The King Is Dead (album)

Background

The King Is Dead was recorded during spring 2010, with most of it being made in a six-week period in a barn at an 80 acre site called Pendarvis Farm, near Portland, Oregon. It has been speculated that the album title is an homage to The Smiths' 1986 album The Queen Is Dead, largely due to Colin Meloy's long-touted influence from the band. It was co-produced by Tucker Martine. At least three of the ten songs—"Down by the Water", "Rise to Me" and "June Hymn"—were performed live in 2010. Meloy has said that a primary musical influence for much of The King Is Dead is R.E.M., and three songs, "Don't Carry It All", "Calamity Song" and "Down by the Water", feature the R.E.M. guitarist Peter Buck. The album was released on January 18, 2011. The King Is Dead has been called the "most pastoral, rustic record they've ever made" by Douglas Wolk of Rolling Stone.

On November 1, 2011, the outtakes EP Long Live the King was released, collecting six songs recorded during these sessions.

Release and reception

The King Is Dead debuted atop the Billboard 200 and sold 94,000 copies in its first week, making it the band's most commercially successful album.

The album received positive reviews from critics. It received a 77 out of 100 on Metacritic, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Uncut placed the album at number 26 on its list of "Top 50 albums of 2011", while Rolling Stone ranked the album the 7th best of 2011.

Track listing

Personnel

According to the liner notes of The King Is Dead.

The Decemberists

• Colin Meloy – vocals, acoustic guitar, 12-string guitar, baritone guitar, tenor guitar, harmonica, pump organ, percussion
• Chris Funk – pedal steel, electric guitar, banjo, bouzouki
• Jenny Conlee – piano, organ, accordion, Wurlitzer
• Nate Query – bass guitar, cello
• John Moen – drums, tambourine, shaker, percussion, backing vocals

Additional musicians

• Peter Buck – mandolin on "Don't Carry It All", 12-string electric guitar on "Calamity Song", electric guitar and baritone guitar on "Down by the Water"
• David Rawlings – backing vocals on "Don't Carry It All", "June Hymn" and "Dear Avery"
• Gillian Welch – backing vocals on "Don't Carry It All", "Rise to Me", "Rox in the Box", "Down by the Water", "All Arise!", "June Hymn" and "Dear Avery"
• Laura Veirs – backing vocals on "Dear Avery"
• Annalisa Tornfelt – violin on "Don't Carry It All", "Rox in the Box" and "All Arise!"
• Tucker Martine – tambourine on "Calamity Song"

Production

• Produced by Tucker Martine with The Decemberists
• Recorded and mixed by Tucker Martine
• Mastered by Stephen Marcussen
• Assistant engineering by Rich Hipp and Clinton Welander
• Studio Interning by Andy Schichter
• Design by Jeri Heiden for SMOG Design, Inc.
• Illustrations and lettering by Carson Ellis
• Photography by Autumn de Wilde

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

Certifications

Release history

References

References

1. (14 January 2011). "The King Is Dead (Capitol Records, Vinyl LP Album) at Discogs". [[Discogs]].
2. Barshad, Amos. (November 3, 2010). "The Decemberists Let It Swag". [[New York magazine]].
3. [http://www.radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_usa_singles.htm Radiol1 Rodos Greece ::: USA Forthcoming Singles]
4. (Feb 5, 2011). "Billboard 200 Week-Ending Feb 5 '11".
5. Barton, Laura. (January 6, 2011). "The Decemberists: The changing of the seasons". The Guardian.
6. (November 2, 2010). "The Decemberists {{!}} News 11.2.10". The Decemberists Official site.
7. Wolk, Douglas. (November 4, 2010). "Colin Meloy Reveals Details of New Decemberists Album".
8. Wawzenek, Bryan. (November 3, 2010). "Decemberists Announce New Album". [[Gibson Guitar Corporation.
9. Luerssen, John D.. (November 3, 2010). "The Decemberists Announce 'The King Is Dead' Album, Offer Free Song". [[Spinner.com.
10. Puiu, Tibi. (November 2, 2010). "New Decemberists album announced – The King is Dead". ZME Music.
11. Zeidses des Plantes, Erik. (November 3, 2010). "Down by the water". Prefix magazine.
12. (November 2, 2010). "Rihanna and Katy Perry's Duet & More". [[Spin Magazine]].
13. (November 2, 2010). "The Decemberists Announce New Album". [[Pitchfork Media]].
14. "The King Is Dead by The Decemberists reviews". AnyDecentMusic?.
15. "Reviews for The King Is Dead by The Decemberists". [[Metacritic]].
16. Monger, James Christopher. "The King Is Dead – The Decemberists". [[AllMusic]].
17. Murray, Noel. (January 18, 2011). "The Decemberists: The King Is Dead". [[The A.V. Club]].
18. Chilton, Martin. (January 18, 2011). "The Decemberists – The King Is Dead: CD Review". [[The Daily Telegraph]].
19. Vozick-Levinson, Simon. (January 12, 2011). "The King Is Dead".
20. Hann, Michael. (January 13, 2011). "The Decemberists: The King Is Dead – review". [[The Guardian]].
21. Gill, Andy. (January 14, 2011). "Album: The Decemberists, The King Is Dead (Rough Trade)". [[The Independent]].
22. Doran, John. (January 24, 2011). "Album Review: The Decemberists – The King Is Dead (Rough Trade)".
23. Petrusich, Amanda. (January 17, 2011). "The Decemberists: The King Is Dead". [[Pitchfork (website).
24. Hermes, Will. (January 18, 2011). "The King Is Dead".
25. Wood, Mikael. (January 18, 2011). "The Decemberists, 'The King Is Dead' (Capitol)".
26. "Decemberists' 'King is Dead' is No. 1 on Billboard 200".
27. (29 November 2011). "Uncut's Top 50 Albums Of 2011 - Stereogum". Stereogum.
28. (7 December 2011). "The Decemberists, 'The King Is Dead'".
29. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2011".
30. "Top Rock Albums – Year-End 2011".
31. (17 January 2011). "The King Is Dead (Rough Trade / Capitol Records, CD Album, UK) at Discogs". [[Discogs]].
32. [http://discogs.com/Decemberists-The-King-Is-Dead/release/2661875 Capitol CD release @ Discogs]