Over eight albums, the Decemberists have built a career on making music that lets the listener know that the band not only plays acoustic instruments, but that they also read a lot of old books. The band has drawn inspiration from history, folklore, and other old-timey sources to spin epic tales full of beautiful melodies and poetic lyrics. However, it seems the Decmeberists have decided to upset the applecart a bit with their newest album I'll Be Your Girl . Front-man and songwriter Colin Meloy branched out from large narratives to standalone songs that act as a collection of standalone vignettes. What follows on I'll Be Your Girl is 40 minutes of mismatched song ideas. The first single, "Severed," is the band's best impression of a new wave band. The song itself is captivating, but it is an example of what Meloy and company are looking for something to do something new. The first half of the album is pretty solid. The opening track "For Once In My L...

The Decemberists have announced their eighth studio album  I'll Be Your Girl . Along with the album announcement, the band released the first single from the album titled "Severed." The band enlisted legendary indie producer John Congleton to make I'll Be Your Girl . The new single is a bit different than the folk-rock the band is known for. A sequenced synthesizer is the primary instrument and driving force behind the song. Overall, "Severed" has an 80s post punk vibe to it. The guitar lines are dark and abrasive, the drums groove and the bass gallops along underneath everything.  I'll Be Your Girl is out March 16 via Capitol Records. Listen to the first single "Severed" below.