blackcoffeeaddict checking in with a missive from 20,000 leagues under the sea:
The Decemberists are what you might characterize as an indie-progressive-rock band, but that only kind of describes this album. If you're looking for a reference, I would put this somewhere in between Pink Floyd's The Wall and The Who's Tommy. It's the first real modern rock opera that I've heard. Sure, some of you will argue for Green Day's American Idiot being a rock opera. To those who will argue that I say: American Idiot was intended as a rock opera, but comes out more like a concept album rather than something that actually has a storyline. I listened to that album dozens of times when it came out, but I had to be told that there was congruity between every song throughout the album. Meanwhile, The Hazards Of Love has all the elements you could want from an opera: unintelligible lyrics sung by different vocalists and a "choir" of backup singers.
Ok, maybe those aren't the elements of a rock opera, per se, but my point is that I consider this to be a true modern rock opera. The lyrics booklet is included in the download, because it's a necessity when it comes to understanding the story, along with containing some pretty cool art. It's worth a listen (and a read), if only because it's a good story told by great storytellers.
1. Prelude
2. The Hazards of Love I (The Whistles Won't Wrestle The Thistles Undone)
3. A Bower Scene
4. Won't Want For Love (Margaret in The Taiga)
5. The Hazards of Love II (Wager All)
6. The Queen's Approach
7. Isn't It A Lovely Night?
8. The Wanting Comes in Waves / Repaid
9. An Interlude
10. The Rake's Song
11. The Abduction of Margaret
12. The Queen's Rebuke / The Crossing
13. Annan Water
14. Margaret in Captivity
15. The Hazards of Love III (Revenge!)
16. The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)
17. The Hazards of Love IV (The Drowned)
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