Pitchfork

So apparently Sony has a music store. It's called Connect and is very annoying to use. But if you wade through the confusion, download the Connect software, and pay four dollars, a brand new, exclusive Decemberists digital EP can be yours. (This is surprising, considering the fact that the Decemberists are signed to Capitol, part of EMI, which happens to be a competitor to Sony/BMG.)

The EP features live versions of the Crane Wife tracks "O! Valencia", "The Perfect Crime #2", and "The Crane Wife 1 & 2", as well as a cover of the country song "Please Daddy (Don't Get Drunk This Christmas)", previously done by such superstars as John Denver and Alan Jackson. I can't tell you what any of it sounds like though, since I'm still afraid of rootkits and won't download the software.

However, if you have Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, you can read this (perhaps unintentionally) hilarious quickie interview with the band. Clearly, the Decemberists find this whole thing as stupid as I do:

CONNECT: Describe your band using the following format: We're kinda like [blank] mixed with [blank] but without all the [blank] and with more [blank].
THE DECEMBERISTS: Stink. Wretch. Plebe. Imbecile.
CONNECT: Now describe the band's sound in your own words.
THE DECEMBERISTS: ROCK MUSICA! (to be said in a thick Russian accent)

As previously reported, the Decemberists are on tour now.

11-09 Cleveland, OH - Agora Theater *
11-10 Columbus, OH - Lifestyle Communities Pavilion *
11-11 Chicago, IL - Riviera Theater *
11-12 Minneapolis, MI - First Avenue *
11-14 Denver, CO - Paramount Theater *
11-16 Missoula, MT - Wilma Theater *
11-17 Seattle, WA - Paramount Theater *
11-18 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom *
11-19 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom *
02-02 Sheffield, England - Leadmill
02-03 Dublin, Ireland - Village
02-04 Glasgow, Scotland - ABC
02-05 Manchester, England - Academy 2
02-07 Nottingham, England - Trent University
02-08 London, England - Shepherds Bush Empire
02-09 Southampton, England - University
02-10 Brussels, Belgium - Botanique
02-12 Cologne, Germany - Prime Club
02-13 Hamburg, Germany - Knust
02-14 Berlin, Germany - Postbahnhof
02-16 Fribourg, Switzerland - Fri-son
02-17 Bologna, Italy - Estragon
02-18 Munich, Germany - Ampere
02-19 Vienna, Austria - Flex Club
02-21 Amsterdam, the Netherlands - Paradiso
02-22 Paris, France - La Maroquinerie

* with Alasdair Roberts