The Decemberists

Taking a break from full-length performances of its latest album, The Hazards of Love, The Decemberists dipped into old and new songs at this concert. Colin Meloy and his crew even led the crowd in a sing-along of "Sons and Daughters."

It was a bold move: Introduce the world to your ambitious concept record by performing it in its entirety to a national audience, a week before the CD release. But The Decemberists did just that at SXSW this past March, and now you can watch some beautifully shot videos from the album's live premiere.

Already known for its creative ambition, the hyperliterate and sweepingly melodic band has just made its most grandiose record yet: a narrative song-cycle called The Hazards of Love. Hear the band premiere the entire work live in concert at NPR Music's nighttime SXSW showcase.

Two years after releasing one of the best albums of 2006 (The Crane Wife), the band returns with three volumes of new songs. Like much of The Decemberists' earlier work, Always the Bridesmaid: A Singles Series is full of magically inventive, character-driven story-songs rooted in British folk and pop. The Decemberists showcase the new music, along with old favorites, in a full concert, recorded live, from WXPN and the Electric Factory in Philadelphia.

Portland, Oregon's literate and theatrical rock group The Decemberists have just released what some critics are calling the year's best album. Hear selections from The Crane Wife and some of the band's earlier albums in a full concert, recorded live from Washington, D.C.

Colin Meloy, frontman for The Decemberists, and art-pop singer-songwriter Laura Veirs perform a night of solo, acoustic work, recorded live in concert. Both performances, from The Birchmere in Alexandria, Va., can be heard in their entirety online.

Hear The Decemberists in concert at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. The full performance, along with the opening act, Rebecca Gates, originally Web cast live from NPR.org May 6.

Vocalist Colin Meloy just released Colin Meloy Sings Live!, an album of live tracks from solo performances. The songs include stripped-down Decemberists songs and other covers played at some of the best venues across the country.

Hyper-literate as ever, The Decemberists' newest album is loosely based on an old Japanese folk tale, which songwriter Colin Meloy first encountered in a children's book. Though it's the band's most ambitious work to date, The Crane Wife maintains an air of weird accessibility.

The Decemberists are a five-piece indie-pop band out of Portland, Ore. Their new album, Picaresque, has regularly been cited as a favorite of critics and fans in 2005.

Meloy is turning out to be one of this decade's most recognizable songwriters, both solo and with his main band, The Decemberists. Here, he talks about the group's forthcoming The Hazards of Love; it's the rock opera many have long expected from the band.

The hyper-literate indie quartet The Decemberists has been touring college campuses to help get out the vote next week. Lead singer Colin Meloy spoke to Fresh Air in 2007.

Day to Day asked artists to send their musical takes on the California Dream. Among dozens of submissions, one track stood out because of its unique approach: The instruments are urban sounds. Quinn Kiesow spent 80 hours piecing together an array of noises to make "Los Angeles."

All Songs Considered's list of the 50 most important recordings of the decade continues with Kelly Clarkson to Jay-Z.

NPR listeners cast thousands of votes for the year's best music (so far) and kept the race tight. In the end, Animal Collective edged out every other artist in both the Best Album category, and for Best Song. Artists like Grizzly Bear, The Decemberists and Neko Case weren't far behind. One thing was clear: 2009 has been one of the strongest years for new music in recent memory.

The 23rd annual South by Southwest music festival gets under way in Austin, Texas, on Wednesday. One of this year's most widely anticipated shows comes from a well-known band: The Decemberists. The band will perform its new album, The Hazards of Love, in its entirety.

Next month The Decemberists will debut their new album, The Hazards Of Love, live, in its entirety, at the NPR Music showcase, at this year's South by Southwest festival. In the meantime, you can hear a sneak preview on this edition of All Songs Considered, with "The Rake's Song." Also on this edition: Dan Deacon, solo music from Dan Auerbach, guitarist for The Black Keys, Here We Go Magic, South African street music from Blk Jks, and the legendary Buddy Holly.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of R.E.M.'s debut full-length album, Murmur. The band is marking the occasion with a remastered version of the record, which includes a bonus live concert of R.E.M. performing in 1983. The Decemberists are also back with a collection of new singles. Always The Bridesmaid features seven new songs the band is releasing in three installments, on vinyl and as digital downloads but not as CDs.

Day to Day asked artists to send their musical takes on the California Dream. Among dozens of submissions, one track stood out because of its unique approach: The instruments are urban sounds. Quinn Kiesow spent 80 hours piecing together an array of noises to make "Los Angeles."

We asked NPR listeners to tell us their favorite love songs for Valentine's Day. They responded in droves, posting to the All Songs Considered blog. On this edition of All Songs Considered we share some of those songs and the stories behind them. Hear a mix of music to fall in love with, from the Magnetic Fields and Arcade Fire to the Temptations and Sam Cooke.

Find out the number one album of the year as selected by NPR listeners. Count down the top ten CDs with All Songs Considered host Bob Boilen as he chats with reviewers Robert Christgau, Will Hermes, Meredith Ochs and John Richards.

NPR music reviewer Meredith Ochs shares her picks for the year's best CDs. Ochs is host of Sirius Satellite Radio's "Outlaw Country" channel, a contributing editor for Guitar World magazine and a regular contributor to NPR's All Things Considered. She's also the vocalist and guitarist for the rock band The Damn Lovelys.

All Songs Considered counts down the year's best music. Host Bob Boilen talks with reviewers and listeners about their picks for the best CDs and songs of 2005. The show was originally webcast live on NPR.org

The Portland-based rock band is known for its anachronistic indie-pop songs featuring "chimbly sweeps" and "barrow boys." Their newest album, The Hazards of Love, is a 1970s-style concept album that some might call a rock opera.

Next month The Decemberists will debut their new album, The Hazards Of Love, live, in its entirety, at the NPR Music showcase, at this year's South by Southwest festival. In the meantime, you can hear a sneak preview on this edition of All Songs Considered, with "The Rake's Song." Also on this edition: Dan Deacon, solo music from Dan Auerbach, guitarist for The Black Keys, Here We Go Magic, South African street music from Blk Jks, and the legendary Buddy Holly.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of R.E.M.'s debut full-length album, Murmur. The band is marking the occasion with a remastered version of the record, which includes a bonus live concert of R.E.M. performing in 1983. The Decemberists are also back with a collection of new singles. Always The Bridesmaid features seven new songs the band is releasing in three installments, on vinyl and as digital downloads but not as CDs.

Ned Wharton, musical director for Weekend Edition Sunday, offers a collection of recordings offbeat enough to surprise your favorite music lover this holiday season.

John Richards, morning DJ for NPR station KEXP in Seattle, shares his picks for the year's best albums. Richards recently appeared as a guest on NPR's live online, call-in edition of All Songs Considered to help count down listener picks for the top ten CDs of 2006.