Pitchfork

Photo by Kathryn Yu

John Moen, former drummer for Elliott Smith and Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks and current drummer for the Decemberists, has released his debut solo album under the name Perhapst. The self-titled LP is available now from In Music We Trust Records. Though Moen handles most of the instrumental duties on Perhapst, he's joined on the eleven-song set by his old Jicks boss Malkmus, who contributes a little guitar action, as well as Eric Lovre from Moen's old band the Dharma Bums. Chris Funk from the Decemberists plays in the Perhapst live band.

In mentioning the Perhapst record in the Decemberists newsletter, Moen says, "Think a much less agile Dave Grohl. You can go ahead and make all the Phil Collins jokes you want, but you must listen to the album at least once before you crack wise."

Perhapst have no live plans to speak of at the moment, but the Decemberists do: a single date May 24 at Bend, Oregon's Les Schwab Amphitheatre with Death Cab and Rogue Wave.

Perhapst:

01 "Quote"
02 Maryanne
03 Blue Year
04 Hyper Planets
05 Cruel Whisk
06 Caution
07 Incense Cone
08 Harbour
09 Alamand
10 Bornless One
11 Aren't You Glowing