Her Majesty, The Decemberists

On this follow-up to one of the biggest sleeper hits of the year, "Castaway and Cutouts," strings soar, glockenspiels chime, and analog synths buzz over what this band considers its finest overture into pop song arrangement, all the while keeping intact the folk-pop sound that has defined the band since its inception. A new cast of characters is introduced as well, giving further depth to the richly bizarre songcraft of the band's bespectacled leading player, Colin Meloy.