[private joker]

Agreed -- too much of the rock criticism/writing about The Decemberists, especially this album, focuses on the lyrics and Meloy's storytelling. Sure, that defines the band, and it's interesting. But more important are the musical leaps and bounds the band has taken. They are first and foremost musicians, and since their sound has evolved so well and the dynamics, instrumentation, and production on this record is so artistically vibrant, why not talk about that as well?