The Decemberists: The Hazards Of Love
[Capitol Records]
[xrr rating= 4.6/5]
Reviewed by: Christian Hagen
Often, when reviewing a concept album, it’s tempting, even standard, to dwell heavily on the concept and forget that what you really examining is an album, a piece of music meant to be listened to. Indeed, it is mostly for this reason that so many critics bemoan the very idea of a concept record, often denouncing bands that try to branch out into new realms of musical storytelling.
I reject this notion completely.
No, for the sake of the reader, and to the end of giving the listener a better understanding of the merits or faults of this record, I will not even discuss the concept of The Hazards Of Love in anything but fleeting mention. Because if you choose not to rise above the murky task of deconstructing the complex narrative strung throughout, you might very well miss one of the most finely-structured, most beautiful albums of the year.
Don’t misunderstand me: The concept of the record is interesting, and the narrative is quite intriguing the further it goes; it’s steeped in classic literary symbolism and amusing characters. But the true value of The Decemberists’ fifth full-length release (and second for a major record label) is in its musical intricacies. The arrangements of each piece are nothing less than rich, with cascades of instruments blending into one another and pulling the listener down a rabbit hole of exquisite captivity. There are no breaks between the songs, and the effect is breathtaking.
Recurring motifs are key to this album’s success, and the melodies singer Colin Meloy has crafted here are beautiful and affecting. The four-part title song “The Hazards of Love” is, at various times throughout each recurrence, swirling, foreboding, chilling, and heart-breakingly beautiful. In this way, these songs encapsulate the old-school Decemberists sound, and long-time fans will recognize and enjoy their appearance.
But the album’s most striking moments are those that explore sounds the band has only previously hinted at. From the moment that “A Bower Scene” begins, we hear guitar that is uncharacteristically rushing, and the chorus, a classic rock jam-out, jars listeners expecting the same-old indie-folk sound we’ve come to expect from this band. The rest of the album from that point, with few exceptions, is soaked in the classic rock tone, to which Meloy said he wanted to pay tribute.
Probably the best songs on the record, and the most thickly rock and roll, are those which feature guest vocalist Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond, portraying the evil forest queen. Worden’s voice rails with the bite of Fiona Apple crossed with the intensity of Janis Joplin, as she belts over a guitar and drums-driven punch of what, to Decemberists fans, is surely the hardest rocking music the band has ever produced. Indeed, for its sheer power, “The Wanting Comes In Waves/Repaid” is surely one of the great highlights of the musical year thus far.
The Decemberists have not completely abandoned their old aesthetic, however, and songs like “Isn’t It A Lovely Night?” and the lead single “The Rake’s Song” (a brilliantly catchy tune about child murder) seem as though they could fit perfectly on any other record the band has made.
The album features many guest “stars”, from the aforementioned Worden to Lavender Diamond’s Becky Stark (as Margaret) and Jim James from My Morning Jacket (providing backup vocals), and even guitar work from Robyn Hitchcock. But even as wonderful as all of these guest appearances are (and they are an excellent addition to the sound, putting the work in its own universe of varied inhabitants), it’s the songs themselves, crafted by one of indie rock’s brightest bands, that gives The Hazards Of Love its stimulating power. All of this despite, or possibly because of, the grandiosity of the concept behind the record.
While Colin Meloy’s rock opera could have easily become a bloated beast, another whipping post for those naysayers who believe that concept albums belong on the shelf, the literate singer and his merry band of players could hardly have crafted a more brilliant work than this. If it were to receive its due, The Hazards of Love would be a destined cult classic that would resound through the years as a mark of storytelling in a rock and roll medium. One can assume that it will miss the radar of rock critics, and it will certainly never become a bestseller. But for those who take the time, and give this album what it deserves, The Hazards of Love will not disappoint. It will lift the spirit and the mind alike, and leave an indelible mark on indie rock fans yearning to hear a new story instead of the same old nothing.
This post previously appeared on Pajiba