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The Decemberists: Colin Meloy
Discography:
Five Songs CDEP 2003
Castaways and Cutouts CD re:2003
Her Majesty the Decemberists CD 2003
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We first caught up with Meloy in Minneapolis, but due to odd circumstances we could not finish the interview; by odd circumstances we mean technical difficulties – imagine that. So, Colin was nice enough speak with us once more and we’re very happy that he did.
The Decemberists are clearly one of the more unique bands producing music today. Their sound can be summed up simply as indie pop, but for those who’ve not yet had the pleasure of hearing a Decemberists arrangement, that term will not even begin to tell the story. Some parts rock, pop, folk, maybe even a little vintage Disney musical, all indie mentality, the Decemberists assemble songs that cannot help but make one wonder what life would be like if commercial radio actually recognized accessible innovation. And as the band’s frontman, Colin Meloy will bring any willing listener through vivid scenario and oddly captivating settings. The Decemberists just have an undeniable appeal that anyone should be capable of recognizing.
30: So, you had said that you arrived in Portland, Oregon around ‘99. What exactly brought you there?
Colin Meloy: I moved to Portland because I had played in a band while I was in Missoula, Montana – I went to school there – and we had toured out to Seattle and Portland quite a bit. Portland seemed like good fertile ground to move to, as far as the music scene goes. So, that’s why.
30: Portland really seems like a very eclectic scene with a whole lot of different things going on. What about that aspect do you feel allows you to thrive in Portland?
Meloy: Well, I think it’s place that doesn’t put any sort of pressure on your shoulders, but it’s not the kind of place someone would move to necessarily to make it or break it. It’s a very relaxed setting, a relaxed environment; it’s a very self-supportive music scene that a lot of really good independent stuff is coming out of right now, and a lot of people that are doing music because they want to do music, not because they want to become hugely successful at it.
30: Because your band is unique, I’m wondering how exactly your band formed with a number of members who were all on the same wavelength; like, how is that each of you came together with the idea that you should be making “this” kind of music?
Meloy: Everybody sort of went through different stages and influences. We just met through playing in the scene and being here. There’s nothing really cosmic or mystic about it; it’s just a bunch of people who got together and like each other well enough to start playing music together.
30: In our previous conversation you had said that you and your girlfriend were working on a book. What is that about?
Meloy: Um, that is about the misadventures of a young girl through a landscape that is vaguely formed on 19th century Eastern Europe. It’s kind of a convoluted storyline, but that’s the base of it.
30: You had also said that you studied theatre in college, when I brought up the kind of theatrical sound of Her Majesty the Decemberists. Why do think this album, even more so that you’re previous full-length, seemingly has a heavy theatrical emphasis?
Meloy: I’m not sure that is its any more or less theatrical. I think you might see it that way because it’s kind of bookended with “I was Meant for the Stage.” I guess, I tried in this new record to diversify the cast of characters. It just so happens that a lot of the characters that are in Castaways and Cutouts all seem to come from a similar time period, or a similar moment in history. Whereas in the new record it’s a bit more dynamic with the Victorian and Dickensian characters but then there’s also more contemporary characters; the settings seem to jump around a little more.
30: You had said the book you were were working on was also set in a previous era. How enthusiastic are you about history, or how exactly do you study these topics?
Meloy: I guess I know what I do through the books that I read. You know, I kind of have a penchant for nonfiction; stuff about World War I, the Victorian era, and stuff like that. So, that’s basically where that comes from.
30: There seems to be a number of references to pants in your songs. Where does that come from?
Meloy: I think it just fits the situation, I guess. I don’t know how to answer that.
30: You also said earlier that were writing a book about the Replacements. What can you tell me about that?
Meloy: There’s a series that’s being put out by Continuum Books, called 33 1/3. It’s basically authors, academics, musicians, and music critics writing about their favorite record in 100 pages – kind of short books. And I was asked to do one, and the first thing that sprung to mind was Let it Be. So, I’m working on that right now.
30: Given the sound of the Decemberists it’s fairly peculiar that the Replacements must have been an influence.
Meloy: Yeah… I mean, it’s there for sure. Though, my feeling has always been that anyone’s sound is a sum total of their entire record collection. Although it might be buried, there has to be some Replacements in the Decemberists music. I can totally understand that you might think that’s a stretch, but they happen to be one of the most important bands of my formative years.
30: And what about Neutral Milk Hotel; do they play any influence in what you’re doing?
Meloy: Um… yeah, for sure. I’ve always been a Neutral Milk Hotel fan. The constant criticism – or the thing that pops up – in reviews is that we’re trying to be the next Neutral Milk Hotel, which we’re not. I can see how Castaways and Cutouts could be seen… as something more influenced by Neutral Milk Hotel, or as coming from a similar place, but I really think that the new record is anything but a remake of a Neutral Milk Hotel record.
When I first heard In the Aeroplane Over the Sea – my introduction to the band – it immediately struck me that we both came from very similar influences. I think we both sound… There’s a certain homage to some of the mid-’80s college rock bands – REM, Camper Van Beethoven – that stems from both of our music. So, that’s the first thing that I thought when I heard Neutral Milk Hotel; that we share the same influences, which we come from the same place.
30: You’ve been seemingly one of the busier bands of the year. How long you expect to sustain this?
Meloy: Well, I think we might be seen as busy – we’re certainly not as busy as some bands. We’ve shared bills on this tour with bands who have been on tour for upwards of a year and a half. We’re lightweights when it comes to touring. And it just so happens that this year we saw one new release and two reissues, so on paper it looks like we’re busy but in fact we stick to the one-record-a-year, tour-twice-a-year situation.
30: What were you listening to at age 17?
Meloy: I was on a steady, steady diet of Morrissey singles.
30: Solely Morrissey singles?
Meloy: Yep.
-30-
Read our review of Castaways and Cutouts
Read our review of Her Majesty the Decemberists
Visit the Decemberists' webpage at www.decemberists.com
interview on 2004/01/05 by Brian Holm |
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