All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

100

Tiny Mix Tapes

It's hard to imagine The Decemberists topping such a fantastic and ambitious record, but as their previous albums show, I'm sure they'll have no problem one-upping themselves again.

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100

The Guardian

For fans of chiming, literate, lovelorn pop, Picaresque is an absolute treasure trove.

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Entertainment Weekly

[Meloy's] lyrics skip across history... and overflow with mellifluous rhymes. [25 Mar 2005, p.71]

Alternative Press

The more realized updates of [Her Majesty] that crowd out the backed of Picaresque reveal a wit so bizarre and vaudevillian beauty so ultimately endearing that by the end, Meloy's sprawling form of theatrical folk has us all. [Apr 2005, p.116]

Lost At Sea

It’s amazing to see how the Decemberists have grown. The songs from their first EP, 5 Songs, seem like a man and an acoustic guitar, where Picaresque feels like a full blown orchestra.

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PopMatters

The effect is one of musical theater.

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cokemachineglow

While Picaresque is a significant step forward, it’s also a logical one. The band’s sonic palette has expanded gradually from album to album, and appears to have come full circle here.

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ShakingThrough.net

Picaresque features some of Meloy’s most assured songwriting... What makes Picaresque a great album, however, is the snug synthesis between the rest of the bandmates playing in relation to Meloy’s verbose lyrics.

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Billboard

"Picaresque" is by far the Decemberists' best work to date.

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Under The Radar

The group had a lot of hype to live up to and they nearly managed to do it. [#9]

Neumu.net

This is The Decemberists' strongest release to date, and proves that the group's unique thesaurus-rock has a bright future.

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Filter

The tunes are almost more like short stage scenes than mere songs about people, but the band does well to prevent them from coming off as cheesy allegories so that even the illiterate boors out there can enjoy their downright pretty moments. [#15, p.101]

Spin

Though [Meloy] rarely cracks a smile, he finds creativity in defeat. [Apr 2005, p.101]

Stylus Magazine

“I am a writer, writer of fictions,” Meloy claims on “Engine Driver,” and that’s exactly what he does, but it’s what everyone else does too, the only real difference being Meloy hits the thesaurus and maritime literature a bit harder than most.

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Pitchfork

In developing into such a formidable flock, the Decemberists not only have far outstripped those ridiculous comparisons to Neutral Milk Hotel that dogged Her Majesty, but have also allowed Meloy to widen his lyrical scope and hone his ambitious narratives.

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Blender

Gleams with emotion. [Apr 2005, p.113]

Junkmedia

While the music is as delicious and diverse as ever, the Decemberists' meal ticket is Meloy's unmatched lyrical prowess, which borders at times on mod-Shakespearean.

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Paste Magazine

The Decemberists’ first two records—Castaways and Cutouts and Her Majesty (both in 2003)—felt a touch spotty.... Picaresque trumps them both by dint of its focus, consistency and restraint.

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All Music Guide

While Picaresque follows its predecessor's -- the treacly Her Majesty -- predilection for seafaring and mythology, its boot-covered feet are more firmly planted in the present, resulting in the group's most accessible -- and decidedly upbeat -- product to date.

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The Onion (A.V. Club)

Sounds brighter and deeper than anything The Decemberists previously attempted.

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Splendid

Picaresque is dense and complicated, but only rarely threatens to tip under its own weight.

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Drowned In Sound

Picaresque is more than an indie-pop album, it's a collection of eleven lavishly arranged acts rife with the whiff of greasepaint and the roar of an adoring crowd, which you should be a part of.

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No Ripcord

Their best full length yet.

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Delusions of Adequacy

Another accomplished, cohesive effort that finds the group continuing to tweak without significantly changing its sound.

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Austin Chronicle

Where 2003's Her Majesty the Decemberists unfurled tales of royalty, and debut Castaways and Cutouts talked of the sea, Picaresque drafts a whole new cast of characters just as colorful.

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Urb

This is XTC times Elvis Costello plus the finest moments from the Americana greats and then some. [Apr 2005, p.108]

Rolling Stone

Picaresque is a triumph of theatrical imagination: the culmination of the Decemberists' steady march to greatness in four years of enriched storytelling and folk-rock invention.

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Magnet

The album refines rather than revamps the Decemberists' approach; it's the brightest panel of a triptych, not a new exhibit. [#67, p.95]

Uncut

Cuts deeper and sharper than previous Decemberists efforts. [Sep 2005, p.116]

musicOMH.com

At times The Decemberists sail close to being an horrific hybrid of They Might Be Giants and The Coral - all arched eyebrows and accordions.

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New Musical Express

Resembles the Arcade Fire if they were from the Renaissance era and rubbish. [23 Jul 2005, p.50]

Dusted Magazine

Over rudimentary, skiffle-derived hooks, a kitchen-sink orchestra creates an aura of portent. Then in steps Meloy, doping up the whole affair with empty melancholy until it has to breathe through a tube, wailing big words in a forced accent that conveys despair but fails to signify its cause, fails to signify anything.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 8.4 (out of 10) based on 91 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Danger Z. gave it an8:
Mostly great, but has some weak points.

star dust gave it a10:
Beautiful music.

The Critic gave it a10:
President Bush you stupid bowl of elephant Pee!!! The Decemberists are a great band and are very creative. You DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT if all you can say is "crap" and can't even back up your an opinion. If I was your father, I would take a whip and whip you into shape or tape headphones to your head and MAKE you listen to good music.

President Bush gave it a0:
crap

SAVAGE TOAST gave it a10:
After listening to the cd i thought...holy shit! The lyrics to mariners revenge song blew me away, and so did this album. i think i found another great band to follow. CAN I GET A FUCK YA FROM ALL THE INDIE ROCKERS!?

hibb gave it an8:
Definitely an improvement from Her Majesty, but after listening to it many times, I still can't say I like it better than Castaways. True, it's memorable, but the whale of a track (Mariner's Revenge) had me questioning why I like this band so much. The Engine Driver is probably my favorite song of theirs to date, however, making up for some of the over the top theatrics in the second to last track.

Oliver C gave it a10:
This band is amazing, i sort of feell like nothing else in the world matters when im listening to them...

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