The Decemberists – Always the Bridesmaid

I’m supposed to be writing an essay at the moment, a rather impenetrable and difficult piece about the exemplary problems and issues of eighteenth century Britain as portrayed in Samuel Richardson’s Clarissa. This review is merely a distraction, a Kit Kat and a cup of tea in the middle of the confusion that is my “day job” at the moment. Everyone needs a break at some point.When The Decemberists wrote the three singles that constitute the Always the Bridesmaid series, they were supposed to be penning next year’s Hazards of Love LP, described by the band in a recent interview as “a rock opera, a twisty, fantastical story about a woman named Margaret who is ravaged by a shape-shifting animal; her lover, William, who is desperate for the two of them to be reunited; a forest queen; and a villainous rake.” Well, everyone needs a break at some point.The six songs represented here certainly give the Decemberists a break from their recent work. Out go the prog-rock stompings of tracks like 'The Island' and the epic fairy tales of 'The Crane Wife' trilogy; in come catchy, hook-laden folk ditties which would sound not too far from home on either of the band’s first two albums. It’s a welcome return to the reason we all fell in love with Meloy and co. in the first place ”“ even if the songs had failed to stand up to their impressive predecessors, it’s nice to be reminded that somewhere wrapped up in those layers of string sections, synth lines and effects there still remains a band who, at heart, just want you to love them.And it’s hard not to love them when they produce such glorious sing-alongs as playfully satirical opener 'Valerie Plame', and such crushingly twee and delicate moments as closer 'Raincoat Song'. In between the two there is nothing quite so affecting, but nor is there anything that even comes close to being objectionable. Even a slightly awkward cover of Lou Reed’s 'I’m Sticking With You' is carried with typical Decemberists self-awareness, Meloy and Conlee’s duet verging on all-out parody without ever really getting there.Perhaps, given the consistent quality of their output, it’s no surprise that the Decemberists’ are determined to mutate and evolve their sound into something different ”“ I’ve no doubt they could continue churning out pop songs as good as these until the cows come home, but for a songwriter like Meloy, it’s obvious that treading water will never be enough. We await their “rock-opera” with baited breath... 70%The Decemberists on MyspaceThe Always The Bridesmaid series is available now on Rough Trade