The Decemberists Release "The Hazards of Love" Today

If you are sitting at work, wishing Pandora didn’t play the same songs all the time, go to http://www.imeem.com/ewcom and listen to The Decemberists new album. It is streaming on the site, in its entirety, thanks to Imeem and EW.com. There is no indication of how long it will be up, so I would check it out today.

The new Hazards of Love is a much needed change in intensity and art. In past albums, the lead singer, Colin Meloy‘s voice was sometimes shrill or slightly whiny, which puts it in the same style (not genre) as some other poppy, soft-rock bands. Closer to a Gorillaz sound, The Decemberists have finally hit a chord with a broader audience.

There are  not many bands that can cross invisible lines of musical perception. (A similar change would be the Beatles after India or Britney Spears after someone made her O-face.) The differences are interesting, because they are fairly stark and scattered.

The utilization of very different vocals and experimentations with melody and intensity essentially take you for a little emotional joy ride. This album contains various traits which other indie bands have been similar lately.

Check out the stream on I-meem and make up your own mind.

F-listed Favorite Track: The Queen’s Rebuke/the Crossing – A dark, melancholy, yet triumphant march up a hill with an electric guitar.