QUICK TAKE
The Decemberists and the Long Winters in concert
Featuring:
The Places
When:
9 p.m. Thursday
Where:
Plush, 340 E. Sixth St.
Tickets:
$10 at the door
Details:
798-1302
REVIEW
"When I Pretend To Fall"
Artist:
The Long Winters
Label:
Barsuk Records, 2003
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The Long Winters main man John Roderick weaves his appreciation for authentic experience, as filtered through his wry, absurdist sense of humor into compelling lyrics that are especially pronounced on "When I Pretend to Fall," the most recent Long Winters' album.
Seemingly written after a troubling breakup, Roderick's focus is the sense of loss at a relationship's end. Lines such as "I try to let you know I'm fine/ and I can hear you crying," from "It'll Be a Breeze" and "Now that a year has gone/ see how the blanket's worn / all to myself/ all to myself" on the poignant "Blanket Hog", are perfectly couched in the Long Winters' eclectic, mostly upbeat pop.
The joys of "When I Pretend to Fall" are by no means limited to Roderick's inventive, off-kilter lyrics. The album contains more hooks than the average tackle box. Outstanding guest performers are featued, in addition to the band's solid core, which includes Harvey Danger vocalist Sean Nelson on keyboards and extensive contributions from producer-of-the-moment Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie), who is in essence a non-touring member of the band.
