I am trying to bide my time until the end of the year. People are busy with the wrap up of 2010, the social outings, and then the holidays, which serve to put a stop to the flurry of phone calls and events that are the everyday cadence of my life. I hum "If We Make It Through December," the classic Merle Haggard song, as the accompaniment to my musings.

Deep into the heartbeat of December, we bring you the band seemingly named for the month, The Decemberists. Their name actually references an uprising in Imperial Russia during December, 1825, and is also the name of an unfinished Tolstoy novel. It is with particular pride that I post something from them, as they might just be my son's favorite band. Before I moved to Texas, he would play DJ in the car with their new tunes. "Mom, do you like this song? What about this?" And I did. The Portland, OR, based outfit has had a prolific decade, starting with their initial EP, self released in 2001.

When I heard the lead track they are promoting from the forthcoming album The King Is Dead, due out on January 18th, I tried to scoop my son, calling Trev up to say, "Wait until you hear their new stuff, it is Americana!" Of course he coolly replied he had already heard it. Such is the reach of the web today. "Down By The Water" is that first track, and Gillian Welch sings harmony on it with Peter Buck adding 12 string. Hear it on their website once you click the 'launch audio' tab. It's also available as a single on iTunes and Amazon right now. Great tune, indeed. There is also a cool preview video of the forthcoming album on their YouTube channel. While we await the new album, here's one from their 2009 CD Hazards Of Love. This is the haunting "Annan Water," recorded at Stubb's in Austin, Texas.

- Jessie Scott