Track Listing

1. Prelude
2. The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle The Thistles Undone
3. Bower Scene
4. Won't Want For Love (Margaret In The Taiga)
5. Wager All
6. Queen's Approach
7. Isn't It A Lovely Night
8. Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid
9. Interlude
10. Rake's Song
11. Abduction Of Margaret
12. Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing
13. Annan Water
14. Margaret In Captivity
15. Revenge
16. Wanting Comes In Waves
17. Drowned

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #324 in Music
• Released on: 2009-03-23
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
This is not the seventies anymore. You do not need to be afraid of prog rock. Bearing that in mind, open your arms for the fifth album by Portland’s baroque-folksters The Decemberists, The Hazards Of Love, a bona-fide concept album (based loosely, since you asked, around '60’s Brit folk revivalist Anne Briggs’ EP of the same name). You need not quiver at its 17 tracks, preludes, interludes, a song in four parts, and another reprised at the record’s conclusion. This is, in keeping with their tendency to get ever more theatrical by the year, by far their most prog offering to date, even more so than 2006’s The Crane Wife. But nestling at its centre is a clarity, warmth of expression and twee smile that has been present in their songwriting since their more threadbare early releases. "Annan Water" is gently campfire acoustic, a la Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes, but with a flaming arrow protruding from its chest, "The Queens Rebuke / The Crossing" writhes noisily in a '70s rock swamp and the bright stomp of "The Rake’s Song" recalls The New Pornographer’s knack for honeycomb pop with a kick and is somewhat of a respite from tracks like "The Abduction Of Margaret" and "Margaret In Captivity" which are as convoluted and flamboyant as you’d expect (Medieval French vibes, minstrel-esque laments, psychedelic flutterings, children’s choir, heavy metal guitars, the lot). Positioned somewhere between Arcade Fire, Yes, Pink Floyd and Patrick Wolf the last thing you can accuse them of is being uninteresting. --James Berry

CD Description
Portland, Oregon's freewheeling indie-pop starlets The Decemberists continue their journey towards prog-revivalism withthis epic fifth album. Conceptually a narrative musical piece, a rich tapestry of characters, dramatic events and themes is woven throughout this ambitious project. Though the scope is more enlarged than with previous records, singer/songwriter Colin Meloy's folky songs and labyrinthine, literate vocals remain at the forefront. The dramatic framework The Decemberists' ambition provides makes 'The Hazards Of Love' a quirky and rewarding release from this enduring band.

Customer Reviews

A Modern Classic
For those that already like the Decemberists, this will not dissapoint, as its easily the best album they have produced to date (which is saying something). Some people do not get Colin Meloys signing or delivery, a bit like people dont always get Willie Nelson, those who do, love it, those who don't might say he can't sing? He can!
The Hazards of Love is a modern folk/rock concept album (something Colin Meloy bristles at, at the very suggestion) but producing a modern concept album, its bound to have those comparisons rightly or wrongly. Its a mini opera, its a modern masterpiece, its a story set in mythical forest where a father gleefully dispatches his own children, one by one. Despite the sombre storyline its far far from a depressing album. Its got real depth, which means that it has to be worked at a little, all the better for it, because these are the types of albums which last for years.
This may well propell the Decemberists to become major names, which on one hand will be a shame because their intimate shows are a delight, but albums of this calibre are going to ensure that they are going to get plenty of exposure. Do yourself a favour, buy this album, lock yourself in a room and play, and then play again, because it opens up so much more with frequent listens. It should not be judged on one half arsed listen. Album of the year, almost certainly for me, and possibly album of the decade too, because I cant see how this is going to be topped.

Bloody bloody great!!
Well...what do you say eh? Despite perhaps others attempts at diminishing this latest epic as pretentious, pomp, meaningless folk/prog/rock ish, I am blown away - as usual!
Lyrically this is unsurpassed - just sit and listen! I love words - I really do! This is poetry and storytelling at it's best, all crafted within a cocoon of gorgeous music. Having discovered the Decemberists a few years ago I have listened with curiosity and growing admiration. The Crane Wife was lovely, haunting, painful to listen to at times but always wonderful. The Hazards of Love is .....probably the best recording of it's genre - is there a genre that encapsulates these guys? I don't know! Anyway vocally with the guest appearances (Shara Worden in particular) this album is beautiful, just beautiful. I don't know of another band that can just do this sort of thing. They are an unlikely bunch... just look at their photos.... but for me (and I know it's always personal with music - it HAS to be) this is a classic. Thanks guys - more of the 'same' - but oh so different. Lovely lovely lovely. Colin Meloy is a genuinely genius songwriter. This a a genuinely genius album.
Try it, don't be deterred by what you may read, get in there, close your eyes and let yourself be sucked in, seduced and sensualised! It's just good good music!!!

the complete works
This is the only album I've heard from The Decemberists.
And it's bloody brilliant.
Take a bit of prog-folk ala Strawbs, throw in a bit of Fairport/Sandy Denny, add a pinch of heavy-rock and let it simmer for 20 years.....freshen up with a twist of modern Americana and hey presto.....you've got yourself an all time classic album. Have had this on almost constantly in the car for a month and can hardly bring myself to press eject.Poor Old Neil Young's Fork in the Road hasn't had a look-in, and he's my all time hero.
Almost reluctant to buy their other albums cos I can't see how they can top this one.....but it's a risk I'm gonna have to take, especially as some other reviewers seem to rate them higher than Hazards.