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The Crane Wife
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0094635398427
Label: Capitol
Manufacturer: Capitol
MPN: 53984
Number Of Discs: 1
Publisher: Capitol
Release Date: October 03, 2006
Studio: Capitol
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Editorial Review:
Capitol raised a few eyebrows when they signed indie stalwarts the Decemberists. There's nothing blatantly commercial about the Portland quintet, from Colin Meloy's quavery voice and hyper-literate lyrics to the band's wide-ranging music, which encompasses baroque pop, prog rock, and dozens of other styles. Then again, he did once sing, "I was made for the stage," and those who've seen the group live know this to be true. Sure, they're storytellers, but they're entertainers, too--just not in the Top 40 sense. Never ones to play it safe, their major label debut takes its inspiration from a Japanese folk tale. It travels from the Replacements-style balladry of "The Crane Wife 3"--which joins words like "Each feather it fell from skin/'Til threadbare while she grew thin" to the melody from "Here Comes a Regular"--to the ELP hoedown of three-part epic "The Island" to the haunting duet between Meloy and Laura Veirs on "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)." It's an impressively eclectic effort that somehow manages to avoid sounding scattered. Co-produced by Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie) and Tucker Martine (the Long Winters), the Decemberists' fourth full-length is richer, less immediately catchy than its predecessor (there's nothing as bouncy here as Picaresque's "Sixteen Military Wives"). It's also a deeper work that resists snap judgments. Some records hit you over the head with their brilliance, others need time to percolate. Time will tell if The Crane Wife is the Decemberists' best album--it's certainly their most ambitious so far. --Kathleen C. Fennessy
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 
Rating:  - circuitous journey
i've had this music for a while - recently picked it up again to give to a friend. his excitement with "the crane wife" reflected my own: that the total piece is a journey of moods and situations, exclamations and saturnine musings. it works on you. when i think about the music i've really liked over the last 10 years, it's been those recordings that worked on me over time, cropping up and getting tied to certain events, certain feelings. "the crane wife" has become one of those recordings for me. ... Read More
Rating: - Wonderful Album
The Decemberists' major label debut is a phenomenal release. For a major label debut it is incredibly adventurous project with two epic tracks that clock in at or close to twelve minutes. The instrumentation is very effective, with guitars, bouzouki, keyboards, strings and all kinds of other instruments. The songs are not really geared toward a mainstream audience (with the exception of "O, Valencia" which is innovative but it functions as a good catchy single to keep Capitol records happy). The subject ... Read More
Rating: - Decemberists defintely deliver in thier best album to date
I've been somewhat of a fan of The Decemberists in the past, "Picaresque" had a few tracks I liked, but others I didn't care for at all. "The Crane Wife" really sold it for me, with a bit more mainstream sound but without losing the quirky style The Decemberists are known for. It makes me appreciate their older work more, but for me "The Crane Wife" is by far their best work yet. The Decemberists employ unique lyrics and beautiful music to make memorable tunes, very similar to what I find appealing about ... Read More
Rating: - 5 stars
One of the best bands to come out in the last 10 years! Colin Malloy is in my opinion a musical genius that comes around every decade or so. there are so many musical styles in his writing that make it so hard to pin down the style of music you are listening to. I have heard a lot of music over the years as I grew up in the fabulous Beatle era, not that I would compare the Decemberists to the Beatles, but if your looking for something completely different and intelligently written and performed than this ... Read More
Rating: - The Crane Wife
Great music, especially like the title song...My granddaughter dances to it, she's only two and loves it. That's what prompted me to buy it, my son lives in Portland, OR and is an avid music critic and thought this was one of the best albums he ever bought!
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