Pitchfork

Until now, Chris Funk's claim to fame as a Decemberist was getting swept away in a whirlwind of truth (oh, and playing guitar and more on all those records people seem to like). So, in striking out on his own, Funk called in backup, recruiting the help of Thom Yorke, Chrissie Hynde, Liz Fraser, and Lindsey Buckingham. Well, sorta.

May 15, Funk's Flash Hawk Parlor Ensemble will release Plastic Bag in the Tree via Portland's Hush Records (aka the Decemberists' original home). It's a collection of capital-F Funk originals and a mess of covers, with the ensemble tackling the likes of Radiohead, Massive Attack, the Pretenders, and Fleetwood Mac. Far from the bombast of his other band, Flash Hawk could be described as bleary acid-folk written, as Funk says on the band's MySpace page, "in a haze fueled by fellowship, libations and other unmentionables."

Flash Hawk will take it to the streets on a few West Coast dates in between Decemberists tours. Peep MySpace for a gushing stream of tracks, including a take on Massive Attack's Mezzanine standout/House theme song "Teardrop".

Plastic Bag in the Tree:

01 Chained to the Pole
02 Texola Waltz (Norman Blake)
03 Teardrop (Massive Attack)
04 Can't See the Moon? Cut Down the Tree
05 Amnesiac / Morning Bell (Radiohead)
06 Give Back the Recycle Bin Now!
07 That's All for Everyone (Fleetwood Mac)
08 Sleep at Last!
09 Run Rabbit (Pseudosix)
10 Not Always Your Best Friend
11 I Go to Sleep (The Pretenders)
12 In Christ There Is No East or West
13 Chris Walla: Duet for Moog and Hurdy Gurdy in G Major-ish
14 The System of Your Choice
15 The Turtle's Voice Rests in Peace Just Outside Salem

Tour:

06-01 Seattle, WA - Crocodile
06-02 Portland, OR - Doug Fir
06-06 Los Angeles, CA - Spaceland
06-07 San Francisco, CA - Cafe Du Nord
06-08 Sacramento, CA - Blue Lamp
06-09 Eugene, OR - Sam Bond's Garage