Mercury News, California — Also: Ben Affleck, Chris Cooper, Tommy Lee Jones and Kevin Costner star in downsizing drama 'The Company Men'; acclaimed Aussie film 'Animal Kingdom' comes out on DVD; Decemberists CD 'King Is Dead' lands in stores. more info

DrownedInSound — In altering their modus operandi, The Decemberists have lost some of the old, audacious magic. Read the full story on DrownedinSound.com more info

Guardian Music — (Rough Trade)After five increasingly ambitious and intricate albums, concluding with 2009's prog-folk-rock opera The Hazards of Love, the Decemberists have gone back to their beginnings for The King Is Dead, with leader Colin Meloy forsaking epic sto... more info

Topix — The Decemberists' new album, 'The King Is Dead,' opts for trimmer fresher sound. more info

Scotsman.com — ** Beggars B004CHURWI, £11.99 more info

Chorus.fm — Head to the replies to see a new trailer for the forthcoming album from *The Decemberists* (http://www.absolutepunk.net/thedecemberists), The King Is Dead. more info

The Music Fix — Checkmate. The Decemberists go back to basics. more info

Addict Music — Two years on from their last release, January 2011 sees the welcome return of Oregan’s The Decemberists with a new album titled The King Is Dead. The Decemberists – The King Is Dead (Rough Trade) 17/01/2011 is a post from: Music News, Album Rev... more info

Guardian Music — Alexis is at the controls today, and he has been talking to Go! Team's Ian Parton about the band's new album, which features everything but the kitchen sink and was delivered to the mastering studio on cassette.Joining Alexis in the studio are Michae... more info

Guardian Music — A year ago, the Decemberists' Colin Meloy retreated to a house in the woods of northern Oregon. He tells Laura Barton about the effect it has had on him, his family and his musicA short drive north out of Portland, Oregon leads you up towards the St ... more info