‘Hazards of Love’ is the fifth Decemberists album released in March 2009 and follows the 2006 release ‘The Crane Wife’. It was well worth the wait. ‘The Hazards of Love’ has been accurately described as a folk-opera and it is truly epic. The tracks seemlessly weave into each other making an album that flows magically. I particualrly enjoyed the use of reprisals and simple yet incredibly affective riffs. I would not recommend listening to this album in parts, it must be enoyed in its entirety, as Colin Meloy intended. If this album has any fault it would be that none of the tracks that stand alone as successfully as those such as ‘O Valencia’ and ‘Yankee Bayonet’ on its predecessor, ‘The Crane Wife’. As a fan of Meloy and The Decemberists I am rather biased, but if you liked ‘The Crane Wife’ or enjoy indie-folk music generally I highly recommend this album. Two big thumbs up from me.
