The King Is Dead - The Decemberists
The King Is Dead Image
Metascore
77 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 38 Critics What's this?

User Score
8.0 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 61 Ratings

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  • Summary: The Portland-based band returns with less rock and more atmospheric, orchestral arrangements with a little bit of country-folk thrown in as well.

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 31 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 38
  3. Negative: 1 out of 38
  1. The Telegraph (UK)
    Jan 21, 2011
    100
    The Decemberists blend rock and folk well (there's even a nod to the famous Raggle Taggle Gypsy Man in a riff on Rox In The Box) and the songwriting crafts pastoral and emotional imaginery into tight-knit, attractive songs. This album is an unexpected treat.
  2. Mojo
    Apr 12, 2011
    80
    Portland's college-rock heirs downsize with Peter Buck-featuring sixth album. [Feb. 2011, p. 106]
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  3. Q Magazine
    Feb 1, 2011
    60
    The Decemberists have never sounded more ordinary. [Feb. 2011, p. 114]
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  4. Tiny Mix Tapes
    Jan 18, 2011
    20
    No, at best, The King Is Dead is a patchwork of genre exercises, giving listeners little more than a chance to play "spot the influence." But even then it fails, for it taps only a very shallow stream of tradition, focusing on a series of folk facsimiles from the 70s and 80s that never quite add up to the real thing.

See all 38 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. moonman1994
    10
    If you like The Decemberists you are sure to love this album! It's the perfect blend of country influences, folk and alternative rock. I really have no complains about the album. Each song is good in its own way and this album is definitely worth you money.… Expand
  2. FOXGEAR
    9
    Well, The Decemberists new release, "The King Is Dead", is a countrified- folk rock wonder. This album is just fantastic. After the first few seconds I was reminded of Tarkio, an alternative country band that Colin Meloy headed before The Decemberists. A fantastic album, not a single weak track on it.… Expand
  3. mdm389
    8
    This is Colin Meloy's excellent songwriting, sans the inane Baroque love stories and overly embellished vocabulary. Definitely their most accessible release to date, which surely means some of their longtime fans will probably hate it because it's too "mainstream" or something. You'll like it, though.… Expand
  4. LuizCC
    7
    This album has a concept. Which is good. But a little boring. Actually, the change of music style (rock-central base folk) don't move the band forward, but the CD continues to be great, but don't have the greatness of their first, "Her Majesty The Decemberists" or even "The Hazards of Love".… Expand

See all 16 User Reviews

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