Got a Great Song For Free: The Decemberists’ “The Rake’s Song”

This has been my favorite song of late. “The Rake’s Song” starts off with a beautifully punk-tinged vocal and then the music evolves into a driving heavy force of classic indie rock. It reminded me of the first time I head Arcade Fire’s Funeral… the intensity!

I never gave The Decemberists a chance before. Getting word of this free song, a few weeks ago, I went to their site to check it out. And, for this, I will be picking up their new release, The Hazards of Love, in March. So, hey, giving away free material does work. However, is there a precedent for a song being too good for a band to be giving away free? If so, this might be the perfect example. The Decemberists quickly closed the window on the giveaway, as it is now available on iTunes for 99 cents.