A rainy mood comes over the Decemberists on the PDX bookish guitar-pop posse's Always the Bridesmaid: A Singles Series, Volume III, due out early next month. The latest single is "Record Year" b/w "Raincoat Song", both unassumingly graceful, melancholic tracks on first couple of listens. "Record Year", the longer of the two, allows Colin Meloy's...

It was originally reported that the Decemberists were going to go the current events route and play "Valerie Plame" for their Election Day-eve spot on Conan. Instead, they offered up a tiny Obama button and Always The Bridesmaid Vol. 2 A-side "Days Of Elaine." Guess they didn't want to offend O'Brien with "O New England"'s conflicted view of Bos...

The twentieth anniversary edition of the annual Rock for Kids Rock & Roll Charity Auction will take place December 5 at Chicago's Park West, with the aim of raising some coin for the city's homeless and underprivileged youngsters. Over the years, the Rock for Kids auction has raised more than three million dollars for the cause, and they...

Jonathan Richman, as usual, already said it perfectly 20 years ago: "I've been all around the world, but I love New England best. I may be prejudiced, but it's true, I love new England best." Hailing from Portland, Ore., not Maine, the Decemberists aren't quite as partial. On "Valerie Plame" B-side "O New England", from the band's singles series...

We mentioned how it was a bit strange hearing the Decemberists on a show set in the '60s. Mad Men's recent Dylan anachronism isn't as obvious, but it is something the writers got wrong, as opposed to a jarring soundtrack cue. An astute blogger points out why it's unlikely Peggy could've heard Bob on the radio in October 1962. Do the math at Bask...