The Hazards of Love
Encyclopedia
The Hazards of Love, released March 24, 2009, is the fifth album by The Decemberists. The album was inspired by an Anne Briggs
EP titled The Hazards of Love. According to the band, frontman Colin Meloy
set out to write a song with the album's title—eventually leading to an entire album. Becky Stark
(of Lavender Diamond
), Shara Worden
(of My Brightest Diamond
), and Jim James
(of My Morning Jacket
) provide guest vocals throughout the album, while Robyn Hitchcock
makes a cameo guitar appearance in "An Interlude".
The Hazards of Love is a rock opera
, with all songs contributing to a unified narrative, similar to the use of recurring stories in The Crane Wife
. The plot is a love story: a woman named Margaret (voiced by Stark) falls in love with a shape-shifting boreal forest dweller named William (voiced by Meloy). William's mother, a jealous fairy queen (voiced by Worden) and the villainous Rake
(also voiced by Meloy) bring conflict to the album's story arc
.
On January 15, 2009, "The Rake's Song" became available as a free download on their MySpace
page. This was followed on February 16, 2009 by "The Hazards of Love 1," again on MySpace
.
On March 13, 2009, The Decemberists announced that the album would be released on iTunes on March 17, 2009. The album was released on iTunes Australia on March 14, 2009. On March 20, 2009, Entertainment Weekly
began streaming the full album on imeem
.
This album debuted at #14 in the US, selling 19,000 copies in its first week.
Album artwork direction and concept by Mario Hugo, with illustration by Carson Ellis and Colin Meloy
except where noted.
Anne Briggs
Anne Briggs is an English folk singer. Although she traveled widely in the 1960s and early 1970s, appearing at folk clubs and venues in England and Ireland, she never aspired to commercial success or to achieve widespread public acknowledgment of her music...
EP titled The Hazards of Love. According to the band, frontman Colin Meloy
Colin Meloy
Colin Patrick Henry Meloy is the lead singer and songwriter for the Portland, Oregon, folk-rock band The Decemberists. In addition to vocals, he performs with an acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bouzouki, harmonica, percussion and interpretive hand gestures.-Early life...
set out to write a song with the album's title—eventually leading to an entire album. Becky Stark
Becky Stark
Becky Stark is an artist, singer, songwriter and entertainer from Los Angeles, California. She is the voice of the band Lavender Diamond. She was raised in Maryland where she began performing as a child. At the age of 13 she travelled to the former Soviet Union as part of a U.S. State...
(of Lavender Diamond
Lavender Diamond
Lavender Diamond is a Los Angeles-based Folk/country-pop quartet known for its light-hearted, often winsome sound; its simple, romantic lyrics; and the charismatic, whimsical stage presence and ethereal vocals of frontwoman Becky Stark.-History:...
), Shara Worden
Shara Worden
Shara Worden is the lead singer and songwriter for My Brightest Diamond. She was previously a backup vocalist for Sufjan Stevens and the frontwoman of Awry.-Life:...
(of My Brightest Diamond
My Brightest Diamond
My Brightest Diamond is the project of singer–songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Shara Worden. The band has released two studio albums, 2006's Bring Me the Workhorse and 2008's A Thousand Shark's Teeth, along with a remix album Tear It Down and a download-only release through iTunes...
), and Jim James
Jim James
James Edward Olliges Jr. , professionally known as Jim James or Yim Yames, is the lead vocalist, guitarist, and primary songwriter of Louisville, Kentucky-based rock band My Morning Jacket. James grew up in the Hikes Point neighborhood of Louisville, attended St. Martha grade school and graduated...
(of My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket
My Morning Jacket is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky.The band consists of Jim James , Tom 'Two-Tone Tommy' Blankenship , Patrick Hallahan , Carl Broemel , and Bo Koster .-History:My Morning Jacket was...
) provide guest vocals throughout the album, while Robyn Hitchcock
Robyn Hitchcock
Robyn Rowan Hitchcock is an English singer-songwriter and guitarist. While primarily a vocalist and guitarist, he also plays harmonica, piano and bass guitar....
makes a cameo guitar appearance in "An Interlude".
The Hazards of Love is a rock opera
Rock opera
A rock opera is a work of rock music that presents a storyline told over multiple parts, songs or sections in the manner of opera. A rock opera differs from a conventional rock album, which usually includes songs that are not unified by a common theme or narrative. More recent developments include...
, with all songs contributing to a unified narrative, similar to the use of recurring stories in The Crane Wife
The Crane Wife
The Crane Wife is an album by The Decemberists, released in 2006. It was produced by Tucker Martine and Chris Walla, and is the band's first album on the Capitol Records label. The album was inspired by a Japanese folk tale, and centers on two song cycles, The Crane Wife and The Island, the latter...
. The plot is a love story: a woman named Margaret (voiced by Stark) falls in love with a shape-shifting boreal forest dweller named William (voiced by Meloy). William's mother, a jealous fairy queen (voiced by Worden) and the villainous Rake
Rake (character)
A rake, short for rakehell, is a historic term applied to a man who is habituated to immoral conduct, frequently a heartless womanizer. Often a rake was a man who wasted his fortune on gambling, wine, women and song, incurring lavish debts in the process...
(also voiced by Meloy) bring conflict to the album's story arc
Story arc
A story arc is an extended or continuing storyline in episodic storytelling media such as television, comic books, comic strips, boardgames, video games, and in some cases, films. On a television program, for example, the story would unfold over many episodes. In television, the use of the story...
.
On January 15, 2009, "The Rake's Song" became available as a free download on their MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
page. This was followed on February 16, 2009 by "The Hazards of Love 1," again on MySpace
MySpace
Myspace is a social networking service owned by Specific Media LLC and pop star Justin Timberlake. Myspace launched in August 2003 and is headquartered in Beverly Hills, California. In August 2011, Myspace had 33.1 million unique U.S. visitors....
.
On March 13, 2009, The Decemberists announced that the album would be released on iTunes on March 17, 2009. The album was released on iTunes Australia on March 14, 2009. On March 20, 2009, Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
began streaming the full album on imeem
Imeem
The online service imeem was a social media web site where users interacted with each other by streaming, uploading and sharing music and music videos...
.
This album debuted at #14 in the US, selling 19,000 copies in its first week.
Album artwork direction and concept by Mario Hugo, with illustration by Carson Ellis and Colin Meloy
Track listing
All songs written by Colin MeloyColin Meloy
Colin Patrick Henry Meloy is the lead singer and songwriter for the Portland, Oregon, folk-rock band The Decemberists. In addition to vocals, he performs with an acoustic guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bouzouki, harmonica, percussion and interpretive hand gestures.-Early life...
except where noted.
- "Prelude" (Jenny ConleeJenny ConleeJenny Conlee is the accordionist, pianist, organist, keyboardist, melodica player, and occasional backup singer and harmonicist for the indie rock quintet The Decemberists, roles she has filled on each of the band's releases.-Portland music:...
) – 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
- "Isn't It a Lovely Night?" – 3:39
- "The Wanting Comes in Waves/Repaid" – 6:27
- "An Interlude" – 1:40
- "The Rake's Song" – 3:16
- "The Abduction of Margaret" – 2:07
- "The Queen's Rebuke/The Crossing" – 3:56
- "Annan Water" – 5:12
- "Margaret in Captivity" – 3:08
- "The Hazards of Love 3 (Revenge!)" – 3:22
- "The Wanting Comes in Waves (Reprise)" – 1:31
- "The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)" – 5:57