''I'll Be Your Girl'' is the eighth studio album by the American

indie rock Indie rock is a Music subgenre, subgenre of rock music that originated in the United Kingdom, United States and New Zealand in the early to mid-1980s. Although the term was originally used to describe rock music released through independent reco ...

band

The Decemberists The Decemberists are an American indie rock band from Portland, Oregon, formed in 2000. The band consists of Colin Meloy (lead vocals, guitar), Chris Funk (guitar, multi-instrumentalist), Jenny Conlee (piano, keyboards, accordion, backing vocals ...

, released on March 16, 2018 on Capitol and Rough Trade. Produced by

John Congleton John Congleton is a grammy winning American record producer, engineer, mixer, writer and musician. In addition to his production work, Congleton has fronted the alternative rock band The Paper Chase, and writes music for a newer project entitl ...

, the band experimented with new instrumentation during the album's recording sessions, including several synth-based compositions inspired by New Order and

Depeche Mode Depeche Mode are an English electronic music, electronic band formed in Basildon, Essex in 1980. Originally formed with the line-up of Dave Gahan, Martin Gore, Andy Fletcher (musician), Andy Fletcher and Vince Clarke, the band currently consists ...

. The album was preceded by the singles "Severed" and "Once in My Life".

Writing and composition

The album's lyrical content was, in part, influenced by the 2016 presidential election and its immediate aftermath. Vocalist and guitarist

Colin Meloy Colin Patrick Henry Meloy (born October 5, 1974) is an American musician, singer-songwriter and author best known as the frontman of the Portland, Oregon, indie folk rock band the Decemberists. In addition to vocals, he performs with an acousti ...

noted: " 'I'll Be Your Girl''celebrates the absurdity of our current predicaments. I think it really is a reflection of my outlook immediately post the 2016 election, where there was immediately this onset of despair. Like real despair. Real depression, and then sort of climbing out of it. Seeing other people feeling the same way, similarly climbing out of their hole and just witnessing events as they came along, rather than with tears. There was almost like an ironic humour but with anger, and those sort of go together. It was about finding the balance between real rage and humour – discovering the wild absurdity in it, but not being blithe."

Track listing

Personnel

The Decemberists

- vocals, composer, lyricist, acoustic guitar, background vocals, electric guitar * Chris Funk - acoustic guitar, banjo, bouzouki, electric guitar, mandolin, synthesizer *

Jenny Conlee Jennifer Lynn Conlee-Drizos (born December 12, 1971) is an American musician, best known as the accordionist, pianist, organist, keyboardist, melodica player, and occasional backup singer and harmonica, harmonicist for the indie rock quintet The D ...

- accordion, organ, piano, synthesizer, vibraphone *

Nate Query Nate Query (born September 5, 1973) is an American musician best known as the bassist of the Portland, Oregon indie rock band The Decemberists. He plays electric bass, upright bass, banjo and cello. He makes appearances on many albums by Portland ...

- cello, electric bass, upright bass *

John Moen John Moen is a musician and member of The Decemberists, Black Prairie, Boston Spaceships, Eyelids, and Perhapst. Moen has played the drums since he was 15 years old. Prior to joining The Decemberists, Moen played with over 20 bands including s ...

- drums, percussion

Additional musicians

* Kelly Hogan - background vocals * Nora O'Connor - background vocals * Birch Query - choir vocals * Eleanor Laurie - choir vocals * Finn Query - choir vocals * Louise Moen - choir vocals * Max Markewitz - choir vocals * Mina Greenberg Motamedi - choir vocals * Sabrina Montgomery - choir vocals * Satchel Laurie - choir vocals * Scout Funk - choir vocals * Mikaela Davis - harp * Gaelynn Lea - violin

Technical

* The Decemberists - production * John Congleton - production, mixing, recording engineering, studio personnel * Adam Lee - assistant mixing, assistant recording engineering, studio personnel * Greg Calbi - studio personnel

Charts

References

{{Authority control 2018 albums The Decemberists albums Albums produced by John Congleton