Indie Rock's Poet Laureate, the Decemberists, Announce New EP

Coming off their latest LP The King is Dead back in January, The Decemberists have recently announced the corresponding EP, Long Live the King. It's due out November 1st.

Considering their debut release of 5 Songs was back in 2001, The Decemberists are now a decade old. Since that time, lead-man Colin Meloy has taken his fans on journeys of forlorn love, into bellies of whales, Japanese folklore, ghost ships, lamenting legionnaires, and dozens of others. With the band's release of The King is Dead, the band got a little bit simpler: taking us for a spin within the realms of American music history as opposed to some archaic, legendary tale (RE: 2009's The Hazards of Love). Perhaps it's only fitting former R.E.M (RIP) mate Peter Buck contributed throughout the recording.

As is customary with many bands, The Decemberists have announced an EP to follow-up the release of The King is Dead. Per usual, the EP consists of a variety of songs -typically referred to as "B-Sides" - that were recorded around the time the full album was but just found themselves without a home on it. To this point, the only song that has gotten much attention is their cover of the Grateful Dead's "Row Jimmy;" which despite feelings to the contrary, is pulled off rather well.

In the past, Portland's wordy freak show -meant in the nicest way you can think of - has found great musical success with their B-Side catalog. Maybe not commercial success -for B-Sides usually only matter to a much more select group who would actually classify themselves as "fans" of the music - but certainly musical success. Picaresqueties (follow up to 2005's Picaresque), Always the Bridesmaid (follow up to Hazards) and the various unreleased tracks surrounding 2006's The Crane Wife have all boded well for the Decemberists ever-growing catalog.

I love EPs. Often times they are the perfect complement to a current release. Sometimes, they simply help fans bridge the gap between albums,. Other times though, they add a perfect little flavor to a band: like putting sprinkles on your ice cream.

Hopefully, Long Live the King is just that.

Track Listing
1. E. Watson
2. Foregone
3. Burying Davy
4. I 4 U & U 4 Me
5. Row Jimmy (Grateful Dead cover)
6. Sonnet

Brian is an active musician and songwriter with the band Something with Trees and spends a lot of his time perusing around the music world in one form or another. Follow his music blog if you'd like. He also contributes occasionally to Paper Trail Music; an indie music blog out of Brooklyn.

Sources
Decemberists Ready New EP