An advanced copy of the new Decemberists album Picaresque has been floating around the torrent networks over the past couple of days, and although I can’t say if it’s a huge leap forward for these guys, I can definitely recommend it to anyone who enjoyed their previous works. My favorite Decemberists song from their 2003 album Her Majesty was the whimsical/erudite “Billy Liar”, and “Engine Driver” from this new collection comes very close to topping it.
Colin Meloy is one of those writers that enjoys peppering his work with little winks and nudges, and his lyrics are as witty as ever.