Because I use this site more to recommend upstart bands and forgotten favorites, I’ve spoken more in private than on here about my affinity for Okkervil River. I was excited when Pitchfork reported that, just as Black Sheep Boy merited an Appendix of excellent tracks that were brushed aside in crafting the album, The Stage Names leftovers will take the form of The Stand Ins. The first hint at the new album came in their recent session for WOXY, which was kicked off with “Lost Coastlines.”
Among the reasons I love Okkervil River is the thought and effort that goes into the creation of their albums. People have focused on how much of a shift The Stage Names was from Black Sheep Boy, and what is surprising to me is how similar the approach is. Just as Black Sheep built off on the theme of a Tim Hardin ballad, The Stage Names showcases Will Sheff’s scholarly knowledge of music in an entire album built on influences of Joni Mitchell, John Cale, ? & The Mysterians, and The Beach Boys (amongst others). The difference this time around is that the point of departure was diverse, rather than singular - resulting in a more varied listen than the emotionally dark Black Sheep Boy. I also like the way that Okkervil uses their influences: it isn’t as simple as appropriating the sound of a band like Joy Division, they create a dialog with music history by appropriating lyrics and re-contextualizing them, a technique that is much more prevalent as a way of recognizing one’s elders in hip-hop than indie country, or whatever we are calling this genre these days.
In that regard, the interview (which I’ve omitted) is the highlight of the WOXY session; where we get Will’s explanation of the Golden Opportunities mixtape that the band released, footnoting with covers the songs that helped to shape The Stage Names. Still, the 4 songs they play (each from a different album), all presented without drums, are an interesting offset to their more upbeat and rocking album versions. “It Ends With A Fall” is my favorite.
[image and session by WOXY]
: 01 Lost Coastlines :
: 02 A King & A Queen :
: 03 A Hand To Take Hold Of The Scene :
: 04 It Ends With A Fall :
