one of my favorite recent bands. I did not know about them until this cd. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Jesse M. Andrade
5.0 out of 5 stars Love this CD/DVD set
Fans of the Decemberists unique sound will enjoy the DVD look at the making of this great album. Some great catchy tunes on the CD with a delightful blend of styles. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Eleni Sakellis
5.0 out of 5 stars Yes!
The King is Dead is the album of the year in my book, the tortured lyrics and melodious instrumentals make my life complete.
Published 3 months ago by KS
5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I wanted!
Just what I ordered! Thank you! Great seller!
I recommend product to anyone!
I love the cd! Wonderful music! Just what I wanted!
Published 3 months ago by Katy
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