THE DECEMBERISTS "Her Majesty the Decemberists"Hush/Kill Rock Stars THE JOGGERS "Solid Guild" Startime
Portland, Ore., is not a seaport, but you'd never guess that from listening to the Decemberists, a Portland quintet with a thing for sea shanties.
Frontman Colin Meloy writes songs that sound like newly discovered British folk and music-hall standards, and his bandmates wrap them in a mix of old-timey and up-to-date timbres. With accordion bleats jostling electronic swooshes, "Her Majesty the Decemberists" sometimes suggests an Anglophile version of Neutral Milk Hotel, who play a more Appalachian sort of electro-retro folk rock. From the opening "Shanty for the Arethusa" through "Billy Liar" (named for a '60s British movie) and the klezmer-flavored "The Chimbley Sweep," Meloy also shows an enduring fascination with such Anglicisms as "knickers" and "pantaloons." The songwriter's transatlantic fixations may not be widely shared, but his melodies should have a broad appeal.
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The Joggers, another Portland outfit, open their "Solid Guild" with a folky tune, but that's a secondary part of their style. This quartet's specialty is tightly wound alt-rock, driven by galloping rhythms and jabbing guitars.
On tunes such as "Back to the Future," the rough unison singing does sound a bit rustic, and the band employs more backing vocals than most aggressive rock combos. Yet the music's main features are friction and tension, created by instrumental rough edges and sharp angles, as well as bassist Darrell Bourque's vocals, which are simultaneously urgent and offhand. This bristling sound would be more striking, however, if put in the service of catchier songs.
-- Mark Jenkins
Appearing Tuesday at the Black Cat. • To hear a free Sound Bite from the Decemberists, call Post-Haste at 202-334-9000 and press 8130; to hear the Joggers, press 8131. (Prince William residents, call 703-690-4110.)
