Yeah it is. If all their songs were that good I'd love them.

I first saw them on SNL and although I have no complete albums, I like a few songs and i enjoy their sound.

they annoy me for some reason....I've only liked one or two songs I have heard from them

One thing that does bother me about this song though is that it has the stench of a late 90's weepy band. If the lyrics were more laconic and more woe is me, and there were longer pauses after "I guess its better to turn this way" when they could affect a moment of silence for their lives I feel like it could have been done by and pop-rock outfit. I can't shake it, and it bothers me slightly.

Have you noticed that?

The Decemberists are great. I don't think I need to say much more.

I am from Portland -- where they are from, and I recorded a record in one of the studios they recorded in. It was pretty cool, very Indie Rock.

Also, I really like them.

I think they are wretched. I put them into that same Death Cab for Cutie/The Fray label, of trying to make music that will appeal to hormonal women. While I don't think that any of those bands including the Decemberists are talentless or anything like that, I think they are pretty pussified, at least too pussified for my tastes.

i think lyrically and stylistically they are in a whole different league from Death Cab and Fray

they employ more instruments and sounds than either of those two bands could ever hope for and Collin Meloy writes some wierd, but interesting stuff. you have to listen to them as almost a story that is being sung to you at times, then you will appreciate The Decemberists

and by using the word "pussified" you sound incredibly dumb fyi

The Crane Wife is a pretty strong album. It's one of the few (or at least minority) Indie acts that I am not instantly turned off to because of a generic or pretentious sound.

The opening track "The Crane Wife 3" is an absolutely fantastic track, a current favorite of mine and my wife's. We've added it to one of our family album slide shows. Our Winter Wonderland one and it gives it such a cathartic feel.

Do I know this song from somewhere other here when I discovered it around December last year?

What he said.

Although I've only ever heard their singles (their videos are quite something) I still think they're an great band with some fantastic songs. Which reminds me, I should probably blogsearch the Crane Wife now...