The band from Portland, Oregon have kicked off the New Year in the best possible fashion, streaming their brand new album online and free of charge. Colin Meloy and co’s sixth studio album, The King Is Dead (a title that tips its hat to The Smiths) can be heard in full on the NPR website here now.

The new album features plenty of Gillian Welch backing vocals and R.E.M influences, with Hot Press’ Ed Power commenting that, “Meloy embraces the Great American Songbook with a fervor that will shock anyone familiar with the Decemberists earlier records.

The full album release comes on January 18, at which point that free stream will disappear.