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The Decemberists — Prelude -> The Queen's Approach
Album: The Hazards of Love
Avg rating:
7

Your rating:
Total ratings: 3269









Released: 2009
Length: 17:31
Plays (last 30 days): 0
Part I: Prelude [0:00]

(Instrumental)

--------------------------------

Part II: The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone) [3:05]



My true love went riding out in white and green and gray

Past the pale of Offa's wall where she was wont to stray

And there she came upon a white and wounded fawn

Singing, "Oh, the hazards of love"



She, being full of charity, a credit to her sex

Sought to right the fawn's hind legs when here her plans were vexed

The taiga shifted strange, the beast began to change

Singing, "Oh, the hazards of love"

Singing, "Oh, the hazards of love"

You'll learn soon enough the prettiest whistles won't wrestle the thistles undone, undone



Fifteen lithesome maidens lay alone in their bower

Fourteen occupations paid to pass the idle hour

But Margaret heaves a sigh, her hands clasped to her thigh

Singing, "Oh, the hazards of love"

Singing, "Oh, the hazards of love"

You'll learn soon enough the prettiest whistles won't wrestle the thistles undone, undone

Undone, undone, undone

--------------------------------

Part III: A Bower Scene [7:24]



Thou inconsolable daughter

Said the sister

When wilt thou trouble the water

In the cistern



And what irascible black Bart

Is the father



And when young Margarete's waistline

Grew wider

The fruit of her amorous centaur

Inside her



And so our heroine withdraws

To the taiga

--------------------------------

Part IV: Won't Want for Love (Margaret In the Taiga) [9:33]



Gentle leaves, gentle leaves

Please array a path for me

The woods are blowing thick and fast around



Columbine, Columbine

Please alert this love of mine

Let him know his Margaret comes along



And all this stirring inside my belly

Won't quell my want for love

And I may swoon from all this swelling

But I won't want for love



Mistlethrush, Mistlethrush

Lay me down in the underbrush

My naked feet grow weary with the dusk



Willow boughs, Willow boughs

Make a bed to lay me down

Let your branches bow to cradle us



And all this stirring inside my belly

Won't quell my want for love

And I may swoon from all this swelling

But I won't want for love



--------------------------------

Part V: The Hazards of Love 2 (Wager All) [13:40]



And here I am softer than a shower

And here I am to garland you with flowers



To lay you down in clover bed

The stars, a roof above our heads



And all my life I never felt the tremor

And all my life that now disturbs my fingers



I'll lay you down in clover bed

The stars, a roof above our heads

And we'll lie 'til the corncrake crows

Bereft the weight of our summer clothes

And I'd wager all, the hazards of love, the hazards of love



And take my hand and cradle it in your hand

And take my hand to feel the pull, the quicksand



I'll lay you down in clover bed

The stars, a roof above our heads

And we'll lie till the corncrake crows

Bereft the weight of our summer clothes

And I'd wager all, the hazards of love, the hazards of love

The hazards of love, the hazards of love

--------------------------------

Part VI: The Queen's Approach [18:06]

(Instrumental)
Comments (551)add comment
This is outstanding Over The Top Prog! You Go Young Margaret!
Time to chime in on the song length debate.  I personally love it when a band stretches their talents into a longer song.  Whether it be a single piece of music (Pink Floyd Dogs, Yes Close to the Edge, King Crimson, Porcupine Tree, etc), or a string of connected songs such as this or Snow Patrol's The Lightning Strike, I do enjoy the format of pushing a song well beyond 4 minutes.  The haters just need to think of it as different songs intertwined, just as if you were listening to an album side. 
kudos Jamus, and before ...And Then There Were Three... Supper's Ready!
This is pretty epic! Fanks.
 michael_crf wrote:

The Decemberists rule
Colin Melody’s voice is divisive even in my house
I love it
My wife and daughter can’t stand it
That’s why air pods rule

yeah, agreed. i'm with your wife and daughter. LOL but love air pods.

