In the era of indie rock supremacy, the term "major label debut" can be disastrous for a band. Swapping basements for plush studios and experimental riffs for time-honored guitar licks, oh so many bands have "sold out" to the detriment of their music. When The Decemberists moved from indie label Kill Rock Stars to major player Capitol, then, it wasn't unfair for fans to fear the same drop in quality with the release of The Crane Wife, especially since Her Majesty, Castaways and Cutouts, and Picaresque were so artistically rich. After just one listen of The Crane Wife, though, fans can rest assured not only does the new album carry on the rich tradition already set by the band; it may be their very best stuff yet.

The title track, based on a Japanese legend, is split and juxtaposed into two tracks; the story's melancholy end opening the album and its epic beginnings waiting until the penultimate track. In both cases, as through the rest of the album, creative acoustic guitar playing compliments and highlights lead singer Colin Meloy's unique voice and delivery.

Indeed, there isn't as much instrumental experimentation on The Crane Wife as fans have seen in the past - those hoping for a primitive squeeze box somewhere along the album will find it only on the nautical ballad "Summersong." Instead, the band shows off their knowledge of musical history, lacing the epic triad "The Island - Come & See, The Landlord's Daughter, You'll Not Feel The Drowning" with Pink Floyd-esque distorted electric guitars and organs. The final track, "Sons and Daughters," uses the simplicity of a round to pull off its fantastic sound.

Of course, no Decemberists album could be complete without references to revolution, murder, pillaging, and so on, and it's done best in "Yankee Bayonet (I Will Be Home Then)," a duet between Meloy and singer-songwriter Laura Veirs. A tale of 18th-century war and romance, it is for certain the most infectious song on the album and could be among their best non-epics.

From the groovy "The Perfect Crime #2" and the simple "Shankhill Butchers" to the hauntingly heavy "When the War Came," The Crane Wife is certainly never boring. And, as polished and professional as it sounds, the album is still uniquely Decemberists. A better transition to a major label couldn't have been imagined for Meloy and his stalwart crew.

Rating: