USA, 2002, folk rock / indie pop

The Decemberists – Castaways and Cutouts: A great marriage of superb storytelling and catchy melodies. These guys clearly love three things: mothers, petticoats, and accordions. This is all so pleasant, from beginning to end, even when they’re singing about the ghost of a child who died as a newborn. And I’ve never heard anyone sing more beautifully about a graveyard. This music, rooted in old stories and images, is steeped in death and is therefore more alive, for you cannot know life until you understand the ever-present reality of death.
A pleasant, folky sound, as suitable for listening joy as an old-fashioned Victrola.
LikeLiked by 1 person