Sing Me To Sleep...

More music drawn from my recent gigology.I was going to pop some songs up from Spoon, The New Pornographers and The Decemberists but in the end I elected to stick with the band that, by far and away, put on the best show.

So, prick up your ears for the storytelling brilliance of The Decemberists:

California One/Truth and Beauty Brigade from Castaways and Cutouts - This track closes their first album but opened their set Friday night. Two songs in one. It is a gentle summer track bathed in sunlight.

We Both Go Down Together from Picaresque - This track is pure Decemberists magic. A simple story, eloquently told. Two lovers leap to their deaths from the white cliffs of Dover. The beauty of the song lies in its jolly tone. There is so much joy here that it borders on the macabre.

Apology Song from 5 Songs - This is a cute little number off their original EP, which ironically had 6 songs on it. I'd like to know the gestation of this apology to a friend for losing his bicycle. It is so affecting in its simplicity. It is always fun to explore the beginnings of a band's sound and you can certainly see where The Decemberists were headed from here.

The Chimbley Sweep from Her Majesty - This song soared as Friday nights encore. Brilliantly augmented with electricity and theatrics it made for the perfect closer.

Remember you can order all these albums and more at Amazon UK.


Tags: music