‘I'll be Your Girl’ The Decemberists

Graham Craycraft

‘I'll be Your Girl’ (released on March 16 2018) is the eighth album for the indie/rock/alternative/pop-ish/americano group The Decemberists. Yet another example of how trying to force a band into a genre just makes it more confusing. Bands are categorized into genres to make it simpler to detect if you may be interested in them, but often times, a group or even album cannot fit nicely into just one or two genres. I can see how every genre I named above and even more could apply to The Decemberists and their new album ‘I'll be Your Girl.’ Songs like ‘Severed’ are a mash of techno, alternative, and pop that are a large step sideways for the album and band. I say sideways because it is actually a great song and fits quite well into this album, but is not their normal type of song. ‘Severed’ is a song that feels like it belongs in a spoof remake of Blade Runner or a cheesy 90’s teenage pop movie, but in the best way possible. In fact most songs on his record have a techno, funky beat behind them.

The Decemberists come back after three years since their album ‘What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World.’ These albums are quite different and it really feels like the group has decided to continue to just make whatever music they want rather than continue to follow the well flowing canal they have already dug for themselves. One of my favorite aspects of ‘I'll be Your Girl’ is that they really make every song feel like exactly what they wish to express. In the song ‘Ghost’ it has a spooky, lofty, whispery sound and although I do not particularly like this song it really feels like the ghosts are swirling around. The song ‘Everything is Awful’ also is repetitive and upbeat which makes you feel that really everything is quite truly awful, but it is so awful that at this point it has become comical. Again, this song is too much for me, but I respect and get what they were trying to do.

So although not every song on here is a stellar track, in fact I dislike a couple, the songs that are good are great. The song ‘Cutting Stone’ is a soft and desperate vibe with powerful lyrics and the song ‘Rusalka, Rusalka/ Wild Rushes’ is a combined song that both ends deal with a man being tempted to his watery death. The first half deals with a Rusalka, a water spirit that lures men to death, and even though the singer seems to know he will die, he succumbs to death and allows himself to be taken over by his “river bride.” The first half is a beautiful and gentle melodic tune that blends right into ‘Wild Rushes’ which is a quicker paced story following another character who finds himself drawn into the water by a temptress. The song has three stanzas ending with “And I, being foolish, walked into my knees/… And I, being foolish, walked into my chest/… And I, being foolish, went into my chin” which ultimately leads to the character’s death at the power of the seductor. Not only is this the best story on the record, but it is also the just the best song(s) as well. The melody, chorus, and poeticism are each an individual victory and put together makes a great song(s).

This album by The Decemberists is a welcome addition to their catalogue and some tracks on here rank up there with the best they’ve created. Give it a listen and let me know what you think.