I'm reminded of Renaissance. but probably of the wonderfull Haslamesque female vocals.
 Jamus wrote:

Dear septimuswarren, You appear to be unaware that the 4/5 minute duration of a song/performance is, relatively speaking, a very contemporary occurrence. Prior to the recording industry's move to truncate composition and inevitably attention span, composers were able to express emotions and ideas more like great painters instead of cartoonists. 
Having a great love for musical creativity, I tend to split my listening between Radio Paradise (one of if not the best stations for the effort that Rebecca and Bill put into playlists) and WQXR, New York City's classical music station. Try to broaden your musical intelligence; hats off to RP for occasionally playing longer length classical and contemporary works. it is part of why this station is remarkable in the midst of common broadcasts. Best regards and hopes that you remain healthy during these trying times.







Radio Paradise is the best station I've come across. The DJ's respect the listener. Play great music.
Wow!!
 jmsmy wrote:

I just heard this today on RP and bought the CD right after.  It's great.



Hi JMS from 2009. We had good times then. It's still great in 2022.  Wish we had your President. 
 sfoster66 wrote:

Hard to battle through this opus if you're not a fan....




This Opus made me a fan...
Yes, yes, yes. This is sooo good. Nice to break from the usual time and music format. Such variety. Thanks William (previously known as Bill;-)) for putting the time and effort to stitch the 6 pieces together. That's tailor-made DJing.
Cheers
the females vocals....sandy denny
 lizardking wrote:

can you say 'blah blah blah' for 17.5 minutes though?  


When you talk to a donkey, they hear: blah,blah,blah
The Decemberists rule
Colin Melody’s voice is divisive even in my house
I love it
My wife and daughter can’t stand it
That’s why air pods rule
 Jamus wrote:

Dear septimuswarren, You appear to be unaware that the 4/5 minute duration of a song/performance is, relatively speaking, a very contemporary occurrence. Prior to the recording industry's move to truncate composition and inevitably attention span, composers were able to express emotions and ideas more like great painters instead of cartoonists. 
Having a great love for musical creativity, I tend to split my listening between Radio Paradise (one of if not the best stations for the effort that Rebecca and Bill put into playlists) and WQXR, New York City's classical music station. Try to broaden your musical intelligence; hats off to RP for occasionally playing longer length classical and contemporary works. it is part of why this station is remarkable in the midst of common broadcasts. Best regards and hopes that you remain healthy during these trying times.






Here here...RP is why I listen....variety, composition, hearing new music everyday
 Signwrtr61 wrote:
Hey Bill....And what an awesome job you did with it! It was waaayy cool, to keep up with the "story" via lyrics! Brilliant, Sir! Thank you SO much! Truckload of kudos to you, for bringing this together for the appreciative listeners! Don't mind the whiners! They just don't understand! Lol Best, in the coming new year, brother! For you and, all yours!



The first time I heard Dark Side it was like, this is all one song.  Looking forward to hearing the medley the next time RP plays it.
They should have done more work on the vocal track.   Lots more. 
 tm wrote:

17 minutes later? is this the same song?



It's first 6 songs from the album, that's why it says Prelude -> The Queen's Approach

Prelude 3:04
The Hazards Of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle The Thistles Undone) 4:19
A Bower Scene 2:09
Won't Want For Love (Margaret In The Taiga) 4:07
The Hazards Of Love 2 (Wager All) 4:26
The Queen's Approach 0:29
The Decemberists are one of my RP finds and this album is awesome played end-to-end (for me...)

10 for the music
10 for RP - but only cos the numbers don't go higher!!!
 Edweirdo wrote:

Quite interesting; I've rated it an 8.  The overall sound is a bit boxy for me.



