Picaresque (album)

Infobox Album
Name = Picaresque
Type = Album
Artist = The Decemberists


Released = March 22, 2005 (US)
Recorded = August 2004–September 2004
Genre = Indie rock, folk rock
Length = 53:07
Label = Kill Rock Stars
Producer = The Decemberists, Chris Walla
Reviews =
*Allmusic Rating|4|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:0k9sa9rge23h link]
*"Music Emissions" (3/5) [http://www.musicemissions.com/artists/albums/index.php?album_id=3419]
*"Drowned in Sound" (8/10) [http://www.drownedinsound.com/articles/12795.html 2 Aug 2005]
*"Pitchfork" (8.3/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/16938/The_Decemberists_Picaresque 23 Mar 2005]
*"PopMatters" (9/10) [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/d/decemberists-picaresque.shtml 22 Mar 2005]
*Robert Christgau Rating-Christgau|hm1 [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=decemberist link]
*"Rolling Stone" Rating|3.5|5 [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/thedecemberists/albums/album/7072577/review/7070400/picaresque 24 Mar 2005]
*"Stylus" (B+) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/the-decemberists/picaresque.htm 21 Mar 2005]
*"Tiny Mix Tapes" (5/5) [http://www.tinymixtapes.com/musicreviews/d/decemberists.htm link]
Last album = "Her Majesty" (2003)
This album = "Picaresque" (2005)
Next album = "The Crane Wife" (2006)

"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.

The word "picaresque" is taken from a form of satirical prose originating in Spain, depicting realistically and often humorously the adventures of a low-born, roguish hero living by his/her wits in a corrupt society.

It includes the track "16 Military Wives", the music video of which was distributed by the band via BitTorrent. [http://decemberists.com/16mw-torrent.htmlDead link|date=March 2008]

The double vinyl version was released with an EP of outtakes as a final release for Kill Rock Stars. This EP was named "Picaresqueties". In the UK a single vinyl version was released on Rough Trade without the "Picaresqueties" EP.

The "Mad Men" episode "" opened with a montage set to an accelerated version of "The Infanta".

Track listing

#"The Infanta" – 5:07
#"We Both Go Down Together" – 3:04
#"Eli, the Barrow Boy" – 3:11
#"The Sporting Life" – 4:38
#"The Bagman's Gambit" – 7:02
#"From My Own True Love (Lost at Sea)" – 3:42
#"16 Military Wives" – 4:52
#"The Engine Driver" – 4:15
#"On the Bus Mall" – 6:04
#"The Mariner's Revenge Song" – 8:45
#"Of Angels and Angles" – 2:27

References

External links

* [http://www.metacritic.com/music/artists/decemberists/picaresque Reviews] at Metacritic