The Decemberists : NPR

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Best Music Of 2018

The 100 Best Songs Of 2018

December 5, 2018 • During a turbulent year rife with personal and political trauma, the most memorable songs pulled no punches in the pursuit of pop.

Listen To Projects By Justin Vernon And Brittany Howard

Clockwise from upper left: Shy Boys, The Decemberists, Hauschka, Bermuda Triangle Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Courtesy of the artists

All Songs Considered

Listen To Projects By Justin Vernon And Brittany Howard

June 26, 2018 • On this week's All Songs Considered, hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton have a bleakly funny track from The Decemberists, jangly-pop from Shy Boys, gentle folk from Bermuda Triangle and more.

New Mix: The Decemberists, Bermuda Triangle, Justin Vernon And S. Carey, More

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The Decemberists Holly Andres/Courtesy of the aritst hide caption

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World Cafe

The Decemberists On World Cafe

XPN

April 2, 2018 • Lead singer/guitarist, Colin Meloy, talks about where the band's new sound came from and surprises you'll hear on the record.

The Decemberists On World Cafe

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Review: The Decemberists, 'I'll Be Your Girl'

The Decemberists' I'll Be Your Girl comes out March 16 on Capitol. Holly Andres/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Holly Andres/Courtesy of the artist

Review

First Listen

Review: The Decemberists, 'I'll Be Your Girl'

March 12, 2018 • The band's eighth album captures a collaborative spirit that keeps The Decemberists sounding vibrant and alive, even as it delves into themes of futility and darkness.

The Decemberists Announce A New Album — And Share The Synth-Driven 'Severed'

The Decemberists' new album, I'll Be Your Girl, comes out March 16. Holly Andres/ hide caption

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All Songs Considered

The Decemberists Announce A New Album — And Share The Synth-Driven 'Severed'

January 17, 2018 • I'll Be Your Girl, out March 16, promises to take the band in a new, aggressive, synth-friendly direction, courtesy of new producer John Congleton.

Hear A 'Hamilton' Outtake: Benjamin F'ing Franklin

The Decemberists' cover of "Ben Franklin's Song" from Hamilton is out now. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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All Songs Considered

Hear A 'Hamilton' Outtake: Benjamin F'ing Franklin

December 15, 2017 • In 2016, Lin-Manuel Miranda sent lyrics about Benjamin Franklin to The Decemberists. Today, hear their collaborative take on the man who invented bifocals, the glass harmonica and a whole lot more.

Offa Rex Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Shervin Lainez/Courtesy of the artist

World Cafe

Offa Rex On World Cafe

XPN

September 21, 2017 • Portland, Ore.'s The Decemberists and British singer-songwriter Olivia Chaney teamed up to reimagine traditional British folk songs. Hear a performance recorded at the XPoNential Music Festival.

Offa Rex On World Cafe

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Olivia Chaney And The Decemberists; British Folk Honored And Reimagined

The Queen Of Hearts is the new project by Olivia Chaney and The Decemberists. They're known as Offa Rex Courtesy of the Artist hide caption

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All Songs Considered

Olivia Chaney And The Decemberists; British Folk Honored And Reimagined

May 5, 2017 • A conversation with music from The Decemberists and British singer Olivia Chaney. Their new project, Offa Rex both honors and rocks the British folk music tradition.

The Decemberists Return, Renewed And A Little Relaxed

The Decemberists' latest album is What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World. Autumn de Wilde/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Autumn de Wilde/Courtesy of the artist

Music Interviews

The Decemberists Return, Renewed And A Little Relaxed

January 19, 2015 • Singer Colin Meloy remembers when literally no one was listening to his music. Once his band cracked the mainstream, he found himself missing the artistic freedom that comes with anonymity.

The Decemberists Return, Renewed And A Little Relaxed

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The Decemberists, 'Make You Better' (Live)

The Decemberists perform live on KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic. Larry Hirshowitz/KCRW hide caption

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Larry Hirshowitz/KCRW

Favorite Sessions

The Decemberists, 'Make You Better' (Live)

KCRW

January 30, 2015 • The folk-rock band, newly returned from a hiatus, performs "Make You Better" live in the studio.

