Picaresque - The Decemberists
Picaresque Image
Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 32 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.5 out of 10

Universal acclaim- based on 108 Ratings

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0 out of 10
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  • Summary: Chris Walla produced this third album for the literary Portland, Ore.-based five-piece led by Colin Meloy.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 32
  3. Negative: 1 out of 32
  1. The Guardian
    100
    For fans of chiming, literate, lovelorn pop, Picaresque is an absolute treasure trove.
  2. No Ripcord
    80
    Their best full length yet.
  3. musicOMH.com
    50
    At times The Decemberists sail close to being an horrific hybrid of They Might Be Giants and The Coral - all arched eyebrows and accordions.
  4. Dusted Magazine
    30
    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.

See all 32 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 59
  2. Mixed: 2 out of 59
  3. Negative: 4 out of 59
  1. Blueears
    10
    One of the best Decemberists albums. They pick up from the more melodic previous two albums with the rocking opener "The Infanta" and it doesn't slow down from there. From that point we get some awesome tracks like the anthemic "We Both Go Down Together", the quirky "Sporting Life", the trumpet-coated "16 Military Wives", the groovy "Engine Driver", and the engaging sea shanty "Mariner's Revenge Song", which is also quite possibly the best song on the album. No matter what genre you're into, if you want to check out a truly remarkable album, "Picaresque" won't disappoint or bore you for a second.… Collapse
  2. DangerZ.
    8
    Mostly great, but has some weak points.
  3. DanB.
    7
    As good or bad as their previous. Four or five good tracks, the rest is either filler (if you're not a big fan of the band) or goodness (if you are). I think I'm going to make a best-of of all three albums, cutting the slow, grating songs, and keeping the great ones. Love Engine Driver, Sporting Life, 16 Military Wives. ...oh and, excellent line by a commenter below: he would not be in the band if he hadn't started it. I don't agree but, it's funny.… Expand
  4. losnyc
    4
    see you at the renn fair! nuf said about this crappy, pretentous band.

See all 59 User Reviews

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