The Decemberists kicked off the new year with its lively seventh studio album, “What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World” — marking a 15-year-long career. The album was named for lead singer Colin Meloy’s response to President Barack Obama’s speech following the Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting. Though the album’s name carries a lot of weight, the music doesn’t live up to its potential.
The album opens with “The Singer Addresses His Audience,” and Meloy does exactly that, singing “we know you threw your arms around us/ we know you’ve built your life around us.” This song has a far quieter, simpler sound to it than many of the band’s previous openers, with acoustic guitar and Meloy’s soft, syrupy voice. The track itself is a bit off-putting in an egoistic sense, yet also provides an emotional connection for hardcore fans of the group.
The album progresses into “Cavalry Captain,” more reminiscent of the band’s usual style. Other tracks such as “Lake Song” and “Till the Water’s All Gone” also share the classic Decemberists bluegrass-style delivery.
“Make You Better” offers a contrast to the record’s overall unexciting, monotonous material. The track begins with electric guitar, unlike the acoustic-driven arrangements which fill the album. Melroy’s delivery of the song is also far more captivating than in many of the other tracks on the album. In yet another contrast, songs like “Better Not Wake the Baby” have a more light-hearted and even humorous mood to them, adding in harmonica and banjo sounds to increase the album’s country stylings.
The band ventures into the realm of baroque pop with “Philomena,” confusing the album’s overall message. Though the lyrics and instrumentation of the album sound thought-out and well-constructed, the movement from a serious albeit annoying audience address to silly and unsubstantial stories interrupts the momentum of the experience as a whole.
“What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World,” is not be to be missed for die-hard Decemberists fans, but ultimately is not the best first impression for new listeners.
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