''I'll Be Your Girl'' is the eighth studio album by the American

indie rock Indie rock is a subgenre of rock music that originated in the United States, United Kingdom and New Zealand from the 1970s to the 1980s. Originally used to describe independent record labels, the term became associated with the music they produ ...

band

The Decemberists The Decemberists are an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon. The band consists of Colin Meloy (lead vocals, guitar, principal songwriter), Chris Funk (guitar, multi-instrumentalist), Jenny Conlee (piano, keyboards, accordion), Nate ...

, released on March 16, 2018 on

Capitol A capitol, named after the Capitoline Hill in Rome, is usually a legislative building where a legislature meets and makes laws for its respective political entity. Specific capitols include: * United States Capitol in Washington, D.C. * Numerous ...

and

Rough Trade Rough Trade may refer to: * Rough Trade Records, a record label *Rough Trade (shops) Rough Trade is a group of independent record shops in the United Kingdom and the United States with headquarters in London. The first Rough Trade shop was o ...

. Produced by

John Congleton John Congleton is an American Grammy Award-winning record producer, engineer, mixer, writer and musician. In addition to his production work, Congleton has fronted the alternative rock band the Paper Chase, and writes music for a newer project e ...

, the band experimented with new instrumentation during the album's recording sessions, including several synth-based compositions inspired by New Order and

Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic music band formed in Basildon, Essex, in 1980. The band currently consists of Dave Gahan (lead vocals and co-songwriting) and Martin Gore (keyboards, guitar, co-lead vocals and main songwriting). Depech ...

. The album was preceded by the singles, "Severed" and "Once in My Life".

Writing and composition

The album's lyrical content was, in part, influenced by the

2016 presidential election This national electoral calendar for 2016 lists the national/ federal elections held in 2016 in all sovereign states and their dependent territories. By-elections are excluded, though national referendums are included. January *7 January: Kiri ...

and its immediate aftermath. Vocalist and guitarist

Colin Meloy Colin Patrick Henry Meloy (born October 5, 1974) is an American musician, singer-songwriter and author best known as the frontman of the Portland, Oregon, indie folk rock band The Decemberists. In addition to vocals, he performs with an acou ...

noted: " 'I'll Be Your Girl''celebrates the absurdity of our current predicaments. I think it really is a reflection of my outlook immediately post the 2016 election, where there was immediately this onset of despair. Like real despair. Real depression, and then sort of climbing out of it. Seeing other people feeling the same way, similarly climbing out of their hole and just witnessing events as they came along, rather than with tears. There was almost like an ironic humour but with anger, and those sort of go together. It was about finding the balance between real rage and humour – discovering the wild absurdity in it, but not being blithe."

Track listing

Personnel

The Decemberists

- vocals, composer, lyricist, acoustic guitar, background vocals, electric guitar *

Chris Funk Christopher Funk (born November 28, 1971) is an American musician and multi-instrumentalist best known as a member of the Portland, Oregon, indie rock band The Decemberists. He plays guitar, pedal steel, piano, violin, dobro, hurdy-gurdy, mandol ...

- acoustic guitar, background vocals, banjo, bouzouki, electric guitar, mandolin, synthesizer *

Jenny Conlee Jennifer Lynn Conlee-Drizos (born December 12, 1971) is an American musician, best known as the accordionist, pianist, organist, keyboardist, melodica player, and occasional backup singer and harmonicist for the indie rock quintet The Decemberi ...

- accordion, background vocals, organ, piano, synthesizer, vibraphone *

Nate Query Nate Query (born September 5, 1973) is an American musician best known as the bassist of the Portland, Oregon indie rock band The Decemberists. He plays electric bass, upright bass, banjo and cello. He makes appearances on many albums by Portland ...

- background vocals, cello, electric bass, upright bass *

John Moen John Moen is a musician and member of The Decemberists, Black Prairie, Boston Spaceships, Eyelids, and Perhapst. Moen has played the drums since he was 15 years old. Prior to joining The Decemberists, Moen played with over 20 bands including s ...

- background vocals, drums, percussion

Additional musicians

* Kelly Hogan - background vocals * Nora O'Connor - background vocals * Birch Query - choir vocals * Eleanor Laurie - choir vocals * Finn Query - choir vocals * Louise Moen - choir vocals * Max Markewitz - choir vocals * Mina Greenberg Motamedi - choir vocals * Sabrina Montgomery - choir vocals * Satchel Laurie - choir vocals * Scout Funk - choir vocals * Mikaela Davis - harp * Gaelynn Lea - violin

Technical

* The Decemberists - production * John Congleton - production, mixing, recording engineering, studio personnel * Adam Lee - assistant mixing, assistant recording engineering, studio personnel * Greg Calbi - studio personnel

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2018 albums The Decemberists albums Albums produced by John Congleton