Really? I found it triangular.
17 minutes later? is this the same song?
I absolutely love this album waiting to see The Decemberists for the third time this summer 
I've always wanted to like them more than I do, but this song is amazing, I think I'm a sucker for ending the phrase in a major third, but in any case, masterful to me.
Quite interesting; I've rated it an 8.  The overall sound is a bit boxy for me.
 Signwrtr61 wrote:
That....or, " the way things are these days"!! Ridiculous! Not bad enough, that gov't shoves all the "mandates" down our throats but, the quotes of those two lines is basically, another smack in the face! It's here, deal with it, and keep those snide comments to oneself, eh?!!? Like we need to keep hearing it again, and again! Good grief, Charlie Brown!!

perhaps if we simply focus on music...

 MayBaby wrote:

Great post except if I hear "In these trying times" or similar gist again I'm gonna scream.
...Guess I'll be screaming well into the decade.
That....or, " the way things are these days"!! Ridiculous! Not bad enough, that gov't shoves all the "mandates" down our throats but, the quotes of those two lines is basically, another smack in the face! It's here, deal with it, and keep those snide comments to oneself, eh?!!? Like we need to keep hearing it again, and again! Good grief, Charlie Brown!!

 Sasha2001 wrote:


Hahaha, you're comparing The decemberists to all those great and amazing bands!

Hahahaha!
Not getting the point, dear!

 sfoster66 wrote:

Hard to battle through this opus if you're not a fan....

That's almost like saying....you love your new custom home but, don't appreciate the skill and talent that the carpenters have to create it! Sheesh!

 Clarentine wrote:

This song cycle continues to age like fine wine - bumping up to a 9.  Thank you for playing the whole thing together as it was intended to be heard!

And...Thank you for your appreciative comment and, the "hidden" props to Bill, for having put it together, in a somewhat of a "singular" piece! He's awesome, Bill! AND his wife! Long live Bill and Rebecca...aka/RP!

 Jelani wrote:

I know there's a lot of dislike for this song here, but I think it's just brilliant. One of the most engaging and evocative compositions(contemporary) I've heard in a long time.
Gets a 10 from me.

Ya know what?....I just have to say thank you, for a delightfully pleasant comment about it! It is truly a beautiful piece! Lotta hard work putting it all together and, thanks to Bill's immeasurable skills, put it together for us listeners to follow lyrics through the whole "story"!! Thanks again! Best in the coming new year! ✌

 Silvervanman wrote:

'Orrible noise.

I like to have a nap now and then after work with the mainly musical rp wafting soothingly across my lug'oles. This severely interrupted my reverie and I had to get up and make this comment. I would have just let it pass but it went on, and on..

Unappreciative bloke!

 Stetsonman wrote:

goes on a bit doesnt it?

And, most delightfully, thank you! At the very least, gotta give Bill kudos for "piecing" it all together, to be able to follow! Sheesh! How ungrateful you seem!

 Stetsonman wrote:

got it off your chest now you bunch of knob-heads?

found a field of clover?

Dodged the hazards of love?

arseholes

Loser!

 Sasha2001 wrote:


Clearly the original post isn't about the length of classical symphonies or even sonatas. It's about popular rock compositions. The idea that anyone would compare this pretentious piece of dreck to a great piece of classical music is laughable on its face.
Would have to think by your comment, you're as pretentious as what you refer to as dreck. Clearly don't have any appreciation for how Bill "pieced" this together for us appreciative listeners. Nor, the amount of dedication to the amount of work it took, to create the entire work! Yeah....THAT'S being pretentious.

 BillG wrote:


I had to import all 6 tracks into an audio editor & stitch them back together. I used to use a CD ripper that would let you adjust the start & end points of a track (that's how I acquired the extended Dark Side Of the Moon medley that we play here, for instance) but the program that I'm using these days doesn't have that feature.  

On a related note, this is an instance where the per-track sales & distribution model really falls apart. Even if you buy the whole album via iTunes or Amazon, you're left with a grossly substandard listening experience, since the album can't flow together nicely like it's supposed to. Lame.
Hey Bill....And what an awesome job you did with it! It was waaayy cool, to keep up with the "story" via lyrics! Brilliant, Sir! Thank you SO much! Truckload of kudos to you, for bringing this together for the appreciative listeners! Don't mind the whiners! They just don't understand! Lol Best, in the coming new year, brother! For you and, all yours!

