Castaways and Cutouts

Castaways and Cutouts
Studio album by
The Decemberists
ReleasedMay 21, 2002
RecordedJanuary – February 2002
GenreIndie rock, indie folk
Length49:59
LabelHush
ProducerThe Decemberists
The Decemberists chronology
5 Songs
(2001) 		Castaways and Cutouts
(2002) 		Her Majesty the Decemberists
(2003)

Castaways and Cutouts is the first full-length album by The Decemberists, originally released on May 21, 2002, on Hush Records and reissued on May 6, 2003, on Kill Rock Stars. The album's title is taken from a lyric of the song "California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade".

The album cover was designed by the Portland artist Carson Ellis, the long-time girlfriend (now wife) of frontman Colin Meloy. She has created artwork for each of the band's albums.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
The Boston Phoenix[2]
Pitchfork8.1/10[3]
Tiny Mix Tapes5/5[4]

Castaways and Cutouts received mostly positive reviews. The album ranked number 89 on Under the Radar's Top 200 Albums of the 2000s[5] and number 96 on Pitchfork's The 100 Best Albums of 2000–2004.[6]

Track listing

All songs written by Colin Meloy.

No.TitleLength
1."Leslie Anne Levine"4:13
2."Here I Dreamt I Was an Architect"4:29
3."July, July!"2:53
4."A Cautionary Song"3:09
5."Odalisque"5:21
6."Cocoon"6:49
7."Grace Cathedral Hill"4:29
8."The Legionnaire's Lament"4:45
9."Clementine"4:07
10."California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade"9:51
Total length:49:59

Personnel

According to the liner notes of Castaways and Cutouts.

Production

  • Produced by The Decemberists
  • Recorded by Simon Widdowson
  • Mastered by Ryan Foster
  • Design by Third Eyebrow (.com)
  • Art direction by Colin Meloy and Carson Ellis
  • Cover painting and illustrations by Carson Ellis
  • Inner-tray photo by Jonathan Gitelson
  • Sound clip in "California One/Youth and Beauty Brigade" from Archangel, directed by Guy Maddin.

References

  1. ^ Cramer, Stephen. "Castaways and Cutouts – The Decemberists". AllMusic. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  2. ^ Carioli, Carly (May 9–15, 2003). "The Decemberists: Castaways and Cutouts (Kill Rock Stars)". The Boston Phoenix. Archived from the original on April 7, 2004. Retrieved November 8, 2017.
  3. ^ Carr, Eric (March 25, 2003). "The Decemberists: Castaways and Cutouts". Pitchfork. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  4. ^ Wolfman. "The Decemberists – Castaways and Cutouts". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved June 30, 2017.
  5. ^ newmusicexcess (8 January 2010). "Under The Radar: Best Of The Decade – Top 200 Albums of the Decade". New Music Excess. Retrieved 2013-12-08.
  6. ^ Ubl, Sam (7 February 2005). "Staff Lists: The Top 100 Albums of 2000–04". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on 2013-12-17. Retrieved 2013-12-08.