The Decemberists have announced a new double album, As it always was, so it will be again, due out June 14 on the band's label, YABB Records, via Thirsty Tigers. To accompany the announcement, the band has also shared the 19-minute album closer “Joan in the Garden.”
As it always was, so it will be Again, the folk-rock group's ninth album, marks the band's return after a six-year hiatus. Prefaced by recent single “Burial Ground” and divided into four thematic sides, the double LP also features guest appearances from The Shins' James Mercer and REM's Mike Mill.
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In contrast to the relative brevity and accessibility of “Burial Ground,” which serves as the album’s opener, “Joan in the Garden” arrives as an extended, multi-part epic. The song's theme is appropriately grand, as the song's origins stem from the story of Joan of Arc.
“I got a Joan of Arc kick after reading Lydia Yuknavitch's beautiful novel. The book of Joan” frontman Colin Meloy said of the song. “I wanted to do my own version of Joan, but the song that came out was as much about the creative process as it was about the real woman, about the angelic visitation and the creative visitation and the hallucinogenic quality of both.”
Listen to the new song below. You can also reserve As it always was, so it will be Again here.
The Decemberists also recently revealed an extensive 2024 tour schedule, including co-headlining dates with The Head and The Heart and a tour with Ratboys. Check out the full list of dates below and get tickets. here.
As it always was, so it will be Again follow the one from 2018 I'll be your girl. For more information on the band, read our definitive ranking of all Decemberists albums.
As it always was, so it will be again Artwork:
As it always was, so it will be again Songs list:
01. Cemetery
02. Oh no!
03. The reapers
04. Long white veil
05. William Fitzwilliam
06. Don't go to the forest
07. The Black Mary
08. All I want is you
09. Born in the morning
10. America made me
11. Tell me what's on your mind
12. Never satisfied
13. Joan in the garden
The Decemberists 2024 Tour Dates:
04/30 – Kingston, New York @ Ulster Performing Arts Center *
02/05 – Boston, MA @ Correcaminos *
03/05 – Brooklyn, NY @ Brooklyn Paramount Theater *
05/06 – Toronto, ON @ Exhibition Place – Queen Elizabeth Theater *
05/07 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Stage AE *
05/08 – Philadelphia, PA @ The Fillmore Philadelphia *
10/05 – Washington DC @ The Anthem *
05/11 – Durham, North Carolina @ Durham Performing Arts Center *
05/12 – Atlanta, GA @ The Eastern *
05/14 – Dallas, TX @ Majestic Theater *
05/15 – Austin, TX @ Bass Concert Hall *
05/17 – St Louis, MO @ The Pageant *
05/18 – Milwaukee, WI @ Riverside Theater *
05/19 – St Paul, MN @ Palace Theater *
05/21 – Chicago, IL @ Salt Shed *
05/22 – Detroit, MI @ Royal Oak Music Theater *
05/24 – Nashville, TN @ Ryman Auditorium *
12/07 – Bend, OR @ Hayden Homes Amphitheater ^
07/13 – Oakland, CA @ Fox Theater *
07/14 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether *
07/15 – Los Angeles, CA @ The Bellwether *
07/18 – San Diego, CA @ Humphreys *
07/19 – Tucson, AZ @ Rialto Theater *
07/20 – Phoenix, AZ @ The Van Buren *
07/22 – Santa Fe, NM @ The Bridge at Santa Fe Brewing *
07/23 – Denver, CO @ The Mission Ballroom *
07/24 – Sandy, UT @ Sandy Amphitheater *
07/26 – Missoula, MT @ Kettlehouse Amphitheater *
07/27 – Spokane, WA @ Spokane Pavilion *
07/29 – Vancouver, BC @ Queen Elizabeth Theater *
07/31 – Seattle, WA @ Woodland Park Zoo Amphitheater *
03/08 – Troutdale, Oregon @ McMenamins Edgefield
08/25 – London, United Kingdom @ All Points East
^ = with head and heart
* = with Ratboys
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