I love this so much
I tried to like it. Maybe it will grow on me!
Hard to battle through this opus if you're not a fan....
 h8rhater wrote:

Your argument is ridiculous and invalidated by the following (which is a short list):
Pink Floyd: Echos and Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts one and two) 
Beatles:  Entire back side of Abbey Road
Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused (live)
Lynyrd Skynyrd:  Free Bird
Allman Bros. Mountain Jam, Whipping Post (the definitive live version from the Fillmore)
Genesis: Supper's Ready
Iron Butterfly: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Grateful Dead: Terrapin Station
Rush: Hemispheres
Bob Dylan: Murder Most Foul
Coltrane: Ascension, Free Jazz
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick
Sonic Youth - The Diamond Sea
Arlo Guthrie:  Alice's Restaurant Massacree
Miles Davis: He Loved Them Madly

Etcetera...


Hahaha, you're comparing The decemberists to all those great and amazing bands!

Hahahaha!
 Jamus wrote:

Dear septimuswarren, You appear to be unaware that the 4/5 minute duration of a song/performance is, relatively speaking, a very contemporary occurrence. Prior to the recording industry's move to truncate composition and inevitably attention span, composers were able to express emotions and ideas more like great painters instead of cartoonists. 
Having a great love for musical creativity, I tend to split my listening between Radio Paradise (one of if not the best stations for the effort that Rebecca and Bill put into playlists) and WQXR, New York City's classical music station. Try to broaden your musical intelligence; hats off to RP for occasionally playing longer length classical and contemporary works. it is part of why this station is remarkable in the midst of common broadcasts. Best regards and hopes that you remain healthy during these trying times.






Clearly the original post isn't about the length of classical symphonies or even sonatas. It's about popular rock compositions. The idea that anyone would compare this pretentious piece of dreck to a great piece of classical music is laughable on its face.
Anyone else thought the opening was "Thriller"?
got it off your chest now you bunch of knob-heads?

found a field of clover?

Dodged the hazards of love?

arseholes
Still not finished?
goes on a bit doesnt it?
 septimuswarren wrote:

Any band that thinks it can record a 17 minute song and that anyone will listen to it clearly thinks too much of itself. This is a dreadful song. I will make a sizable contribution to RP if it never plays this song again and an even larger contribution if never plays the Decemberists ever again. Sucko Barfo indeed! 


Your argument is ridiculous and invalidated by the following (which is a short list):
Pink Floyd: Echos and Shine on You Crazy Diamond (parts one and two) 
Beatles:  Entire back side of Abbey Road
Led Zeppelin: Dazed and Confused (live)
Lynyrd Skynyrd:  Free Bird
Allman Bros. Mountain Jam, Whipping Post (the definitive live version from the Fillmore)
Genesis: Supper's Ready
Iron Butterfly: In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida
Grateful Dead: Terrapin Station
Rush: Hemispheres
Bob Dylan: Murder Most Foul
Coltrane: Ascension, Free Jazz
Jethro Tull: Thick as a Brick
Sonic Youth - The Diamond Sea
Arlo Guthrie:  Alice's Restaurant Massacree
Miles Davis: He Loved Them Madly

Etcetera...
This is lovely!
'Orrible noise.

I like to have a nap now and then after work with the mainly musical rp wafting soothingly across my lug'oles. This severely interrupted my reverie and I had to get up and make this comment. I would have just let it pass but it went on, and on..
This has a retro quality I like. Some British Band for example.
 hbs47 wrote:

A great attempt at a non-formulaic music making. I pity anyone that cannot afford or are unable to listen to a 17 minute piece.
Maybe Bill can find a 2 minute version of Bolero for them?


Prog rock lives for sure in this quite likable piece. 
I know there's a lot of dislike for this song here, but I think it's just brilliant. One of the most engaging and evocative compositions(contemporary) I've heard in a long time.
Gets a 10 from me.
 gmsingh123 wrote:

I like any song that manages to use the word "irascible".



Today I Learnt: I am somewhat irascible. Yes. It needs fixing. Thanks mate!
This song cycle continues to age like fine wine - bumping up to a 9.  Thank you for playing the whole thing together as it was intended to be heard!
A great attempt at a non-formulaic music making. I pity anyone that cannot afford or are unable to listen to a 17 minute piece.
Maybe Bill can find a 2 minute version of Bolero for them?
The hazards of too much of his vocals. 
Ich saß mit meiner Tochter an Frühstückstisch, es war sehr schön, für sie die sanfte Musik am Morgen und für mich das Gitarrengeschrammel zwischendurch. 
Es wurde nicht langweilig. 
17 min. Hut ab.
Saw the show in Vancouver, bought the CD at the show and left on a 2 week roadtrip in our Westy the next day. We must have listened to this a hundred times. Still gives me shivers. 
god awful
 Kajukenbo wrote:
...  Anyway, during the show the "battle " between Becky Stark (of Lavender Diamond) and Shara Nova (of My Brightest Diamond) was the best singing I've ever heard live. ...
 


Kelly Hogan did a bangin' job with the female roles when I saw them. Powerful and commanding...

I bought this CD a day or so before seeing this concert and the nice lady at the CD store (shoutout to Deaf Ear Records in La Crosse, WI!) noticed the CD and said she was also going to the concert.  I happened to run into her at the concert and right before the show started she gave me an excellent overview of the theme of the CD.  At the concert The Decembrists played the whole album sequentially, in its entirety, and with many elaborations. Her explanation helped me understand the show which allowed me to truly enjoy the show.  Without her explanation I think understanding the show would have been difficult.  Granted, the show did need an explanation to truly enjoy it, which I understand is somewhat problematic.  Anyway, during the show the "battle " between Becky Stark (of Lavender Diamond) and Shara Nova (of My Brightest Diamond) was the best singing I've ever heard live.  It was amazing and the CD doesn't do quite do justice to the battle or the concert.  I believe this concept album is the very height of the Decembrists talents and is a rare achievement among any bands. This is one to listen to the whole thing from start to finish with a good set of headphones or speakers! Enjoy.
If we're going to play a rock opera, at least make it Tommy or something that has some zip to it? I don't deny the songwriting prowess here, but it just becomes Meh after a while.
I appreciate that somebody has the guts to create a 'rock opera' ala The Who. And the talent to make it interesting.

I don't think this one will be made into a movie, but hey, it's not 1975.
c.
9 > 10 today and it's on the Christmas list please

Just enjoying this so much today - no idea why, but loving the feeling
It is just so cool, to hear this tune, in all it's parts, played consecutively.....this is an absolutely incomparable piece. 
I'm not against the playing of long tracks, echoing the positive comments from others more eloquently stated here. I delight in "Shine On" when it gets an occasional airing and I once encountered the full version of Thick As A Brick here I am sure. Trouble is I left it on thinking "I hate this song but at least it will be over soon". 17 minutes later I'm thinking I've got a problem with the sync!  All part of the fun of RP. Can we have all of "Grendel" one day?
Haven't heard this in quite a while. A welcome return.
 Proclivities wrote:

Gilbert Gottfried has a unique and interesting voice as well.  Meloy is a better lyricist though.

I'm always up for watching PBS' Cyberchase with my nephew or niece. The
voices of Gilbert Gottfried ("Digit") and Christopher Lloyd ("The Hacker")
always crack me up...

Tony in NJ
W.A.S.T.E.
 

 snagle.1776 wrote:
Has little bit of a "Yes" sound to it. 
 
