In the past few weeks I have bought alot of 2009 albums, wanting to check out some new stuff. I have a few albums I really like, and I'm going to be doing a review here every once in a while about some of the albums I have checked out.
The first is The Decembrists - The Hazards of Love. Simply put, this album is a masterpiece. Now, as is often the case with a masterpiece, it's not something you would just casually put on and enjoy anytime. Just like you wouldn't throw on a DVD of Schindler's List out of the blue and sit down and enjoy it, so, too, with this album. In fact, Schindler's List is a good example of a materpiece film you might watch just once and decide you were good for the rest of your life. The Hazard's of Love isn't quite like that, but calling it the Schinderl's List of albums is not too far off.
The album is 17 tracks long. Through the first 6 or so tracks, i was absolutely blown away. Speechless. The album is much in the vein of Pink Floyd - The Wall in that it tells a complete story. A few of the middle tracks drag a bit, but it picks back up, and fizzles maybe a bit at the end. Maybe it's more appropriate to say you are simply worn out by the end of this album.
I highly recommend checking out this album. Again, like a fine whine or a braised lamb shank, this isn't something to be enjoyed all the time. But in my opinion it is really an extraordinary album, and is worth checking out. I give it 4 1/2 out of 5 *s.
The second album I am reviewing here is Green Day's new album 21st Century Breakdown. I am not a big Green Day fan, but I have appreciated them much more ever since I saw them live in concert. They put on a spectacular show, and are professionals through and through. Anyway, while this new album isn't great by any stretch, it is a very solid album and one that is very listenable and accessible.
It, too, is one that tells a story, but that is where the similrities between it and The Hazards of Love end. Typical Green Day punk/rock sound, and out of 17 tracks there are maybe only a couple that I would say are not real strong. I have listened to this one several times since I got it, and would recommend.