Mediocre reviews and I'm not seeing many people with it in their faves of 2009. I think it's one of the best albums of this decade, probably the best album I've heard since 13 Tales from Urban Bohemia. What is not to like about this amazing album?

I like this album, but it is still far below what their first three albums did. They tried to make the album tie together but their that really isn't their strength.

I've liked all of the other Decemberists albums as well but I've never considered any of them classics. This album is an instant classic in my book.