In the composition, I "see" that.  For me, that's not quite a plus.  Horses for courses...
 Jamus wrote:

Dear septimuswarren, You appear to be unaware that the 4/5 minute duration of a song/performance is, relatively speaking, a very contemporary occurrence. Prior to the recording industry's move to truncate composition and inevitably attention span, composers were able to express emotions and ideas more like great painters instead of cartoonists. 
Having a great love for musical creativity, I tend to split my listening between Radio Paradise (one of if not the best stations for the effort that Rebecca and Bill put into playlists) and WQXR, New York City's classical music station. Try to broaden your musical intelligence; hats off to RP for occasionally playing longer length classical and contemporary works. it is part of why this station is remarkable in the midst of common broadcasts. Best regards and hopes that you remain healthy during these trying times.




 
Great post except if I hear "In these trying times" or similar gist again I'm gonna scream.
...Guess I'll be screaming well into the decade.
Wow. I didn't know they had it in them! 9, plus record download. 
 jacopo777 wrote:
Dreary dreary, oh so dreary.
 
Wrong wrong, oh so wrong... To these ears anyway!!

Gotta love RP for variety
 vandal wrote:



Powerful, moving, magnificent... 
 I agree, wholeheartedly, to the opposition of most RP listeners...

Has little bit of a "Yes" sound to it. 
 Jamus wrote:

... I tend to split my listening between Radio Paradise (one of if not the best stations for the effort that Rebecca and Bill put into playlists) and WQXR, New York City's classical music station. 

 
This is exactly what I have been doing for years! Long live RP and QXR. Supporting both. They support me.
"The Hazards of Love tells the tale of a woman named Margaret; her shape-shifting lover, William; his fey forest queen mother; and a cold-blooded, lascivious rake, who recounts with spine-chilling ease how he came "to be living so easy and free" in "The Rake's Song". Lavender Diamond’s Becky Stark and My Brightest Diamond’s Shara Nova deliver the lead vocals for the female characters, while My Morning Jacket’s Jim James, Robyn Hitchcock and The Spinanes’ Rebecca Gates appear in supporting roles." 
~Wikipedia 


Powerful, moving, magnificent... 
Lovely...even with a sneaky fawn. Today's hazards of love seem even more weighty.
 Jamus wrote:

Dear septimuswarren, You appear to be unaware that the 4/5 minute duration of a song/performance is, relatively speaking, a very contemporary occurrence. Prior to the recording industry's move to truncate composition and inevitably attention span, composers were able to express emotions and ideas more like great painters instead of cartoonists. 
Having a great love for musical creativity, I tend to split my listening between Radio Paradise (one of if not the best stations for the effort that Rebecca and Bill put into playlists) and WQXR, New York City's classical music station. Try to broaden your musical intelligence; hats off to RP for occasionally playing longer length classical and contemporary works. it is part of why this station is remarkable in the midst of common broadcasts. Best regards and hopes that you remain healthy during these trying times.




 



I'm guessing septimuswarren's not much of a Tull - Thick as a Brick fan.
 septimuswarren wrote:
Any band that thinks it can record a 17 minute song and that anyone will listen to it clearly thinks too much of itself. This is a dreadful song. I will make a sizable contribution to RP if it never plays this song again and an even larger contribution if never plays the Decemberists ever again. Sucko Barfo indeed! 
 
Dear septimuswarren, You appear to be unaware that the 4/5 minute duration of a song/performance is, relatively speaking, a very contemporary occurrence. Prior to the recording industry's move to truncate composition and inevitably attention span, composers were able to express emotions and ideas more like great painters instead of cartoonists. 
Having a great love for musical creativity, I tend to split my listening between Radio Paradise (one of if not the best stations for the effort that Rebecca and Bill put into playlists) and WQXR, New York City's classical music station. Try to broaden your musical intelligence; hats off to RP for occasionally playing longer length classical and contemporary works. it is part of why this station is remarkable in the midst of common broadcasts. Best regards and hopes that you remain healthy during these trying times.




 septimuswarren wrote:
Any band that thinks it can record a 17 minute song and that anyone will listen to it clearly thinks too much of itself. This is a dreadful song. I will make a sizable contribution to RP if it never plays this song again and an even larger contribution if never plays the Decemberists ever again. Sucko Barfo indeed! 
 I listen to it. And I listen willingly and enjoy it. Others here do as well. If you never heard a 17 minute song before, you either never listened to music until recently, or were born recently.

