At the center of every album is a musical thesis. The Decemberists “What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World” is an evolutionary display of a stranglehold on the English language. This band has never been one to dumb down their lyrics or patronize the listener. From album one to this latest installment, they have always seemed very interested in telling a complete story; all the while using colorful and descriptive language to guide us from beginning to end. This album is also about growth for the fans and the band. Depending on when you fell in love with this band, it may be difficult for you. If you are an early adopter, change may be challenging for you. If you fell in love somewhere in the middle of the catalog, discovery can feel like an affirmation. If this is your first Decemberists album, you are quite open to new experiences. This band had to change. They had to grow and their sound had to evolve for both themselves and their listeners. The same stories cannot be told in the same fashion forever. As they make this evolutionary shift, they open a new chapter. The Decemberists of the future may sound very different and that’s okay. This is about moving forward through this world.

Thanks for entering my world,

-Nathan​