New Adventures In Folk: The Best Of 2011

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Robertsen Ashman

Best Music Of 2011

New Adventures In Folk: The Best Of 2011

Folk Alley

December 16, 2011 • The Head and the Heart is one of many new folk groups that bend tradition while keeping it alive.

The Decemberists' members perform songs from The King Is Dead on World Cafe. Autumn de Wilde hide caption

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Autumn de Wilde

World Cafe

Vintage Cafe: The Decemberists

XPN

January 6, 2014 • For this installment of our Vintage Cafe series, we revisit a chat with the Portland, Ore., quintet that took place upon the release of The King Is Dead in 2011.

The Decemberists On World Cafe

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Review

Director's Cuts

Holiday Gift Picks for 2006

November 26, 2006 • Ned Wharton, musical director for Weekend Edition Sunday, offers a collection of recordings offbeat enough to surprise your favorite music lover this holiday season.

Holiday Gift Picks for 2006

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Live in Concert

The Decemberists Soar with 'Crane Wife' Live

October 31, 2006 • Portland, Oregon's literate and theatrical rock group The Decemberists have just released what some critics are calling the year's best album. Hear selections from The Crane Wife and some of the band's earlier albums in a full concert, recorded live from Washington, D.C.

Review

Top Music Picks for 2005

Meredith Ochs' Top 10 CDs of 2005

December 17, 2005 • NPR music reviewer Meredith Ochs shares her picks for the year's best CDs, from the "sacred-meets-profane" rock of the White Stripes to outlaw country singer Merle Haggard.

Top Music Picks for 2005

The Best Music of 2005 Countdown

December 16, 2005 • All Songs Considered counts down the years best music. Host Bob Boilen talks with reviewers and listeners about their picks for the best CDs and songs of 2005. The show was originally webcast live on NPR.org

The Best Music of 2005 Countdown

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Best CDs of 2006

NPR Listeners Pick the Best CDs of 2006

December 7, 2006 • Find out the number one album of the year as selected by NPR listeners. Count down the top ten CDs with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen as he chats with reviewers Robert Christgau, Will Hermes, Meredith Ochs and John Richards.

Listen to All Songs Considered count down listener picks for the year's best CDs (90 mins).

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The Decemberists: 'The King Is Dead,' Live From Portland

The Decemberists' members will kick off a nationwide tour with a show at their local radio station in Portland, Ore., on Jan. 19. Autumn de Wilde/EMI Music hide caption

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Autumn de Wilde/EMI Music

Live in Concert

The Decemberists: 'The King Is Dead,' Live From Portland

Oregon Public Broadcasting

January 19, 2011 • Colin Meloy and his band have a treat for their hometown on Wednesday. The group will perform songs from its new album together for the first time in front of a live audience at 3 p.m. ET today — and you can watch it live from the studios of Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Audio Only: Hear The Entire Concert From OPB Music

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One Road Trip, One Novelist, One-Fifth Of The Decemberists

Siblings Colin Meloy, frontman of The Decemberists, and Maile Meloy, novelist. Courtesy of the artists hide caption

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Mom And Dad's Record Collection

One Road Trip, One Novelist, One-Fifth Of The Decemberists

June 13, 2012 • Two creative siblings — Decemberists frontman Colin Meloy and writer Maile Meloy — recall a family road trip made memorable by the handful of cassettes in the car.

One Road Trip, One Novelist, One-Fifth Of The Decemberists

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WXPN

World Cafe

Portland's Revered Record Stores

XPN

March 14, 2012 • Hear Terry Currier, owner of Music Millennium, Portland's premier record store, discuss the area's recent music history and play songs from local artists.

Portland's Revered Record Stores

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Colin Meloy and David Dye in Portland. Bob Giardini/Courtesy of Bob G Media hide caption

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Bob Giardini/Courtesy of Bob G Media

World Cafe

Discover Portland's Music Scene

XPN

March 13, 2012 • World Cafe host David Dye speaks with the Decemberists front man Colin Meloy and other local musicians, business owners and residents about Portland's thriving music scene.

Discover Portland's Music Scene

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SXSW Music Festival

The Decemberists In Concert

June 4, 2009 • It was a bold move: Introduce the world to your ambitious concept record by performing it in its entirety to a national audience, a week before the CD release. But The Decemberists did just that at SXSW this past March, and now you can watch some beautifully shot videos from the album's live premiere.