It's both easy and fun to get lost in The Decemberists' beautiful world. So many instruments, so many influences, and so many characters that you find yourself floating through a new magical life full of surprises and pleasant conveniences at every turn. This is Portland, Oregon's favorite export, and the only thing even close to sold-out about them are their concerts, which deservedly are always packed. Perfect for large arenas, their music swells and swoons with poignant passages and orgasmic orchestration. Delicate yet powerful, everything from glockenspiel to guitar, organ to accordion, bass to banjo, accompany frontman Colin Meloy's soothing voice, weaving everything together.

Their latest album, The Hazards of Love, is a veritable rocky road of a record. Smooth, tasty chocolate, delicate marshmallows but some crunchy nuttiness to break it all up, giving a wonderful aural texture to the band's fifth album (second on major label Capitol). Similar to the band's previous release, The Crane Wife, this is a story-album. It's a love story, to be exact, in which a woman falls in love with a arboreal, shape-shifting forest creature. Released March 24 this year, it sold almost 20,000 copies its first week and debuted at #14 on the Billboard charts. It is certainly an ambitious effort. Not many bands fare well with concept albums these days, but The Decemberists are hoping music lovers will be able to see the art in their craft as it's a new type of opera (one that doesn't involve hip hop, thank you R. Kelly). NICOLAS GRIZZLE