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What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World

What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World is the seventh studio album from The Decemberists, released on January 20, 2015. The album's title comes from a line in the song "12/17/12", a reference to the date of Barack Obama's speech in response to the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting and lead singer Colin Meloy's conflicting feelings about the shooting and his happy personal life.

What a Terrible World, What a Beautiful World

January 20, 2015 (2015-01-20)

Indie rock, folk rock, indie folk

52:57

Capitol (US), Rough Trade (Europe)

Tucker Martine

– lead vocals, acoustic and electric guitars, bouzouki, harmonica, backing vocals

Colin Meloy

– acoustic and electric guitars, banjo, bouzouki, mandolin

Chris Funk

– piano, Hammond organ, vibraphone, accordion, keyboards

Jenny Conlee

– bass, upright bass

Nate Query

– drums, percussion, backing vocals

John Moen