This Week's Notable Releases

Amadou & Miriam:
Welcome to Mali (Nonesuch)
MP3: Amadou & Mariam - "Salbali"
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We can't say enough about this Malian, husband and wife duo. Their modernized African music, infused with American R&B and Rap influences may cause spontaneous dancing, porch lounging and cocktail sipping. Listen wisely.

The Decemberists:
The Hazards of Love (Capitol)
MP3: The Rake's Song - MP3
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You've probably heard enough about this albums' genre classifications. They don't want the "rock opera" label, but you be the judge. Some of the album jaunts hauntingly through love loss, while others rise up in Transfigurational-style beauty. Colin Meloy's voice is no different here as on other albums, so if you want that standard Decemberists sound, this is for you.

Pearl Jam:
Ten (Reissue) (Epic)
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It's Pearl Jam. "Jeremy," "Daughter," "Even Flow," "Alive," "Porch." Give me a fucking break. You'll buy it.




Dan Deacon:
Bromst (Carpark)
MP3: "Get Older"
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This is Deacon's Merriweather Post Pavillion; we knew the day that he went slightly mainstream with more accessible, danceable tunes, would be the day drooling, and fawning would occur. Today's the day. Bromst explodes with pithy electro-jams, and songs, may we boldly say, you can sing to? Yeah, this is the shiznit.

Tour Alert: The Decemberists, "A Short Fazed Hovel" 2009

The Decemberists are waiting in the wings, briefly peaking their heads out to promote their upcoming record, The Hazards of Love, releasing March 24 on Capitol. In their latest bout of music marketing, The Decemberists have announced what they are calling, "Phase One" of their LP-supporting tour interestingly titled, "A Short Fazed Hovel." Ticket pre-sale is already underway, but for those without the means, public sale occurs this Friday...the 13th! Who cares.

Interesting side note, The Decemberists will be playing Hazards in its entirety on NPR's showcase at SXSW March 18.

Phase One Tour Dates After The Jump...

May 19 - Hollywood Palladium - Los Angeles, CA
May 20 - Fox Theatre - Oakland, CA
May 21 - McDonald Theater - Eugene, OR
May 24 - Wilma Theatre - Missoula, MT
May 26 - Fillmore Auditorium - Denver, CO
May 27 - Uptown Theater - Kansas City, MO
May 29 - Riverside Theater - Milwaukee, WI
May 31 - The Pageant - St. Louis, MO
June 1 - Lifestyle Communities Pavilion - Columbus, OH
June 3 - Tabernacle - Atlanta, GA
June 4 - Memorial Auditorium - Raleigh, NC
June 5 - The National - Richmond, VA
June 6 - Tower Theatre - Upper Darby, PA
June 9 - Bank of America Pavillion - Boston, MA
June 10 - Radio City Music Hall - New York, NY
June 11-14 - Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival - Manchester, TN

Preview: The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love + MP3

The Rake's Song - MP3

The Decemberists are ready to drop their first album in three years, The Hazards of Love. The release date is a way's away however...March 24. Our friends at Capitol provided us with some insight into the scope of the upcoming record. For lack of a better term, the LP is going to be (unfortunately) labeled a "rock opera." It tells a story and while most seem turned off by such a release, we have been assured that it will be highly accessible and pretty great. Not to mention it has guest appearances from Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark and My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden, (Too many diamonds). Stay tuned for more.

Track list and a look into the record's thematic elements after the jump.




The track listing for The Hazards Of Love is as follows:

1. Prelude
2. The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest 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 2 (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 3 (Revenge!)
16. The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)
17. The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)

What is it about? Read the press release below.

"The Hazards Of Love tells the tale of a woman named Margaret who is ravaged by a shape-shifting animal; her lover, William; a forest queen; and a cold-blooded, lascivious rake, who recounts with spine-tingling ease how he came “to be living so easy and free” in the aforementioned “The Rake’s Song.” Lavender Diamond's Becky Stark and My Brightest Diamond's Shara Worden deliver the lead vocals for the female characters, while My Morning Jacket's Jim James, Robyn Hitchcock and the Spinanes' Rebbecca Gates appear in supporting roles. The range of sounds reflects the characters’ arcs, from the accordion’s singsong lilt in “Isn’t it a Lovely Night?” to the heavy metal thunder of “The Queen’s Rebuke/The Crossing.”"