Leading the new intake, Oregon folk/rock band The Decemberists' sixth album, The King Is Dead, exceeded expectations (a rare feat in this day and age), shifting some 94,000 copies - five times as many as their last album, The Hazards Of Love, sold when debuting and peaking at number 14 in 2009 to become their first Top 20 entry.

A quintet, all of whom are in their late '30s/early '40s, The Decemberists are very much influenced by classic British folk ...