I love getting to hear the stitched together version of these somewhere other than my CD :) 
Any band that thinks it can record a 17 minute song and that anyone will listen to it clearly thinks too much of itself. This is a dreadful song. I will make a sizable contribution to RP if it never plays this song again and an even larger contribution if never plays the Decemberists ever again. Sucko Barfo indeed! 
 mrtuba9 wrote:
lizardking wrote:

Right?  That's a big reason why I've stopped "watching" the news....not that I'm completely out of the loop; my wife keeps me updated on the orange headed monster all the time.  And when she does, it sounds a lot like "blah blah blah" for 17.5 minutes!! 

Thanks for the laugh, Proc...and hope all's well with you...and of course....Long Live RP!!
 
I have a great co-worker now who has a political science degree and actually knows politics and keeps me informed to the extent that I want to be. I stopped watching news long, long ago. I still listen to radio news, but I had to even take a break from NPR because it was sooooo depressing with talk of ol' orange hair!!!
 
Y'all think you're "updated" and in-the-know? Who's keeping your sources wet? Whet?
 BillG wrote:


I had to import all 6 tracks into an audio editor & stitch them back together. I used to use a CD ripper that would let you adjust the start & end points of a track (that's how I acquired the extended Dark Side Of the Moon medley that we play here, for instance) but the program that I'm using these days doesn't have that feature.  

On a related note, this is an instance where the per-track sales & distribution model really falls apart. Even if you buy the whole album via iTunes or Amazon, you're left with a grossly substandard listening experience, since the album can't flow together nicely like it's supposed to. Lame.
 

Did something similar with the Abbey Road medley. Unfortunately I can't play the track in spotify 
Played on Valentines.... Tongue firmly in cheek 
Without knowing who is currently playing, I have found that I consistently and coincidentally prick up my ears whenever this band is being played. Good stuff.
I loved this song until I actually listened to the lyrics. Now I have
to go to "play something different" - the song is beautiful, but it
details so repulsive a crime that I cannot bear to hear about it.
I don't know if I like any of their other stuff, but this album is pretty great, especially the parts with Shara Nova singing.
this has a bit of a moody blues flavor i hadn't noticed before
 lizardking wrote:

Right?  That's a big reason why I've stopped "watching" the news....not that I'm completely out of the loop; my wife keeps me updated on the orange headed monster all the time.  And when she does, it sounds a lot like "blah blah blah" for 17.5 minutes!! 

Thanks for the laugh, Proc...and hope all's well with you...and of course....Long Live RP!!
 
I have a great co-worker now who has a political science degree and actually knows politics and keeps me informed to the extent that I want to be. I stopped watching news long, long ago. I still listen to radio news, but I had to even take a break from NPR because it was sooooo depressing with talk of ol' orange hair!!!
Not heard this for too long. It's got just the right balance of rocking out, melodic sequences, great vocalists performing interesting lyrics and the mixdown is fantastic.
tres bonne musique rp long vie a vous excellente radio bravo excellente rp tres bonne musique bravo
 Proclivities wrote:


There are far too many people saying "blah, blah, blah" for much longer than 17.5 minutes all the time.  Listen to a news cast; it's apparently easier than it would seem.  At least this has some music behind it.
 
Right?  That's a big reason why I've stopped "watching" the news....not that I'm completely out of the loop; my wife keeps me updated on the orange headed monster all the time.  And when she does, it sounds a lot like "blah blah blah" for 17.5 minutes!! 

