The band doesn't hunt much, but they do live near a busy deer crossing.
Okkervil River is releasing their new album The Stand Ins
today. This is their fifth full length release on the Bloomington, IN based record label Jagjaguwar (Bon Iver, Ladyhawk). The album is the second part of what was intended as a double CD with 2007's The Stage Names, which was #22 on Pitchfork's Top 50 Albums of 2007 and featured one of my favorite songs last year "Our Life Is Not A Movie or Maybe". There are direct connections between the albums besides the acting references in the titles. The Stand Ins track "(Shannon Wilsey on the) Starry Stairs" is a sequel to Names "Savannah Smiles" about the porn actress Savannah who committed suicide in 1994 after becoming disfigured in a car accident. The William Schaff album covers can be put together to form the completed artwork as follows:
There has been some personnel changes since the last album. In May, the multi-instrumental Jonathan Melburg left to tour with Shearwater, the band founded by him and Okkervil's front man Will Sheff, to support the June release of Rook. Melburg makes guest appearances on the new album along with Charles Bissell of the Wrens. Brian Beattie and Spoon drummer Jim Eno return for production and mixing duties.
If you liked The Stage Names
, you should like this sequel. Two of the strongest tracks include the single "Lost Coastlines" and "Pop Lie", an 80's REM sounding track. Here are those tracks and a few past favorites:
, you should like this sequel. Two of the strongest tracks include the single "Lost Coastlines" and "Pop Lie", an 80's REM sounding track. Here are those tracks and a few past favorites:Rating: 7/10
Okkervil River has begun an extensive fall tour with the closest scheduled stop in Chicago on October 14th at the Metro.
Enjoy, GB
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5 comments:
I just got the CD today and I think it's even better than Stage Names. Thanks for the release alert. Keep up the good work.
Enjoy the blog. Like your choices so far, but I don't see Radiohead "In Rainbows" on your list for best CD's of 2008. What gives?
Jimmy, normally I use the CD release date, but since "In Rainbows" could be downloaded for free through their website back in October 2007 (and soon after, everywhere else on the net), it just seemed logical for a "Best of 2007" choice, even though the official CD release was a day late on 1/1/08. Good question. Thanks, GB.
Terrific sequel to The Stage Names!
Shearwater Rooks is one of my favorites this year. Definitely a best of 2008.
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