Concept albums were a wonderful concept (pun is fun) starting in the late 60s and through progressive rock’s golden age in the early 70s. Youth of the time used to wait in anticipation of their favorite bands’ next release, rush to record stores to fork their meager allowance in exchange of vinyl, open the gatefold and gaze in awe at the expansive artwork, place the needle on the outside groove and slip into a sonic world created for them by able musicians who tired weeks and months on end to produce the equivalent of modern-age symphonies. The LP format, each side storing about 20 minutes of consecutive music, did not scare then-highschoolers. They would place themselves in front of their hi-fi system, darken the room, close their eyes, talk very little and just listen and let their mind go places.
With today’s portable music players, buying habits influenced by one-click purchasing of individual songs, music streaming services throwing random songs at you, an over-used shuffle function, attention spans measured in seconds and very few credible DJs who can act as music curators, today’s youth are not conditioned to appreciate a concept album.
There are progressive bands around attempting to produce albums with long narratives, but I find many of them unsatisfying either because the story is weak, the music too samey to other artists and in general the glue that binds the tracks to a long and cohesive piece of music lacks gravitas. This is why the Decemberists’ 2009 album The Hazard of Love is so unique. There is a dark story, there are good musical motifs that repeat throughout the album, the individual songs are linked to each other well with instrumental segues, and the melting pot of folk tales, Americana and Metal works great. Oh, and lest we forgot the musicians and singers, all dishing out epic instrumental and vocal performances.
The story is a fantasy amalgam involving a pair of lovers, Margaret and William, his mother queen who wants her son to herself, a Rake who wants to violate Margaret, various acts of murder, magic and bravery, all consummating in a mutual drowning of the lovers. A true medieval tragedy.
Colin Meloy wrote this plot in the spring of 2008 while in the south of France. At the time he was immersed in the British folk revival of the 60s and listening to Shirley Collins, The Pentangle, Anne Briggs, Sandy Denny, Maddy Prior and June Tabor. Not a bad crop to be associated with musically. The album name was borrowed from a 4-song EP released by Anne Briggs in 1964. His plan was to create a musical but as the plot and music developed, he realized he had a rock opera on his hand. Or better yet, a folk opera.
Here is the band with guests Shara Nova and Becky Stark performing the song live in 2009:
And the studio version with visuals from “Here Come The Waves: The Hazards of Love Visualized”, an animated interpretation of the album:
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Black Is the Color of My True Love’s Hair, by Nina Simone
William:
Mother I can hear your footfall now
soft disturbance in the dead fall how
it precedes you like a black smoke oh
still the wanting comes in waves
You delivered me from danger then
pulled my cradle from the reedy glen
swore to save me from the world of men
still the wanting comes in waves
and the wanting comes in waves
and I want this night
and I want this night, ah, oh
The Queen:
How I made you, I wrought you, I pulled you
from ore I labored you
from cancer I cradled you
And now, this is how I am repaid
This is how I am repaid
Remember when I found you
the miseries that hounded you
and I gave you motion, anointed you with lotions
and now, this is how I am repaid
This is how I am repaid
William:
Mother hear this proposition right
grant me freedom to enjoy this night
and I’ll return to you at break of light
For the wanting comes in waves, in waves, in waves
Still the wanting comes in waves
Still the wanting comes in waves
Still the wanting comes in waves
And you owe me life
And you owe me life, ah, oh
The Queen:
And if I grant you this favor, to hand you
your life for the evening I will retake by morning
and so consider it your debt repaid
Consider it your debt repaid, repaid, repaid