The Decemberists - Always The Bridesmaid: Volume 1-III

For a band that has achieved such a high level of fame like The Decemberists have, it's always nice to see them give a little something back to die any hard vinyl collecting fans. Take, for example, their new singles series, Always The Bridesmaid, the first volume of which is due out on October 14th (with the other two following in November and December). Each volume is being released as a 12" color vinyl single, so make sure to collect them all if you're into that. All three volumes surfaced last week and, while they don't differ much from The Decemberists' typical fare, they're still enjoyable for all fans. Opening track, "Valerie Plame," introduces listeners to the titular character through a sprinkling of organs, bold horns, and Colin Meloy's always lively vocals. "Days of Elaine" follows next, built around a great rollicking guitar riff that makes this otherwise ordinary track really stand out. The one song I was really interested to hear, their Velvet Underground cover of "I'm Sticking With You," actually does justice to the original, and still sounds like a Decemberists song instead of a failed attempt to sound like the Velvet Underground. Ultimately, the singles series overall is a nice little treat for fans as The Decemberists take a break in-between albums.

DOWNLOAD: The Decemberists - Always The Bridesmaid: Volume 1 [Capitol]
Recommended Tracks: "Valerie Plame," "Days of Elaine," "I'm Sticking With You."