Decemberists head to the sticks with Hazards of Love art

Given the (unbearable? delightful? unbearably delightful?) new depths of creepiness mined by "The Rake's Song" last week, perhaps you thought that the cover of The Decemberists' upcoming Hazards of Love LP would also be a wee bit discomfiting. Maybe a little dark, a little sanguine; a few dead babies here, a few unrepentant fathers there. But just like all those folks who never thought a song about infanticide could be totally effing catchy, you are wrong, friend.

The album's cover, crafted by longtime Decemberists' illustrator Carson Ellis, is just about the opposite of all that. It's subtle, light, twiggy-- a little branchy, even-- and seemingly unaware of the musical insanity lurking within. Take a look, above.

Meanwhile, if your need for new Decemberists-related lechery remains unsated, check out Ruby Isle's take on the Kanye-approved "Rake's Song." (Thanks to the recently-Twittering Meloy himself for those links. PS, meatballs, duh.)