Lawrence.com

If life were a Tim Burton movie, then The Decemberists would be its soundtrack. Like the renowned movie director, Decemberists' singer/songwriter Colin Meloy is a master of the tall tale, spinning lyrical yarns about orphans, Chinese trapeze artists, chimney sweeps and just about any other unsavory character-type you might find hanging out in a Charles Dickens novel. Meloy is backed by an accomplished ensemble that includes accordion, upright bass, acoustic guitar, pedal steel guitar and even a theremin.