The Decemberists in December

My friend tastewar’s favorite band is The Decemberists. Their site is very intelligently organized and presented, except it could use a favicon. Give it a try.

Stephen Colbert is also a Decemberists fan, although for him it’s perhaps more of a mutual admiration society. The connection started three years ago…

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Green Screen Challenge – Counter Challenge
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Earlier this year, Colbert had The Decemberists on his show to promote their new album, “The Hazards of Love.”

The Colbert Report	Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Decemberists
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In an era where playlists and homemade compilations rule, I applaud The Decemberists for doing what Green Day did five years ago with “American Idiot” — they’ve put together an album that needs to be heard in its entirety, as a complete work.

The Colbert Report	Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Decemberists – The Wanting Comes in Waves
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At this moment it says the last video is no longer available. Don’t know if this is one of Comedy Central’s usual glitches, or if it’s really been pulled. So let’s go with a substitute…

I love the solo bit that sounds like Grace Slick in The Jefferson Airplane. I’ll use that as a springboard for this delightfully trippy live take of Donovan’s “Fat Angel” by the Airplane.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2009/DEC/FatAngel.mp3]

Here is Donovan’s original recording of “The Fat Angel.”

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2009/DEC/TheFatAngel.mp3]

As Donovan says on his “Sunshine Superman” DVD, that I excerpted here, he was interested in the development of what he called Celtic Rock. Another musical group that comes to mind when listening to The Decemberists, that can be categorized as Celtic Rock, was The Incredible String Band. They did a sort of mini-Rock Opera, like the Who’s “A Quick One,” with their evocative “Darling Belle.” Listening to this, I’m reminded of how much I enjoyed Jethro Tull’s “Thick As A Brick” when I was in high school.

[audio:http://www.dograt.com/Audio/2009/DEC/DarlingBelle.mp3]