Her Majesty

by The Decemberists

Overview

On Her Majesty, the Decemberists' follow-up to their excellent debut, Castaways and Cutouts, the group cements its reputation as a seafaring Belle & Sebastian or a more grounded Neutral Milk Hotel. Tying together sweet symphonic pop with a ragtag theatricality, this album is more ambitious and more scattered than Castaways and Cutouts, making it an initially less accessible and more difficult listen. However, many of Her Majesty's most indulgent moments are among its best, including the high drama of the album opener, "Shanty for the Aretheusa," an epic that runs with the dark beauty that haunted the corners of the Decemberists' debut and gives it a wild, rambling edge. Likewise, "The Gymnast, High Above the Ground" also displays the band's expertise at creating subtle but palpable drama and swooning romanticism with just a few musical brush strokes. The wonderfully named "I Was Meant for the Stage," a triumphantly bittersweet song for the inner drama queen in everyone, shows off Colin Meloy's uniquely expressive voice: at one moment he's lispingly fey; the next, he's sneering self-deprecatingly. These beautiful, challenging songs make the band's occasional dips into treacle, such as the cloying "Billy Liar," forgivable, but what makes Her Majesty such a solid album is the consistent quality of the songs pitched between its high and low points. "Los Angeles, I'm Yours" flirts with soft rock, coming across as a latter-day single from Al Stewart; "Your Red Right Ankle" is an intimately and creatively detailed love song; and "Song for Myla Goldberg" has a sunny, winning appeal. Even though Her Majesty isn't quite as striking and full-formed as Castaways and Cutouts, it's still a consistently charming album that finds the band coming into its own. ~ Heather Phares

Product Details

Release Date:	09/09/2003
Label:	Kill Rock Stars
UPC:	0759656037525

Tracks

1. Shanty for the Arethusa
2. Billy Liar
3. Los Angeles, I'm Yours
4. The Gymnast, High Above the Ground
5. The Bachelor and the Bride
6. Song for Myla Goldberg
7. The Soldiering Life
8. Red Right Ankle
9. Chimbley Sweep
10. I Was Meant for the Stage
11. As I Rise

Album Credits

Performance Credits

The Decemberists   Primary Artist
Chris Funk   Guitar (Electric),Oberheim Synthesizer,Dobro,Percussion,Pedal Steel,Lap Steel Guitar
Colin Meloy   Vocals,Percussion,Guitar (Acoustic),Guitar (Electric)
Rachel Blumberg   Drums,Organ,Soloist,Percussion,Vibraphone,Glockenspiel,Vocals (Background)
Kenneth Erlick   Handclapping
Cory Gray   Trumpet,Trombone,Handclapping
Jenny Conlee   Piano,Accordion,Wurlitzer,Percussion,Fender Rhodes,Organ (Hammond),Piano (Upright),Vocals (Background)
Bridget Callahan   Viola
Jesse Emerson   Percussion,Bass (Upright),Bass (Electric)
Mike Lah   Cello
Emily Cox   Violin
Lucia Atkinson   Violin
David Lipkind   Chromatic Harmonica

Technical Credits

The Decemberists   Producer
John Golden   Mastering
Colin Meloy   Composer,Assistant
Mike Johnson   String Arrangements
Adam Selzer   Engineer,Producer
Carson Ellis   Design,Screams,Illustrations
Bradley Clark   Producer,Layout Design
Larry Crane   Engineer,Producer