Thanks for the laugh, Proc...and hope all's well with you...and of course....Long Live RP!!
I wasn't paying attention....and about 2 mins ago I thought "WTF...another Decemberist tune"?   I didn't realize they had a "supper's ready" in their playlist.

After catching 30 seconds of the MTV music awards....its nice to know someone is out there making music.
 lizardking wrote:

can you say 'blah blah blah' for 17.5 minutes though?  
 

There are far too many people saying "blah, blah, blah" for much longer than 17.5 minutes all the time.  Listen to a news cast; it's apparently easier than it would seem.  At least this has some music behind it.
Will The Decemberists be the new Porcupine Tree for Bill?
Will this ever stop? My ears are bleeding.
I knew reading the comments on this one would be entertaining. If you think the song is epic, you should listen to the whole album! And if you think the song sucks, you should also listen to the whole album, if only to hear Shara Worden belt it out as the Forest Queen. It really tells a great story.

Long live beautiful, intelligent, compelling concept albums. And thanks RP for bringing this one out of the memory banks for me. Haven't listened to in too long.
Not everyone is an AOR (Album-Oriented Rock, for you youngsters) fan, but I love that this reminds me of the AOR of yore (Supper's Ready, Tommy, Lamb Lies Down on Broadway). I love a good story musically told. 
Thankful we're finally past the FM radio 4-minute tunage (Allowing the minstrel to tell their tale)
The heavy use of Anglo-Saxonisms and alliteration in the lyrics brings to mind the work of Seamus Heaney or Tolkien. An homage to early medieval Germanic epic poetry perhaps?  Great song BTW!
Dreary dreary, oh so dreary.
I keep hearing the melody in Massive Attack's Teardrop in Part 4
 Queue wrote:
I just think it's cool that a band did a Rock Opera as recent as 2009.
 

To see it performed uninterrupted in its entirety live at Bonnaroo in the same year was transcendental.  '09 was a great year in music!
Dang gotta like this!!!
time to yawn and hibernate
From one of the few actual albums I can remember of late, as opposed to a group of songs. V good. 8 for me. pxd
 ltbluesoda wrote:
its about 12 minutes too long. I thought it was stuck on repeat
 
Agree 100%.
 dsz wrote:
blah blah blah
 
can you say 'blah blah blah' for 17.5 minutes though?  
This may be the only Decemberists song that I can listen to. yay.
blah blah blah
The antithesis of mindless synth pop
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
I like this and I would define as being in a genre I have decided to call Neo Prog Rock.

I especially the change in tempo and song construction - almost like a few songs sliced together.

The theatrical element to the whole song appeals to me too so bumping it up from 8 > 9!

 
 
I kinda like "neo prog rock" although Baroque pop kinda fits too.  Esp. with a 17 1/2 min piece like this one.  Long Live RP!!
Brilliance.  Having now seen them live, it gets elevated status for me.  I love this album.
its about 12 minutes too long. I thought it was stuck on repeat
I like any song that manages to use the word "irascible".
It's a rather daring composition. 
However, on some days, like this one, it's burdensome noise.
And psd doesn't work to enable me to leave this one behind. 
Time for the other psd. The stop button. 
 Stephen_Phillips wrote:
I like this and I would define as being in a genre I have decided to call Neo Prog Rock.

I especially the change in tempo and song construction - almost like a few songs sliced together.

The theatrical element to the whole song appeals to me too so bumping it up from 8 > 9!

 
 
I'll go on the "8 to 9" journey with you!  I also find the morbid lyrics to be part of the enjoyment of this one...not sure what that says about me...LONG LIVE RP!!
I like this and I would define as being in a genre I have decided to call Neo Prog Rock.

I especially the change in tempo and song construction - almost like a few songs sliced together.

The theatrical element to the whole song appeals to me too so bumping it up from 8 > 9!

 
I just think it's cool that a band did a Rock Opera as recent as 2009.
There should be a word for when you think you are listening to the same song but in reality Bill slipped in a new song. Brilliant segue!
A unique perspective, but no.