Every rose has its thorn. Or, as the full title of the first non-"Prelude" track from the Decemberists' forthcoming rock opera puts it: "The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone)". Our second glimpse of the theatrically antiquarian jangle-proggers' upcoming The Hazards of Love, after clambering cautionary tale "The Rake's Song", is a more gradually unfolding work of storytelling than its kinda fun and witty predecessor. Still lots of maidens and vexed plans, though.Colin Meloy's latest might make the most sense if you imagine yourself sitting in a meadow at the butt-end of the 1960s: Vaguely Eastern drone gives way to twinkly acoustic-Zep guitar arpeggios and improvisatory upright basslines recalling Astral Weeks, while the storm-a-brewin' keyboards are very L.A. Woman. Then a brave librarian (or whatever) stands up to sing of his true love gone away. He calls her a "credit to her sex". A beast transforms. The plot thickens. "Undone," Meloy repeats like "The Sweater Song". Somebody shouts. YEEAARRGH.Stream:> The Decemberists: "The Hazards of Love 1 (The Prettiest Whistles Won't Wrestle the Thistles Undone)"[from The Hazards of Love; due 03/24/09 on Capitol]