The Decemberists have signed with Capitol Records. Front-man Colin Meloy spoke with Pitchfork regarding the signing, in part mentioning:

We've never been the sort of group that has lived and breathed indie-ness. Even after we recorded 'Her Majesty the Decemberists,' it was pretty clear that we would probably be at a point after the next record that we would be moving on to something bigger.

We totally recognize the risk that we're taking. In some ways, that risk is kind of exciting.

The band will enter an unnamed studio in Portland, OR, in April 2006 with producer Chris Walla (Death Cab for Cutie, the Velvet Teen, Nada Surf) and Tucker Martine (Long Winters, Jesse Sykes) to record their Capitol debut. Walla recorded the band's 2004 EP, The Tain, as well as the band's Picaresque full-length from this past year.

A DVD including backstage footage and the band's complete videography is also being planned for an eventual release on Kill Rock Stars, who is also responsible for the release of the band's three previous full-lengths as well as the aforementioned Tain EP.

The band will remain on Rough Trade in the UK.