The Decemberists: A Practical Handbook
Encyclopedia
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.
. It includes both interviews and footage of the band recording, in a church in northeast Portland
with Chris Walla
producing. 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. 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
.
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. 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."
criticized the poor-quality editing of the DVD.
Content
The documentary section, titled Paris Before the War, concerns the creation and subsequent recording of the band's album PicaresquePicaresque (album)
Picaresque is an album by The Decemberists released in 2005 on the Kill Rock Stars record label. It was produced by Chris Walla of Death Cab for Cutie....
. It includes both interviews and footage of the band recording, in a church in northeast Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
with Chris Walla
Chris Walla
Christopher Walla is an American musician and music producer, most notable for being the guitarist for the band Death Cab for Cutie. He is also a former DJ of KCWU, 88.1 The Burg...
producing. According to the documentary, the band has always been particularly enthusiastic about "The Mariner's Revenge Song
The Mariner's Revenge Song
"The Mariner's Revenge Song" is a track by The Decemberists from their 2005 album Picaresque. The song describes a story of revenge.-Plot summary:...
," which appears on Picaresque and which they often perform at concerts, because it was the only song they were able to record live. Colin Meloy
Colin Meloy
Colin Patrick Henry Meloy is the lead singer and songwriter for the Portland, Oregon, folk-rock band The Decemberists. In addition to vocals, he performs with an acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bouzouki, harmonica, percussion and interpretive hand gestures.-Early life...
also discusses his previous band Tarkio
Tarkio (band)
Tarkio was an alternative country band from Missoula, Montana which included Colin Meloy prior to his forming The Decemberists. Tarkio broke up in 1999, but found new popularity in a retrospective released by Kill Rock Stars in 2006.-History:...
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
Carson Ellis
Carson Friedman Ellis is an artist living in Portland, Oregon. She is best known for her children's book illustrations and her album art.- Career :...
.
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. 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
Scott McCaughey
As a singer and songwriter, Scott McCaughey is the leader of the Seattle and Portland-based bands The Young Fresh Fellows and The Minus 5.He is also bassist for Robyn Hitchcock's most recent touring band, The Venus 3, along with Bill Rieflin and Peter Buck....
guested; Petra Haden
Petra Haden
Petra Haden is an American violinist and singer. She is or has been a member of several bands, including That Dog, Tito & Tarantula, and The Decemberists; has contributed to recordings by The Twilight Singers, Beck, Mike Watt, Luscious Jackson, Foo Fighters, Green Day, Queens of the Stone Age,...
, who by that point had left the band, also appeared.
Music videos are included for "The Tain
The Tain
The Tain is an EP by The Decemberists released in 2004 by Acuarela Discos and in 2005 by Kill Rock Stars. The single 18-plus minute track is the band's take on the Irish mythological epic Táin Bó Cúailnge which is often simply called The Táin...
," "Sixteen Military Wives," "The Bachelor and the Bride," "The Soldiering Life," and "Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect."
Reception
Critical reviews were mixed. The documentary section was described as "dry" and unengaging, and as chronicling "perhaps the least interesting chapter in the band's history"; but also as "cute", "nothing short of endearing" and "rewarding.". Some viewed the concert segment favorably, though others noted that the first half dragged or that the "awkward" and "disappointing" performance was "not, by far, the Decemberists’ best." The music videos, however, were mostly praised. CMJ New Music MonthlyCMJ New Music Monthly
CMJ New Music Monthly was a monthly music magazine with interviews, reviews, and special features. Each issue included a compact disc with 15 to 24 songs by well established bands, unsigned bands, and everything in between...
criticized the poor-quality editing of the DVD.