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New Music Monday: The Decemberists

By Dave Sanford Aug 6, 2021 7:45 AM

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The Decemberists - What a Terrible World cover In the music video for “Make You Better,” the lead single from The Decemberists’ new album, What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World, Parks & Recreation‘s Nick Offerman portrays a TV host in the middle of a fraught relationship with one of his coworkers. This change in role for Offerman, from rugged Ron Swanson to the vulnerable Franz, is indicative of a larger change in The Decemberists’ tone on their new album.

What a Terrible World… is more direct than the band’s older catalogue. “Make You Better” deals plainly and openly with the burdens lovers place on one another, while tracks like “12/17/12” feature vocalist Colin Meloy singing on his own experiences rather than narrating stories about fictional/mythical characters (cf. The Hazards of Love and The Táin).

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That said, and even considering the band’s shift in lyrical style, What a Terrible World… is unmistakably a Decemberists album. “The Singer Addresses His Audience” includes sly references to the listener as it takes a serious look at issues of fame and artistry, and in another life “Philomena” could have been the most suggestive track The Hollies ever recorded.

Meloy’s use of more personal lyrics is a rejuvenating move for the band. What a Terrible World… points toward a new way forward for The Decemberists. The band is exploring new lyrical territory as well as digging further into its roots and inspirations.

What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World came out last Tuesday, January 20th, on Capitol Records and is available on Amazon, The Decemberists’ official site, and iTunes.

Why John Ford’s Westerns Get Better as You Get Older

Clothing, Hat, Face

There are worse ways to spend an evening than watching John Wayne stop a stagecoach.

He stands in the road, saddle slung over one arm, spinning a Winchester as the camera rushes toward him. It is an entrance worthy of a movie star, and in Stagecoach, you can practically watch Wayne become one. Before he has done much of anything, you want to know where he is going. You would probably go with him.

Cigar Lounge Spotlight: Española Cigar Bar & Lounge in Miami Beach

cigar lounge

I was at Española Cigar Bar & Lounge in Miami Beach earlier this year when the idea for this weekly spotlight first came to mind. I was in town to interview Floyd Mayweather Jr. at a yacht party that turned out to be as bombastic as the 15-time world champion himself. The trip kicked off with dinner at Claudie for a taste of the French Riviera. I was whisked into the restaurant’s private dining room, where guests included a slew of GNC executives, former NBA players, and Oscar winner Cuba Gooding Jr.

After five or so Old Fashioneds, three of us decided to keep the night going, and we were all in the mood for stogies, which is always a great idea during one of Miami’s muggy nights. Española Cigar Bar & Lounge was the place to be, and if you’ve ever walked Española Way on a Friday night, you understand why.

Feeling stuck or behind? Here are the five days you need to schedule every month

HIker standing in the sunrise

It feels like every single month, when the calendar turns over (figuratively speaking, unless you still have a physical calendar), there is no way it is already the first of a new month. It can feel like you are stuck in the middle of a grind, that you are behind on everything, and no matter how hard you try, you can’t catch up. Or even move forward. That can weigh on you. Just like a new year creates new motivations, new planning, and new goals, you can break the months into smaller scales.

Your monthly calendar (and even further, going to the week) should reflect the things you want to accomplish. And, if you are feeling stuck, unmotivated, or like you are falling behind, here are five non-negotiable days you should set up every single month to set you up for climbing out of your funk.