Review: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love

Much to my surprise, I arrived home on Wednesday to find a package from the Decemberists' Shop. It seems my pre-ordered copy of The Hazards of Love had arrived a week before the scheduled release date (no autograph though). Thanks to this album being put out by Capitol, there was no MP3 download code so I set about recording and absorbing this rock opera.

They weren't kidding about this album being a rock opera. All the necessary components are there. The album ebbs and flows, there are classical characters, and musical themes are repeated throughout the album. After listening to this album, I felt the need to listen to Tommy, The Who's 1969 rock opera. There were many similarities. The biggest similarity being the repeated musical themes to show the entrance of characters. The lecherous Uncle Ernie receives a lilting oom-pa-pa style intro, while the the Acid Queen has her seductive rocker. All the while, Tommy's voice is shown through the quieter sections, until Tommy himself changes and the music follows suit.

In The Hazards of Love, Tommy is replaced by our hero William. He can be heard pleading with his mother, the horrible Forest Queen, through "The Wanting Comes in Waves". The back and forth is shown dynamically with the Queen's rebuke being backed with squealing electric guitars. The Decemberists even brought in guest singers to make these characters real. Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark plays our hero's naive love interest Margaret. My Brightest Diamonds's Sharon Vorden plays the Forest Queen. Colin Meloy sings for both the protagonist and the antagonist of William and the Rake.

The album is great as a whole, but loses something in its parts. The album opens with the organ and bass heavy "Prelude" leading into the standout "Hazards of Love 1", a straightforward but rewarding Decemberists tune. The album goes throught the story from song to song to using lyrical pieces and instrumental ones. The second half (after the interlude, of course), begins with "The Rake's Song", a heavy rocker that tells the sordid tale the the Rake's past. From there, the album builds to its climax following the kidnapping of Margaret by the Rake and his confrontation with William. A great finish to the album complete with a children's choir of the Rake's spectral children. I had high hopes for this album and it nearly delivers completely on them.

This album grabs you early, but loses the thread soon after. It comes back, though, with a roaring finish. It has the opportunity to become a classic album if it can hold up through repeated listenings. An ambitious album to say the least with lush instrumentation and well orchestrated by all involved. The album simply fails to take off completely. It stands on the edge of prog-rock ecstasy. It will be interesting to see how this piece translates live. I have plans right now to see the Decemberists three total times in the coming months, so I should have my chance.

Highs: "Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone)", "Won't Want for Love (Margaret in the Taiga)", "Annan Water", "The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)",

Lows: ""A Bower Scene", "The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)"

Rating: 8.1