''Colin Meloy Sings Live!'' is the first live album released by
Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portland, Oregon, the largest city in the state of Oregon, in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States
* Portland, Maine, the largest city in the state of Maine, in the New England region of the northeas ...
musician
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 acousti ...
, frontman for
the Decemberists. The album was released in April 2008, and is a collection of live recordings from various nights on the artist's solo tour in early 2006.
[Ayers, Michael D., "LATEST BUZZ", '']Billboard
A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertise ...
'', 120:11, March 15, 2008, p.34 It includes stripped down versions of songs by the Decemberists, a song that dates back to Meloy's college band
Tarkio ("Devil's Elbow"), live banter and covers of
The Smiths,
R.E.M.,
Pink Floyd
Pink Floyd are an English rock band formed in London in 1965. Gaining an early following as one of the first British psychedelic music, psychedelic groups, they were distinguished by their extended compositions, sonic experimentation, philo ...
,
Fleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British-American rock band, formed in London in 1967. Fleetwood Mac were founded by guitarist Peter Green, drummer Mick Fleetwood and guitarist Jeremy Spencer, before bassist John McVie joined the line-up for their epony ...
, and
Shirley Collins. It includes two previously unreleased songs, "Dracula's Daughter" and "Wonder", the latter of which makes reference to Meloy's first—and recently at the time—born son.
[Maddux, Rachael]
"Catching Up With... Colin Meloy"
Paste Magazine Online, April 2, 2008 10:20 AM
The arrangements are simply Meloy's voice and guitar throughout. Some reviewers have noted problems with Meloy's guitar during the recording and one refers to the resulting sound quality as "disappointing."
[Maddux, Rachael]
"Review: Colin Meloy - ''Colin Meloy Sings Live!''"
'' Paste'', 42, May 2008 Meloy says the experience of playing Decemberists' songs without the full band was "liberating," at least initially: "...I can kind of start and stop songs, I can screw up without throwing everybody off, I can talk as much as I like without worrying about people getting antsy to move on to the next song. I guess those are the more obvious differences. But then it always gets a little lonely after I’ve done a handful of shows. I’m sure by the end of this tour I’ll be ready to get everybody on stage again with me."[
Meloy supported the release with another solo tour during April and May 2008. The opening act was Laura Gibson.][Phillips, Amy]
"Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke, Announces Solo Tour"
, '' Pitchfork Media'', Jan 31, 2008 at 6:49pm
Track listing
# "Devil's Elbow" - 4:17
# "We Both Go Down Together" - 3:10
# "Evoking a Campfire Singalong" - 0:48
# "The Gymnast, High Above the Ground" - 6:43
# "Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect/ Dreams" - 4:55
# "Dracula's Daughter" - 2:41
# "Wonder" - 3:01
# "A Brief Introduction to Shirley Collins" - 1:46
# " Barbara Allen" (traditional) - 3:28
# "The Engine Driver" - 3:54
# "On the Bus Mall" - 5:59
# "A Skull, a Ship, and a Sheep" - 1:54
# "California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade/Ask
Ask is the active verb for a direct question.
Ask may also refer to:
Places
* Ask, Akershus, a village in Gjerdrum municipality, Viken county, Norway
* Ask, Buskerud, a village in Ringerike municipality, Viken county, Norway
* Ask, Vestland, a ...
" - 12:22
# "The Bachelor and the Bride" - 4:10
# "A Cautionary Song" - 3:43
# "Red Right Ankle" - 4:17
# "Bandit Queen" - 6:45
"Blues Run The Game
"Blues Run the Game" is a 1965 song by the American singer-songwriter Jackson C. Frank. It was the opening track on his self-titled debut album.
Cultural impact
Samples of the Jackson C. Frank original appear on the soundtrack of ''This Is U ...
" - 3:11 (bonus on vinyl version)
"Shiny" - 5:52 (bonus MP3 with download of album from insound.com and play.com)
"Grace Cathedral Hill" - 4:47 (bonus MP3 with download of album from insound.com and play.com)
References
External links
Official web site
Colin Meloy
page at MySpace (streaming several tracks)
{{Authority control
Colin Meloy albums
2008 live albums
Kill Rock Stars live albums