THE HAZARDS OF LOVE

The Decemberists' fifth opus, "The Hazards of Love," is undoubtedly the greatest album of 2009 that I have heard. What better way to close the decade than with an epic concept album in the vein of Jethro Tull's classic "Thick as a Brick?" Telling a story of two lovers and their determination to overcome all obstacles to remain together, "The Hazards of Love" takes the listener for a ride through sweet, folky acoustic passages, hard-rocking electric guitar riffs, dynamic and inventive uses of various keyboard instruments, catchy hooks and refrains, and all-around awesome musicianship all the way through.

With the exception of the album's haunting prelude, composed by keyboardist Jenny Conlee, "The Hazards of Love" was entirely written and composed by Decemberists front man Colin Meloy. Bearing this in mind, Meloy truly flaunts his superb capabilities as a songwriter in this release, which often changes pace, mood, and sometimes genre, yet still maintains its sound as a single, fluid work of art. This album will prove to be an entertaining listen for anyone, even those who aren't particularly fans of concept albums. The storyline (albeit easy to follow) is not essential for fully enjoying this stunning masterpiece. I would reccommend "The Hazards of Love" to fans of music in general.