The Decemberists – The Hazards of Love Review
It’s been a while since a really solid concept album has been around. Sure a lot of bands use running themes throughout albums today, but you rarely see a full story told in an album. But if there is anyone who would do that it would be The Decemberists.
Hazards of love, the fifth album from the iconic indie group, focuses around a story of the forbidden love between and woman and shape shifter, along with the two villains trying to stop them; the Queen of the Forest and the Rake, a child murder and rapist. What is interesting about the album is the use of guest vocalists to play different roles in the story. Becky Stark of Lavender Diamond plays Margaret the female protagonist, and Shara Worden of My Brightest Diamond plays the queen of the forest, with Meloy playing William, the Male protagonist, and the Rake.
The story is interesting although it is a little hard to actually put together all the pieces in only one listen, but the construction of the album is amazing. Meloy employs a lot of recurring melodies to show various themes, which may on occasion might make it seem like the album repeats itself but after a few listens you can hear the variations. The themes are also pretty dark at times, “The Rake Song” is about a father killing his children because they pester him. The sound is a bit more rock oriented then previous Decembrists albums, using more drive especially in songs like “The Rake Song” and “The Queen’s Rebuke/The Crossing” which may turn off some Decemberists fans but given the chance and looked at in relation to the story it is quite impressive. It may be a bit different but they wanted to try something new, and frankly it worked quite well. Stark and Worden’s vocals are amazing as well, making them really stand out in the album, particularly Worden, whose voice is more powerful on this album then anything by My Brightest Diamond.
It would be hard to give a completely fair review of this album with going through the entirety of the story. The best thing is just to listen to the album from start to finish, the first time may not be that appealing, but given the chance the album quickly grows on you. The first time I heard it I wasn’t that impressed but it is quickly become one of my favourite albums by the Decemberists.
You can find a detailed version of the full story on the album here.
The Decemberists – The Rakes Song
The Decemberists – The Queens Rebuke/The Crossing
