One of my favourite artists, the Decemberists are a band who are as much about storytelling as they are about melody, and as much about humour as they are about melancholy. I found it difficult to summarize their 10 years and 5 albums in 60 minutes, due to both track length and quality of material, but feel I've competently assembled 12 tracks to do them justice.

Castaways and Cutouts (2002)
1. Leslie Anne Levine
2. Odalisque

Her Majesty the Decemberists (2003)
3. Red Right Ankle
4. The Bachelor and the Bride

Picaresque (2005)
5. The Sporting Life
6. 16 Military Wives
7. The Engine Driver

The Crane Wife (2006)
8. The Island: Come and See/The Landlord's Daughter/You'll Not Feel the Drowning
9. Sons & Daughters

Always the Bridesmaid Single Series (2008)
10. Record Year

The Hazards of Love (2009)
11. The Rake's Song
12. The Hazards of Love 4 (The Drowned)