.

New Reviews: The Decemberists Strip Down on Live Album

Also: New music by Big K.R.I.T., Arcade Fire, Beach House, Blur, Odd Future and more

Comment
March 13, 2012 6:30 PM ET
The Decemberists
The Decemberists
Autumn de Wilde

In this week's slate of Rolling Stone reviews, Jon Dolan ponders how the Decemberists' new double live album, which features a 16-minute folk- rock opus, a yodeling drummer and nautical themed audience participation, is somehow relatively "stripped-down" for the "overweeningly theatrical" band. Also, Rob Sheffield describes Vince Clarke and Martin Gore's new techno album as VCMG as the "New Wave equivalent of the Rocky/Apollo rematch at the end of Rocky III," Jeff Rosenthal slams the new single by shock-rap crew Odd Future and Monica Herrera praises Big K.R.I.T.'s new self-produced mixture.

ALBUMS

The Decemberists - We All Raise Our Voices to the Air (Live Songs 04-11-08-11)

VCMG - Ssss

The Ting Tings - Sounds From Nowheresville

The Jezabels - Prisoner

The Men - Open Your Heart

White Rabbits - Milk Famous

Band of Skulls - Sweet Sour

Delta Spirit - Delta Spirit

Big K.R.I.T. - 4evaNaDay

WZRD - WZRD

SONGS

Arcade Fire "Abraham's Daughter"

Odd Future "Rella"

Beach House "Myth"

Debo Band "Asha Gedawo"

Blur "Under the Westway"

To read the new issue of Rolling Stone online, plus the entire RS archive: Click Here

prev
The Black Keys Storm Madison Square Garden
Music Main Next
Tom Morello Plans 'Flash Mob Dance Party' For Occupy SXSW

Picks From Around the Web


blog comments powered by Disqus
Daily Newsletter

Get the latest RS news in your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Rolling Stone newsletter and special offers from RS and its
marketing partners.

X

We may use your e-mail address to send you the newsletter and offers that may interest you, on behalf of Rolling Stone and its partners. For more information please read our Privacy Policy.

Most Popular

Photos & Videos

Go To Content

Random Notes: Hottest Rock Pictures

Go To Content Play Video

Video: Dave Grohl Sits in With the Rolling Stones

Go To Content

Gallery: Summer Tour Preview 2013

Best Ever Lists
500 Greatest Songs of All Time

Other Lists

Song Stories

“I'm Yours”

Jason Mraz | 2008

Jason Mraz re-emerged after his disappointing second album with this lead single, a Jack Johnson-esque ditty about giving yourself fully to someone else. The success of the reggae-tinged song (it earned two Grammy nods and a spot on the Billboard singles chart for well over a year) was something the folk-pop singer never predicted when he wrote it in 15 minutes at home. "I played a happy-hippie chord progression that would probably work without 50 different Bob Marley songs," he told Rolling Stone. "I thought, 'It's too novelty. This is a nursery rhyme,'" concluding that "you can never guess what's gonna be a hit."

More Song Stories entries »