The Decemberists (Capitol)

Their new album, The King is Dead, debuts a much more American folk sound, made even more prevalent by the twangy voice of lead singer, Meloy.

Instead of the longer, acoustic guitar driven, almost punk-esque ballads in The Hazards of Love, The King is Dead has a new sound, one that is more countrified.

The relatively short 10 song, 40-minute album is half upbeat, half mellow, with clear vocals that include the signature harmonies of Meloy and Conlee.

"Don't Carry It All" opens the album, a harmony-heavy, mid-tempo folk rock ballad that emphasizes the heavy notion that no one should have to have to carry the world on their shoulders, while staying positive and looking ahead to the future.

Mellow "June Hymn" is abundant in poetic descriptions of sunny summer days, with lines like "A Barony of Ivy in the Trees / Expanding Out Its Empire By Degrees."

Peter Buck of R.E.M. comes in to contribute instrumentally throughout the album, evident in songs like “Down By the Water” and  “Calamity Song.”

It is clear that this band is growing in a new direction that is much more American folk/indie -- think Band of Horses, Dispatch and The Avett Brothers.

Similar to Kings of Leon with their album Only By The Night, The Decemberists seem to have found their new sound.

Though absent are the mystical-like shorelines that The Decemberists are famous for, songs like "All Arise!" and "Calamity Song" show their incredible ability to hold their own in this genre, while not losing their ability for storytelling.

More present in this album than their previous are fiddles, banjos, an accordion and harmonica. Developed verses, cohesive lyrics and a more traditionally formatted song stand out in The King is Dead.

Any album that receives four stars from Rolling Stone magazine and sells over 90,000 albums in their first week deserves a listening to.

Even if you weren't a fan of them before, The Decemberists have made a comeback from their last album, The Hazards of Love, with The King is Dead, and are pressing forward with a new sound that just might be their strongest yet.

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