The Decemberists Premiere First Song in Two Years

It would only make sense for Wildwood, an upcoming animated film based on the 2011 novel by Colin Meloy, to close with a song by the Decemberists. “The Better Part of Bravery” is the folk group’s first track in two years, following their 2024 LP, As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again. Give it a spin below.

“Wildwood has been part of my life for many years, and seeing the story transformed like this has been an extraordinary experience,” Meloy said in a statement. “Writing the song for the end credits gave me a chance to return to the world of Wildwood in a different way. There’s something particularly meaningful about having music accompany the audience as they leave the forest and the story comes to a close.”

Travis Knight’s Wildwood—featuring a voice cast of Peyton Elizabeth Lee, Jacob Tremblay, Carey Mulligan, Mahershala Ali, Angela Bassett, Tom Waits and Richard E. Grant, among others—hits theaters October 23.

Alex Suskind has overseen music coverage for New York magazine’s Vulture and, before that, Entertainment Weekly. He has written about TV, film, technology, politics, and tons of other stuff for The Guardian, Vanity Fair, and The Fader. ... Read More