3 Reasons Why You Need To Be Listening to the Decemberists Right Now

1. Their Artwork has been turned into embroidery patterns.

Straight from the master's mouth... Embroidery Goddess Jenny Hart, creator of Sublime Stitching, posted this recently on her blog:

"Do you like The Decemberists? Do you like embroidering? Then, I bet you would like embroidering The Decemberists. What the heck do I mean? I mean, the band asked me to create limited-edition, custom embroidery kits and patterns with wondrous illustrations by Carson Ellis. Alas, you can't buy these kits direct from me. I handed the precious lot over to the band, who are currently selling them at their shows while on tour. Don't look at me, I don't have them here! Go see The Decemberists!"

2. The lead singer's sister is a fantastic writer.

Colin Meloy is a self-proclaimed poet and former English Major. He writes beautifully poignant and evocative lyrics, many of which start out as poems. His sister, Maile Meloy, writer of Liars and Saints, is a successful, published author.

Again, I'm just going to do this the easy way, and refer to a more authentic source. " Maile Meloy was born in Helena, Montana, in 1972. Her stories have been published in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, Ploughshares, The Ontario Review, Witness, and Best New American Voices 2000, and she won the 2001 Aga Khan Prize for best story in The Paris Review. Half in Love received the 2003 PEN/Malamud Award for Excellence in Short Fiction and the 2003 Rosenthal Award from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. " (from Ploughshares Literary Journal)

So, yeah, read her novels. They're freakin' great. And anyone who has such a prolific sister, gets a vote in my book.

3. Their music is downright awesome. Just listen to it.

Vive la Musique de Roche!

Marie Antoinette The Soundtrack

Okay, okay, so I haven't seen the movie yet, but I've been listening to the Marie Antoinette soundtrack for the past three hours.  It's fantastic.  Sofia Coppola, who also directed The Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation, knows how to pick 'em.  Songs, that is.  The track list contains indie favorites such as The Strokes, Siouxsie & The Banshees, Gang of Four, Aphex Twin, New Order, and, of course, Air.  What would a Sofia Coppola film be without Air? 

Here's the full lineup:

Disc 1
1. "Hong Kong Garden" - Siouxsie & The Banshees
2. "Aphrodisiac" - Bow Wow Wow
3. "What Ever Happened" - The Strokes
4. "Pulling Our Weight" - The Radio Dept.
5. "Ceremony" - New Order
6. "Natural's Not In It" - Gang of Four
7. "I Want Candy (Kevin Shields Remix)" - Bow Wow Wow
8. "Kings Of The Wild Frontier" - Adam & The Ants
9. "Concerto in G" * - Antonio Vivaldi / Reitzell
10. "The Melody Of A Fallen Tree" - Windsor For The Derby
11. "I Don't Like It Like This" - The Radio Dept.
12. "Plainsong" - The Cure

Disc 2
1. "Intro Versailles"* - Reitzell / Beggs
2. "Jynweythek Ylow" - Aphex Twin
3. "Opus 17" - Dustin O'Halloran
4. "Il Secondo Giorno (Instrumental)" - Air
5. "Keen On Boys" - The Radio Dept.
6. "Opus 23" *- Dustin O'Halloran
7. "Les Baricades Misterieuses"* - Francois Couperin / Reitzell
8. "Fools Rush In (Kevin Shields Remix)" - Bow Wow Wow
9. "Avril 14th" - Aphex Twin
10. "K. 213" * - Domenico Scarlatti / Reitzell
11. "Tommib Help Buss" - Squarepusher
12. "Tristes Apprets.." - Jean Philippe Rameau / W. Christie
13. "Opus 36"*- Dustin O'Halloran
14. "All Cat's Are Grey" - The Cure

 

Marie Antoinette (movie website)