Decemberists. New Song. New Album. New Levels of Ecstasy.

Yes, I know, this track has been floating around the internet for the better part of two weeks.

But a new Decemberists track, to me, isn't something to simply digest and regurgitate onto a blog. A new Decemberists song, you see, must be dealt with carefully and slowly, like a small puppy or an infant child. These things are precious.

And so, my friends, though you've doubtlessly heard it elsewhere for awhile now, I'm finally ready to talk about "Rake's Song," the newest track from one of the greatest bands out there.

(Wait - did you hear that? I think it was any guise of journalistic objectivity flying out the window.)

The Decemberists have certainly changed since the absolutely gorgeous first disc Castaways and Cutouts and the criminally - criminally! - underappreciated follow-up Her Majesty. Colin Meloy has long since traded the lush, almost lullaby-like sound of his early material for more ambitious aims — long, complex song structure, more percussive tracks, concept albums, the like.

The first track to hit off the band's upcoming fifth album, Hazards of Love, due March 24, like much of Meloy's more recent work, attempts to reconcile 'lovely' and 'ambitious.' In other words, just as he did with The Crane Wife, he wants to appeal to both the critics looking for something impressively edgy and high concept and the more simplistic music lovers simplistically looking for a beautiful melody, a pretty guitar strum to hold on to.

"The Rake's Song" succeeds on both fronts. This sure isn't the care-free breezy folk of Castaways, but Meloy's melody is playful enough that we don't get the impression that The Decemberists are taking themselves too seriously.

The track tells a very Meloy-esque tale: Poor chap marries young, sees his wife's womb "start spilling out babies" (Imagine that line in doctor speak: "Ma'am, you're water has broken. You're about to start spilling out babies"), sees his wife die in childbirth and proceeds to kill (or, ahem, allow to die) his kids, freeing him to conveniently narrate the rest of the album.

It's catchy, certainly entertaining, and, more than anything, should push fans to mother-trying-to-buy-Hannah-Montana-tickets level excitement.

And, if you're in the Pittsburgh area, keep your eyes and ears open. A rumored (yes, just rumored) Decemberists show may be just around the corner.

Just for good measure, have another listen.