AMG got the early scoop and posted the tracklist to the upcoming Decemberists alb. Her Majesty, The Decemberists.

01. Shany for the Arethusa
02. Billy Liar
03. Los Angeles, I’m Yours
04. The Gymnast, High Above the Ground
05. The Bachelor and the Bride
06. Song for Myla Goldberg
07. The Soldiering Life
08. Red Right Ankle
09. The Chimbley Sweep
10. I Was Meant for the Stage
11. As I Rise

I called that “I Was Meant for the Stage” would finish out the alb, but I guess the band has an even better closer in “As I Rise.” “The Soldiering Life” which was previously known, simply as “Soldiering” is my favorite of the new songs I’ve heard live. It’s similar instrumentally to the simple strummed “Legionaire’s Lament” but tackles a subject I don’t believe has been covered in pop music: homosexuality in the armed forces. Some sample lyrics:

“But I never felt so much life / Than tonight / Hudled in the trenches / Gazing on the battlefield / Our rifles blaze away / We blaze away / … / We laid on the mattress / And tumbled to sleep / Our eyes aligned / Swaddled in our skivvies / Cradled in our dungarees / But you / My brother in arms / I’d rather I lose my limbs than let you come to harm”

I’ll save my other comments for later. Looks like Kenan is doing the review for the new alb and all I have to say is expect a lengthy critique of said review here. :)