| The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jeff Feller |
| Produced by | Aaron Stewart-Ahn |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook is a 2007 film featuring indie rock band The Decemberists. The film includes music videos, a live concert, and documentary footage.
The documentary section, titled Paris Before the War, concerns the creation and subsequent recording of the band's album Picaresque. [1] It includes both interviews and footage of the band recording, in a church in northeast Portland with Chris Walla producing. [2] According to the documentary, the band has always been particularly enthusiastic about " The Mariner's Revenge Song," which appears on Picaresque and which they often perform at concerts, because it was the only song they were able to record live. [2] Colin Meloy also discusses his previous band Tarkio and his motivation for moving to Portland. Of the song "My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist," first recorded with Tarkio and re-recorded by the Decemberists for their EP 5 Songs, Meloy says that he wrote it to amuse his girlfriend Carson Ellis. [3]
Another section of the DVD documents an 80-minute live concert at the Roseland Theater in Portland, on November 4, 2005, one of the final concerts of its Picaresque tour. [4] The band played songs from all their albums to date, including "The Mariner's Revenge Song," " The Chimbley Sweep," "The Sporting Life," and "I Was Meant for the Stage." Scott McCaughey guested; Petra Haden, who by that point had left the band, also appeared.
Music videos are included for " The Tain," "Sixteen Military Wives," "The Bachelor and the Bride," "The Soldiering Life," and " Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect."
Critical reviews were mixed. The documentary section was described as "dry" [3] and unengaging, [1] and as chronicling "perhaps the least interesting chapter in the band's history"; [3] but also as "cute", [5] "nothing short of endearing" and "rewarding.". [2] Some viewed the concert segment favorably, [3] [5] though others noted that the first half dragged [1] or that the "awkward" and "disappointing" performance was "not, by far, the Decemberists’ best." [2] The music videos, however, were mostly praised. CMJ New Music Monthly criticized the poor-quality editing of the DVD. [1]
- ^ a b c d "Decemberists: A Practical Handbook". CMJ New Music Monthly: 49. April 2007.
- ^ a b c d McCullough, Amy (March 14, 2007). "The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook (Kill Rock Stars)". Willamette Weekly.
- ^ a b c d Deusner, Stephen M. (April 5, 2007). "The Decemberists Sell Out". Memphis Flyer.
- ^ Thomas, Rob (April 20, 2007). "Decemberists DVD a delight". The Capital Times.
- ^ a b Layman, Will (April 30, 2007). "The Decemberists (DVD)". PopMatters.
| The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Jeff Feller |
| Produced by | Aaron Stewart-Ahn |
Release date |
|
Running time | 100 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook is a 2007 film featuring indie rock band The Decemberists. The film includes music videos, a live concert, and documentary footage.
The documentary section, titled Paris Before the War, concerns the creation and subsequent recording of the band's album Picaresque. [1] It includes both interviews and footage of the band recording, in a church in northeast Portland with Chris Walla producing. [2] According to the documentary, the band has always been particularly enthusiastic about " The Mariner's Revenge Song," which appears on Picaresque and which they often perform at concerts, because it was the only song they were able to record live. [2] Colin Meloy also discusses his previous band Tarkio and his motivation for moving to Portland. Of the song "My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist," first recorded with Tarkio and re-recorded by the Decemberists for their EP 5 Songs, Meloy says that he wrote it to amuse his girlfriend Carson Ellis. [3]
Another section of the DVD documents an 80-minute live concert at the Roseland Theater in Portland, on November 4, 2005, one of the final concerts of its Picaresque tour. [4] The band played songs from all their albums to date, including "The Mariner's Revenge Song," " The Chimbley Sweep," "The Sporting Life," and "I Was Meant for the Stage." Scott McCaughey guested; Petra Haden, who by that point had left the band, also appeared.
Music videos are included for " The Tain," "Sixteen Military Wives," "The Bachelor and the Bride," "The Soldiering Life," and " Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect."
Critical reviews were mixed. The documentary section was described as "dry" [3] and unengaging, [1] and as chronicling "perhaps the least interesting chapter in the band's history"; [3] but also as "cute", [5] "nothing short of endearing" and "rewarding.". [2] Some viewed the concert segment favorably, [3] [5] though others noted that the first half dragged [1] or that the "awkward" and "disappointing" performance was "not, by far, the Decemberists’ best." [2] The music videos, however, were mostly praised. CMJ New Music Monthly criticized the poor-quality editing of the DVD. [1]
- ^ a b c d "Decemberists: A Practical Handbook". CMJ New Music Monthly: 49. April 2007.
- ^ a b c d McCullough, Amy (March 14, 2007). "The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook (Kill Rock Stars)". Willamette Weekly.
- ^ a b c d Deusner, Stephen M. (April 5, 2007). "The Decemberists Sell Out". Memphis Flyer.
- ^ Thomas, Rob (April 20, 2007). "Decemberists DVD a delight". The Capital Times.
- ^ a b Layman, Will (April 30, 2007). "The Decemberists (DVD)". PopMatters.