The Decemberists - We All Raise Our Voices To The Air

I have just been listening to the new live offering from The Decemberists. If you haven't heard anything by them, then I suggest you might like to correct that as soon as possible.

Formed, like one or two of my other favourite bands, in Portland, Oregon (there must be something in the water there), The Decemberists released their first recorded work - an EP - in 2001. Since then they have released six full length studio albums, and now a live double CD or triple vinyl LP if you prefer.

The songs usually written by front man Colin Meloy, who I now believe is a published children's author, are often based upon folk-lore tales or real historical events. Musically they feature a variety of instruments as aside from the usual guitar, bass, drums, the sound is often embellished by accordian, wurlitzer organ and stand up acoustic bass. The closest comparison I can come up with is to another very fine band, The Arcade Fire.

I have not had the pleasure of seeing them play live yet (my son Paul caught them last year in Birmingham) but their live shows are said to be eccentric affairs utilising a good deal of audience participation. Perhaps there were arguments for this release being in DVD format so we could see as well as hear the performance. Anyway, the recordings were made at various US venues during 2011.

There are twenty songs featured on the album representing the whole of the band's career to date. The track 'Oceanside' that kicks off the second CD dates from the aforementioned 2001 EP while the other tracks come from each of the remaining albums. For the record there are two from 'Castaways and Cutouts', three from 'Her Majesty, The Decemberists', four from 'Picaresque', two from 'The Crane Wife', surprisingly only one from 'The Hazards of Love'  and more obviously, seven from the album they were promoting, last year's 'The King is Dead'.

Obviously I haven't compared each of the versions to the originals but the performance hangs together nicely and captures much of the atmosphere and interaction with the audience. If you already have the original studio albums you may want to give this a miss unless you want to recapture the spirit of seeing them live, or you simply have to own everything they release. If you are new to the band, then this could serve as a nice sort of 'greatest hits' introduction.

Whatever your choice, I hope you enjoy. As Colin Meloy says during this performance, 'Your money will be well spent.'