THE HAZARDS OF LOVE

Where can I begin with this album? The Hazards of Love was the the first album I bought from The Decemberists. And I absolutely love it. The continuation of the songs, it was like listening to an audio book but only more interesting. My brother told about this album and I was kind of uncerteain about it at first and then he told me about the shapeshifters, the queen, the romance, and of course I can't forget the dramtic climaxes! I'm a definate sucker for the fantasy things like that. Mention that and I'm interested. I love the fact that it's different from other music a teenager my age would listen to. I mean it's not the regular main ideas in these songs, what I mean by that is alot of the songs now talk about living a life of partying and having sex non-stop. But this, it talks about the consequences, Rake only got married so he could have sex, and his wife ended up dying in childbirth, and he went crazy and killed his children. My favorite song would have to be "Isn't it a Lovely Night" just because, even the way the singer's voice sounds it sounds weary and tiresome, it sounds adoring and it sounds like she has just given birth to a child, and they are celebrating it. (It doesn't really say she had the child but I think anyone can see that it happened!) Of course the are many more but I don't want to give away anything for those of you who are trying to get suggestions on a new CD. But with this album you won't regret spending your money on this. It's absolutely brilliant. And I give this album a rating of 5.