keepers - 3
keeper avg .200
The Decembrists continue the exploration of ways to combine R.E.M. and Jethro Tull into a product that hipsters find irresistible. To be fair, even the relatively pointless intros and interludes are competent, melodic, and memorable. The first "Hazards of Love"**** sounds great, even when I realize that I've heard that same guitar picking on "Drive" (from Automatic For The People) (how prophetic of the next album!). Soon the album rocks harder as "A Bower Scene" and "The Abduction Of Margaret", and "Margaret In Captivity"**** unexpectedly channel the moody, theatrical hard rock of Styx and "Won't Want For Love" becomes a hard-rocking march, softened somewhat by Margaret Stark's vocal. "The Rake's Song"**** borrows from the band Low when they turn up to 11, though the band arguably rocks hardest on "The Queen's Rebuke", which resembles a swinging Soundgarden and Alice In Chains collaboration, leading right into "The Crossing", which borrows from Black Mountain or Deep Purple. However, the album doesn't stray long from R.E.M. circa 1992, which is the band's comfort zone anyway. That's fine, as the production and performances of 3 of the 4 "Hazards Of Love" parts are hard to beat (not part 3, which is an over-produced Bob Ezrin / Sargent Pepper-esque mess). Another issue is that the "Wanting Comes In Waves" is no exaggeration. This rock jingle, ranking up there with "and in the end the love you take....." coda from Abbey Road, appears no less than 4 times, as the heavy-handed conceptual nature of the album means that various lines and musical phrases will recur throughout. Yes, it's a device to tie the album together and I know some cornerstone bands of classic rock (The Who, Jethro Tull, Genesis) made it acceptable, but after repeated listens these parts sound played-out.
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