The Decemberists The Hazards of Love

4 stars out of 5 -- "True to form, THE HAZARDS OF LOVE brings the glorious excess: There's strummy British folk rock and heavy-metal thunder, orchestral strings and a children's choir."
"Meloy can write the hell out of melody, and he's got a flair for making what might seem heady and ridiculous on paper into something that sounds relatable and touching."
4 stars out of 5 -- "[I]t's a 17-track suite of striking musical and verbal intricacy that unfolds over the course of nearly an hour."
4 stars out of 5 -- "For the band's fifth studio album, THE HAZARDS OF LOVE, Colin Meloy & Co. have assembled a 21st-century concept album with roots in 16th-century imagery and '70s stoner rock."
4 stars out of 5 -- "This is rock at its artsy best that takes the concept album an impressive step further by mixing in a diversity of styles, from folk rock to gripping prog rock and heavy metal..."
4 stars out of 5 -- "THE HAZARDS OF LOVE is that most archaic of things -- the fully formed album, and a concept album at that....Its musical palette is a vivid and evocative one, shaded by accordion, harpsichord and pedal steel."
Clash (Magazine) (p.110) - "The Decembrists show off their impressive array of talents both vocally and instrumentally, with the band constantly switching from haunting acoustic folk to powerful blues and metal riffs."