From music to books to DVDs, it’s difficult to dislike anything that has to do with The Decemberists or their dark, Meloyncholy members. So with the release of the band’s first live album, expectations were set tall and met with expected consistency. “We All Raise Our Voices to the Air,” is a 20-song, two-disk live album, named from a line in first track “The Infants.” The material is taken from 12 nights of touring and is comprised mostly from the 2011 album “The King is Dead.” Fans will appreciate the live sound from well-loved tracks and the added charm of artist-to-crowd interaction. The whole effort is coated with the unpolished vigor of the band’s live performances, with good-but-not-too-good quality of sound. Complemented by its length, listeners should be pleased with this latest release.
Grade: A