The Decemberists released their seventh studio album, I'll Be Your Girl, on March 16, 2018. It was produced by John Congleton and recorded in Portland, Oregon, during 2017. The album marked a shift toward more synthetic and new wave sounds, influenced by the political anxiety of the Trump era.
The lead single, Severed, was released in January 2018, followed by Once in My Life. The album debuted at number 18 on the Billboard 200. The band experimented with drum machines and synthesizers, moving away from their signature folk-rock sound.
The album cover was designed by Carson Ellis, wife of vocalist Colin Meloy. The record received mixed reviews, with praise for its ambition but criticism for its dense production. It includes a hidden track at the end of the final track, Rusalka, Rusalka / Wild Rushes.