The Decemberists are streaming their forthcoming album The King Is Dead.
The Portland folkies finished the album off in September last year, with Peter Buck of R.E.M. featuring on three songs and singer-songwriter Gillian Welch on many more.
The official release date is January 18 and the first single ‘Down by the Water’ was released on the band's official site on November 2 and is available as a free download on iTunes.
The title is purportedly a tip of the hat to The Smiths and singer Colin Meloy has admitted that R.E.M. has been a primary influence on the new record.
You can hear The King Is Dead in full on NPR Radio’s website here as part of their First Listen series.
VIDEO: Check out folkie bluesman Charlie Parr performing a uSession at the Undercover studios below.
