Rolling Stone — Photo: Alicia Rose Everyone’s going to call it a rock opera,” says the Decemberists’ frontman, Colin Meloy. “I’ve just got to come around to that.” Meloy is in the midst of mixing the band’s fifth album, Hazards of Love, at an Oregon Ci... more info

Popdose — The Pogues - “The Old Main Drag” The Decemberists - “On the Bus Mall” — n Who are you meeting in the back of a darkened movie theater? Shane MacGowan (The Pogues) Colin Meloy (The Decemberist... more info

Obscure Sound — The divergence of folk music has been a common observation among fans of independent music for the past decade or so. Whether one most prefers the interpretation of Eastern European folk by the likes of Beirut and Gogol Bordello, the imaginative and ... more info

Pitchfork — You'd be amazed at the number of famous folks it takes to make a Marianne Faithfull album these days; amazed and delighted. Quite a crew went into crafting Easy Come, Easy Go, the British songstress' 22nd LP, due January 19 from UMTV though available... more info

Pitchfork — Photo by Michael PalmieriYou've seen them in pictures, now hear them on record: they are Blue Giant, musical side-thing of Viva Voce's Anita and Kevin Robinson, and they've put together a nice little EP for us.Target Heart is due in stores January 13... more info

I Guess I'm Floating — [MP3] Calico Horse - IdiotequeStarting of this Thursday's session of covers, I'll be sticking to a handful of bands that are lesser known. Well.. lesser known for now anyways, think of this as a precursor to an upcoming dose of exposure to each band... more info

Detroit Free Press — Sunburned Hand of the Man: 8 p.m. The Pike Room, 1 S. Saginaw, Pontiac. 248-858-9333. $8. The Decemberists: 7:30 p.m. Wharton Center's Cobb Great Hall (MSU), Bogue and Shaw, East Lansing. 517-432-2000. $27.50, $22.50 MSU students. more info

Brooklyn Vegan — The Decemberists @ the Wellmont Theater (more by Faith Ann-Young) today in NYC * DANCE * Jonah Matranga @ a hotel * Issue Project Room benefit show * Frida Hyvonen @ the Living Room * Neil Halstead @ Mercury Lounge... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — The Decemberists @ the Wellmont Theater (more by Faith Ann-Young) today in NYC * DANCE * Jonah Matranga @ a hotel * Issue Project Room benefit show * Frida Hyvonen @ the Living Room * Neil Halstead @ Mercury Lounge... more info

Pasta Primavera — Tonight in Baltimore Orange Opera, The Moneynotes, Neal Page, Jason Dove, and The Swims play the Talking Head while The Decemberists and Loch Lomond play Rams Head Live.  Also in Charm City is a great live band, Telesma, who perform at Metro Galle... more info