Colin Meloy - FUV Live - 2014

Eric Holland and Colin Meloy in Studio A (photo by Michael Shemenski/WFUV)
by Eric Holland | 12/02/2014 | 12:00am

Eric Holland and Colin Meloy in Studio A (photo by Michael Shemenski/WFUV)

When the new album from the Decemberists, What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World comes out in January, it will have been just over four years since their last release — so there was a lot to talk about with its frontman Colin Meloy.

The singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist has hardly been idle. He wrote no fewer than three Wildwood fantasy novels that were received with, uh, wild enthusiasm and illustrated by Meloy's wife, Carson Ellis. Meloy spoke about how writing the series affected the songs on the record and generously gave context to where the Decemberists are now, commenting on all their releases to date.

Hear Meloy play songs from the new album and enjoy this great opportunity to get to know the man and the band much more intimately.

[recorded: 10/23/14]

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