5 Songs (The Decemberists EP)

Infobox Album |
Name = 5 Songs
Type = EP
Artist = The Decemberists


Released = 2001
Recorded =
Genre = Indie pop
Length = 23:56
Label = Self-released
Hush Records (2003)
Producer =
Reviews = *Pitchfork (7.3/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/16935/Decemberists_5_Songs_EP link]
Misc = Extra chronology 2
Artist = The Decemberists EP
Type = EP
This album = "5 Songs"
(2001)
Next album = "The Tain"
(2005)

"5 Songs" is a six-track EP by The Decemberists initially self-released by the band in 2001. The artwork was produced by Portland, Oregon artist Carson Ellis. The misleading title is due to the fact that the final track, "Apology Song" (originally sung into the answering machine of a friend named Steven as a legitimate apology for the loss of a beloved bicycle named Madeline), was written after the original self-produced CD was released. Lead singer Colin Meloy liked it so much that it was added to the album when it was re-released by Hush Records in 2003.

The album cover was made by Portland artist Carson Ellis, long-time girlfriend (and now wife) of Colin Meloy, who has created artwork for each of their albums.

Track listing

#"Oceanside" – 3:29
#"Shiny" – 5:11
#"My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist" – 4:42
#"Angel, Won't You Call Me?" – 2:40
#"I Don't Mind" – 4:39
#"Apology Song" – 3:11

Miscellanea

The track, "Apology Song" contains several references to the town of Missoula, Montana. The "Orange Street Food Farm" is a local grocery store popular with University of Montana students (mostly for buying beer). The "Frenchtown Pond" is a reference to Frenchtown Pond State Park located in Frenchtown which is approximately 15 miles northwest of Missoula. Meloy told audiences on the 2nd of October 2007 at Royal Festival Hall how they reclaimed the bicycle years later, only for it to be crushed between cars when he was helping the true owner of the bike move house.

The track, "My Mother Was a Chinese Trapeze Artist" was originally released (in a slightly more "country" version) on Colin Meloy's Pre-Decemberists, Tarkio EP, "Sea Songs For Landlocked Sailors", in 1999, and was re-released in 2005 on the Kill Rock Stars compilation of all Tarkio releases, "Omnibus".