Like a crooked walk down from the Thames to the Rhine circa 1842 the Decemberists' Castaways and Cut-outs is true to its title. Frontman Colin Meloy uses a lexicon usurped from men long since dead to take the listener on a lyrical walk through some strange and emotional places. The music itself is reminiscent of Jeff Mangum's Neutral Milk Hotel, but has a cleaner poppier sound. There are hints of Stephin Merrit, a la The Gothic Archies, seen especially in "A Cautionary Tale" which takes you from boat to boat with an English prostitute trying to get enough money to feed her childern some collared greens. The language, as well as Meloy's story telling ability, is haunting. In "Here I Dreamt I Was An Architect" a Meloy sings "And here I dreamt I was a soldier/ And I marched the streets of Burkenau.../ And just to lie with you/ There's nothing that I wouldn't do/ Save lay my rifle down." Many of the songs seem to come from a place between reality and dreamland and can fill you with wonderment, dread, or disgust.

With perfect pop sensibilities Colin Meloy creates an album full of emotional stories you almost feel bad about intruding upon. Though the album only has one seemingly upbeat song in "July, July" and may seem to lull about two-thirds of the way through, Castaways and Cut-outs is an incredible feat for a debut full length. Let's hope there sophomore release (due in September) willprove the importance of The Decemberists, and that we'll keep great music.