As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again is the ninth studio album by the American indie rock band the Decemberists, it was released on June 14, 2024, on YABB Records.[1] It is a double album,[2] produced by Tucker Martine, who the band has frequently collaborated with.[3]
| As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 14, 2024 | |||
| Studio | Flora Recording & Playback (Portland) | |||
| Length | 67:39 | |||
| Label | YABB | |||
| Producer |
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| The Decemberists chronology | ||||
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Reception
editStephen M. Deusner of Pitchfork noted the album was something of a "return to form", tying the focus and subject matter of the album to Meloy's "obsessions".[4]
Eric R. Danton of Paste similarly notes the band "returning to a previous musical approach" while calling the album "fresh". [5]
Timothy Monger of AllMusic notes the anthology-like quality suggesting the album "plays like a musical overview of their career".[2]
Chris DeVille of Stereogum described the 19-minute finale "Joan in the Garden", inspired by Joan of Arc, as a "slow burn". He highlights "unexpectedly sick ambient noise" and "monster riffs" in the song.[3]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Colin Meloy.
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Burial Ground" | 4:04 |
| 2. | "Oh No!" | 5:04 |
| 3. | "The Reapers" | 4:41 |
| 4. | "Long White Veil" | 3:49 |
| 5. | "William Fitzwilliam" | 3:35 |
| 6. | "Don't Go to the Woods" | 3:57 |
| 7. | "The Black Maria" | 3:50 |
| 8. | "All I Want Is You" | 2:38 |
| 9. | "Born to the Morning" | 3:24 |
| 10. | "America Made Me" | 5:20 |
| 11. | "Tell Me What's on Your Mind" | 3:57 |
| 12. | "Never Satisfied" | 4:00 |
| 13. | "Joan in the Garden" | 19:20 |
| Total length: | 67:39 | |
Formats
editAs It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again was released on CD, LP, cassette tape, and digital downloads.
Personnel
editThe Decemberists
edit- Colin Meloy — lead vocals, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, production
- Chris Funk — electric guitars, pedal steel, synthesizers, banjo, mandolin, production
- Jenny Conlee — piano, organs, vibraphone, accordion, synthesizers, production
- Nate Query — electric bass, upright bass, production
- John Moen — drums, percussion, production
Additional contributors
edit- Tucker Martine — production, recording, mixing
- Emily Lazar — mastering
- Ryan Bridenstine — recording assistance, mixing assistance
- Elizabeth Ellison — backing vocals
- James Mercer — backing vocals on "Burial Ground"
- Mike Mills — backing vocals and piano on "Joan in the Garden"
- Kelly Pratt — trumpet on "Burial Ground", "Oh No!", and "America Made Me"; flugelhorn on "Burial Ground" and "All I Want Is You"; euphonium on "Burial Ground"; tuba and saxophones on "Oh No!" and "America Made Me"; trombone on "The Black Maria"; French horn on "All I Want Is You"
- Jesse Chandler — flute and bass clarinet on "The Reapers"
- Miguel Bernal — percussion on "Oh No!"
- Reinhardt Wolfgang Melz — percussion on "Oh No!"
- Carson Ellis — illustrations, art direction
- Thunderwing — art direction, design
References
edit- ^ "As It Ever Was, So It Will be Again, the Decemberists".
- ^ a b Monger, Timothy. "As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again Review". AllMusic. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ a b DeVille, Chris (March 19, 2024). "The Decemberists Release 19-Minute "Joan In The Garden" From New Album As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again". Stereogum. Retrieved 2024-09-16.
- ^ Deusner, Stephen M. (June 20, 2024). "The Decemberists: As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2024-08-02.
- ^ Danton, Eric R. (June 13, 2024). "The Decemberists Remain Distinctive on As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again". Paste. Retrieved 2024-08-02.