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The Crane Wife

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Capitol raised a few eyebrows when they signed indie stalwarts the Decemberists. There's nothing blatantly commercial about the Portland quintet, from Colin Meloy's quavery voice and hyper-literate lyrics to the band's wide-ranging music, which encompasses baroque pop, prog rock, and dozens of other styles. Then again, he did once sing, "I was made for the stage," and those who've seen the group live know this to be true. Sure, they're storytellers, but they're entertainers, too--just not in the Top 40 sense. Never ones to play it safe, their major label debut takes its inspiration from a Japanese folk tale. It travels from the Replacements-style balladry of "The Crane Wife 3"--which joins words like "Each feather it fell from skin/'Til threadbare while she grew thin" to the melody from "Here Comes a Regular"--to the ELP hoedown of three-part epic "The Island" to the haunting duet between Meloy and Laura Veirs on "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)." It's an impressively eclectic effort that somehow manages to avoid sounding scattered. Co-produced by Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie) and Tucker Martine (the Long Winters), the Decemberists' fourth full-length is richer, less immediately catchy than its predecessor (there's nothing as bouncy here as Picaresque's "Sixteen Military Wives"). It's also a deeper work that resists snap judgments. Some records hit you over the head with their brilliance, others need time to percolate. Time will tell if The Crane Wife is the Decemberists' best album--it's certainly their most ambitious so far. --Kathleen C. Fennessy

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The Decemberists - The Crane Wife

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Decemberists-The Crane Wife

My review of The Crane Wife

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130 Reviews

Love it (85%)  |  Hate it (7%)  |  On the Fence (8%)  |  Didn't Rate it (0%)
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | Next >
From: Amazon Posted: Jun 25, 2008 Type: User Review circuitous journey

i've had this music for a while - recently picked it up again to give to a friend. his excitement with "the crane wife" reflected my own: that the total piece is a journey of moods and situations, exclamations and saturnine musings. it works on...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Jun 02, 2008 Type: User Review Wonderful Album

The Decemberists' major label debut is a phenomenal release. For a major label debut it is incredibly adventurous project with two epic tracks that clock in at or close to twelve minutes. The instrumentation is very effective, with guitars,...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: May 13, 2008 Type: User Review Decemberists defintely deliver in thier best album to date

I've been somewhat of a fan of The Decemberists in the past, "Picaresque" had a few tracks I liked, but others I didn't care for at all. "The Crane Wife" really sold it for me, with a bit more mainstream sound but without losing the quirky style...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: May 06, 2008 Type: User Review 5 stars

One of the best bands to come out in the last 10 years! Colin Malloy is in my opinion a musical genius that comes around every decade or so. there are so many musical styles in his writing that make it so hard to pin down the style of music you...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Apr 19, 2008 Type: User Review The Crane Wife

Great music, especially like the title song...My granddaughter dances to it, she's only two and loves it. That's what prompted me to buy it, my son lives in Portland, OR and is an avid music critic and thought this was one of the best albums he...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Apr 13, 2008 Type: User Review Not A Grand Slam, But A Grand Failure!

In their hey day, my teenage son & I both enjoyed The Decemberists. The Times They Are A-Changin'! My son, now 20, has become an adult and money being tight, I suppose, he did not immediately purchase The D's major label debut. It might have also...
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1.00 Star Rating
1.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Mar 05, 2008 Type: User Review Fantastic

If you like Death Cab for Cutie you will love the Decembrists. Except the Decembrists in my opinion are more in depth and have better vocals.
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Feb 19, 2008 Type: User Review Just plain good listening

This was the first Decemberists album I listened to, and im currently going through the others.
I can't put my finger on it...but something makes me love this album. It's so unlike anything I've heard, lyrically that is, that I can't help...
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5.00 Star Rating
5.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Feb 02, 2008 Type: User Review Careful, those who like to enjoy themselves.

Ouch. I bought this album because of some promising reviews. I listened to it on head phones numerous times, really trying to feel it. To get it. But I just can't. It comes off as Jethro Tull hijacked by the most tedious English teacher of...
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1.00 Star Rating
1.00/5
From: Amazon Posted: Jan 30, 2008 Type: User Review The Crane Wife: Mac problems?

Its a great cd and it plays on my stereo. However, my MAC computer refused to play it or upload it to my itunes, which was extremely frustrating and the purpose for buying the cd. This, however, is not the fault of the seller. Thats my only issue.
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4.00 Star Rating
4.00/5
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