It’s been a while, Decemberists, it’s been a while.

It’s been worth the wait, Decemberists, it’s been worth the wait.

Make You Better is the first taster of the new album What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World, which is due out on Rough Trade on 19 January 2015. Maybe it’s just because I haven’t really been following the band for a while and that absence making my heart grow fonder, but Make You Better sounds like a really strong return for The Decemberists. Of course, it could also just be a strong personal reaction to the sensation that there are moments here when Colin Meloy sounds very much like Michael Stipe did on New Test Leper (New Adventures in hi-fi).

The Decemberists will be touring the UK and Europe in February and March. A bunch of dates have already been announced, with more promised. Check the band’s website for details:

https://www.decemberists.com/