Named both in reference to the Russian Decembrist Revolt (they use the national anthem of the Soviet Union as an introduction at many concerts) and to the atmosphere associated with the month of December, the Decemberists write songs that range from upbeat pop to instrumentally lush ballads. They often employ instruments like the accordion, Hammond organ, Wurlitzer organ, and upright bass. In their lyrics, they eschew the angst and introspection common to modern rock, instead favoring a storytelling approach, as evidenced in songs such as "My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist" from the 5 Songs EP and "The Mariner's Revenge Song" on Picaresque. Their songs convey tales ranging from whimsical ("Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect") to epic ("The Tain") to truly dark ("Odalisque"). They often invoke historical events and themes from around the world. Early in their career, The Decemberists' musical and lyrical aesthetics frequently prompted critics to compare them to Neutral Milk Hotel. Since their debut, their sound has undergone a consistent evolution, most notably in the direction of progressive rock with a strong folk influence, though they have also been described as indie rock and, by Stephen Colbert, as "hyper-literate prog rock." For example, one song, "When the War Came", uses a little-known story from the Siege of Leningrad to describe the heroism of civilian scientists during warfare. The lyrics state: "We made our oath to Vavilov / We'd not betray the solanum / The acres of asteraceae / To our own pangs of starvation". Nikolai Ivanovich Vavilov was a Russian botanist whose laboratory, a seedbank containing 200,000 types of plant seeds, many of them edible, was preserved throughout the siege, during which hundreds of thousands of people died.
In March 2005, the Decemberists were reportedly the first band to distribute a music video via BitTorrent -- the self-produced "16 Military Wives" (from Picaresque). That same month, the band's equipment trailer was stolen; fans contributed to a replacement fund, and another fund-raiser was organized via an eBay auction, with buyers bidding for copies of Colin Meloy Sings Morrissey and original art work by Carson Ellis. They also received help from Lee Kruger, The Shins, The Dandy Warhols and other musicians. The Martin Guitar Company offered six- and twelve-string guitars on permanent loan. In early April, police discovered the trailer in Clackamas, Oregon, and a fair amount of the band's merchandise, but the instruments and equipment were not recovered.
On 12 December 2005, Meloy revealed to Pitchfork Media that they had signed to Capitol Records, and planned to begin recording their major label debut with producers Tucker Martine and Chris Walla, of Death Cab for Cutie fame, in April 2006. The Decemberists' first album on Capitol, and their first major label debut, The Crane Wife, was released on 3 October 2006. The release was accompanied by an appearance the same day on the world-wide syndicated TV talk show Late Night with Conan O'Brien when the track "O Valencia!" was performed. The Decemberists began their tour in support of The Crane Wife, with The Rout of the Patagons Tour, on 17 October 2006, at Portland, Oregon's Crystal Ballroom. Their opening act was Lavender Diamond. Later on in the tour, Alasdair Roberts opened for the band.
In July 2007 the Decemberists set out on a five-date tour with a full orchestral accompaniment. On 7 July, the tour put the group on the stage of the historic Hollywood Bowl for the first time in their career, and they were joined by the Los Angeles Philharmonic. On 15 July the group performed with The Mann Festival Orchestra at The Mann Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They then played a free concert in Chicago, Ilinois, at the recently developed Millennium Park with the Grant Park Symphony Orchestra. In September 2007 they also played at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, Texas.
In October 2007, they began The Long and Short of It Tour. However, having completed the European portion of the tour and immediately after playing the Chicago dates, the rest of the tour was canceled due to illness.
On 24 March 2009, the band released The Hazards of Love, their fifth album. The album's first single, "The Rake's Song", was made available for free on the band's website. The album featured guest appearances from My Brightest Diamond, Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond, Robyn Hitchcock and Jim James. The album peaked at #14 on the Billboard 200.
On 11 January 2011, the band released their sixth album The King is Dead. The band released the first single "Down by the Water" for free on their website. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 album chart in the United States and is the highest charting album in the band's career. The second single, "This Is Why We Fight" was released on January 25, 2011.
There is another band with the same name:
(2). The Decemberists formed in Liverpool in 1984 when Andy Ford and Tom Gent from Swim Naked hooked up with Colin Pennington, who had just left The Tunnel Users. They played their first show at The Cavern in 1985 and then played extensively in their home city. After recording demo tapes which attracted attention from BBC Radio 1's John Peel and Rough Trade Records, they secured a residency at University Of London Union (ULU). Their first release was James Is (Still The Same) on the Discreet Campaigns compilation cassette tape alongside New Order and Cocteau Twins. After the appearance of Gift Horse on the Ways To Wear Coats compilation LP in 1987, the band changed their name to Hellfire Sermons.
James Is (Still The Same) was included on The Sound Of Leamington Spa Volume 6 in 2009. They are listed as ‘The Decemberists Of Liverpool 1985-87’ on this album to make a distinction from the famous 21st century group of the same name.
Fits & Starts
The Decemberists Lyrics
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We were having such a fine time
We were covered in a sweet rime, all right
But they got it all wrong at the FSO
Got us wound so taught that we're champing to go
Now we're all broke loose and we're coming on
It fits and starts
It fits and starts
Fits and fits and fits and starts
I was watching on the apparat
Some comely little apparatchik felled
We were having such a fine time
We were sweating out a sweet rime, unshelled
But they got it all wrong at the FSO
Got us wound so taught that we're champing to go
Now we're all broke loose and we're coming on
It fits and starts
It fits and starts
It fits and starts
Fits and fits and fits and starts
Fits and starts
The Decemberists' "Fits & Starts" recounts experiences from a speaker who exists in an unspecified time and place but describes being captive to an authority figure, "the commandant," on a promenade. The opening lines advise that he is coming to speak, and all must "rise" in honor of him. The suggestion is that while they were enjoying themselves, covered in a "sweet rime" (a layer of frost), there was some misjudgment that occurred by the "FSO" (not defined). The FSO made the singer feel as though they are coiled like springs, preparing to erupt. The singer notes how they are breaking free, the fits and starts of rebellion that come with the individual in the chorus.
The second verse continues with the singer watching a comely 'apparatchik' (often referring to officials of the Communist Party) fall as they all sweat due to their long-term imprisonment. Likewise, this lyric gives the feeling of being compelled against one's will yet doing so for a common purpose. The chorus repeats, acting as a complete counter to the opening call and response of the "commandant" on the "promenade," with the "fits and starts" now transforming into a complete uproar.
Line by Line Meaning
All rise for the commandant as he addresses from the promenade, hold tight
Attention everyone, the leader is about to speak from a raised platform, get ready to listen carefully
We were having such a fine time
We were enjoying ourselves greatly
We were covered in a sweet rime, all right
We were covered in a thin layer of frost, it was okay
But they got it all wrong at the FSO
But the authorities made a mistake somewhere
Got us wound so taught that we're champing to go
They made us so tense that we're eager to get started
Now we're all broke loose and we're coming on
Now we're all free to move and we're advancing forward
It fits and starts
Our progress is uneven and unpredictable
Fits and fits and fits and starts
Our progress is constantly starting and stopping in short bursts
I was watching on the apparat
I was watching on the television or some other device
Some comely little apparatchik felled
Some attractive young official was brought down
We were sweating out a sweet rime, unshelled
We were working hard and sweating, still with a thin layer of frost on us that had not yet melted
Fits and starts
Our progress is uneven and unpredictable
Fits and fits and fits and starts
Our progress is constantly starting and stopping in short bursts
Fits and starts
Our progress is uneven and unpredictable
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: COLIN MELOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind