I am an album fan. I do not listen to singles and shuffle is an abomination. The Decembrists’ new release “The Hazards of Love” is a refreshing new album made for people like me. Not only is every song worthy of listening to; when combined they tell a fantastic story that enhances the experience.

“The Hazards of Love” essentially tells the story of Margaret and her lover, who is a shape shifting creature from the forest near her cottage. She meets him in the forest one day when he is in the shape of a fawn. She heals his broken legs, he changes shape, and they fall in love. She returns home but finds out she is pregnant, and returns to the woods. Her lover is the minion of the forest queen, who saved his life when he was young, (I think; I’m bad at this part…. Haha) and she doesn’t like his new friend. She does what she can to keep them separate. The story also introduces us to the Rake a guy who killed his three children after his wife died. Margaret gets captured and our hero has to get to her and fun is had by all. The story is classic Decembrists’. It really reminds me of the Tain with its darker themes.

The best part of this album is the way they use the music to help the story. Each character has their own musical theme that comes up throughout the album to introduce the characters. Not only does the band use repeating notes and hooks, they also change the distortion of their instruments to hatch each person. The Queen’s hook is awesome. It does a better job of making me picture her character then any description could possibly show. The album is very Pink Floyd like in that it rehashes musical themes throughout the album almost as a reminder of what it has already brought up. Like I said before, this album is not meant for picking out your favorite tune and skipping to that one. Doing so really makes you miss out.

Musically, the album has a lot more punch then some of their older music. It is pretty clear the band learned a lot from The Crane Wife about how awesome their organ player is and they really turn her loose in some of the songs. It is amazing to me how many different instruments the band is able to put into this album. I’m pretty sure I hear a harpsichord in there a number of times and I love it.

In all, I think this album is one of the best complete albums I’ve had the pleasure of listening to. It takes what I loved about The Tain, combines it with the best of the Crane Wife, and expands it into a 60 minute experience. They sprinkle some great musicianship and some fantastic lyrics to make one hell of an album. Well done.

PS The Rake is one bad ass mother fucker. He could give the Shankill butchers a run for their money.

"What can one do when one is widower
Shamefully saddled with three little pests
All that I wanted was the freedom of a new life
So my burden I began to divest
Alright, alright, alright

Charlotte I buried after feeding her foxglove
Dawn was easy, she was drowned in the bath
Isaiah fought but was easily bested
Burned his body for incurring my wrath
Alright, alright, alright"

Awesome