Head over to Pitchfork to get “Summersong,” the first legally released track from the upcoming Decemberists album The Crane Wife. I have to say, it’s pleasant enough, but doesn’t really do a whole lot for me.
Which leads me to something I’ve been thinking for awhile: I may just have to accept that the Decemberists are a great band who happened to strike a cosmic connection with me on Castaways and Cutouts. I’ve liked their other work, but my three favorite songs by them (“Grace Cathedral Hill,” “California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade,” and “Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect”) were all on that album–and they haven’t really written much in the dreamy-chamber-pop genre since. They’ll remain one of my favorite bands, but I probably should stop expecting another life-altering album.