Editorial Review:

Product Description:
The sequel to 2007's critically acclaimed 'The Stage Names', which Pitchfork praised as 'one of the year's best', is part two of a staggered double album, picking up where part one left off, but delving deeper into the story and theme of 'The Stage Names'.









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Disc 1:

1. Stand Ins, One
2. Lost Coastlines
3. Singer Songwriter
4. Starry Stairs
5. Blue Tulip
6. Stand Ins, Two
7. Pop Lie
8. On Tour With Zykos
9. Calling And Not Calling My Ex
10. Stand Ins, Three
11. Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed On The Roof Of The Chelsea Hotel, 1979

Rating: - More musings on the price of fame
The Stand Ins is the sequel to last year's stellar The Stage Names from Okkervil River and the two could have been released together as a double album. But really, could we handle that much awesome rock in one helping? Will Sheff thought not so he and his band have delivered two alabums instead. The theme of their latest, much like The Stand Ins, is fame and the essential meaningless of it all. With his typical slurred delivery, Sheff tears into this set of songs with his usual intensity and fervor. On Singer/Songwriter he attacks the entertainment industry in general when he wails, "and your world is gonna change nothing". Strong words indeed. Sheff may believe that, but the underlying message of his music is that he is still going to try and find meaning or maybe make some kind of impact, even if it's on a solitary listener who might be discovering the band for the first time. Elsewhere, Sheff attacks the empty gloss of popular music on the aptly titled, Pop Lie. With synthesizers (you read that right) added in the background, Sheff rants against "the liar who lied in his pop song" and then turns his aim at the comsumers of this junk by adding "and you lie when you're singing along". Scathing stuff, but it's ok because the music on this set rocks thoroughly. Sheff doesn't lie in his songs so no one should feel guilty for singing along.

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Rating: - Okkervil River Does it Again...
Great album. "Singer Songwriter," "Pop Lies," and (the single) "Lost Coastlines" are three of the best songs I've heard this year. There is something so interesting about Will Sheff's song writing style and vocal stylings. I find the "Stand Ins" instrumental tracks sort of awkward. "Blue Tulips" and "Bruce Wayne" are definitely not two of my favorite songs. But all is forgotten because the other songs are so strong and unique. Okkervil River is definitely one of those bands more people should know about...

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Rating: - Hey thanks John, go sing songs, go rock on
Okkervil River's follow up to The Stage Names lives up to its predecessor with another excellent collection of songs about being a "mid-level band", which builds on and complements the previous work. Others have noted the connection with the album art, and several of the songs are connected as well-"Starry Stairs" is Shannon Wilsey's defiant first person account, and connected to the heartbreaking "Savannah Smiles". "On Tour With Zykos" is one of the finer cuts and shows the point of view of the groupie from "A Girl In Port". Sailing connects "John Allyn Smith Sails" which ends TSN to the tune of Sloop John B., to the opening track "Lost Coastlines", and also to the final track on this album where Bruce Wayne Campbell is sailing off in his "morning starship". That's not to say this is just some academic intellectual exercise--the songs are engaging to listen to on their own as well. They can be funny as in "Singer Songwriter", which takes the self-important title character down a notch, or heartfelt as in "Starry Stairs" and "On Tour With Zykos". "Pop Lie" is an over the top power pop song, and I'm sure they love the irony of us singing along to "he's the liar who lied in his pop song, and you're lying when you sing along". My only criticism is the relative brevity of the album, though I appreciate the tightness of this effort. Okkervil River has really hit their stride and I can't wait to see what they do next.

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Rating: - All about the songs
Personally I can take or leave Will Sheff sometimes, his slurry vocal wailing on songs like "Blue Tulip" can really turn me off. I'd be much happier if he sang without the "I'm a quarter drunk and in pain" inflection, because I like his voice in general.

But never mind, because the dude can flat out write, and the attraction here is a bunch of killer passages, including the above mentioned "Tulip", which drags much too long, but is still a fine song, not a melody line out of place. Not everything works, "Pop Lie" doesn't really hang together in the middle of the other gems, but for the most part it's so good you have to listen, even if the mood of any particular song isn't your style.

I realize it's been ten years now, but I'll be interested to hear what he might do in another five, maybe he can scale back the vocal drama a bit and really hit the bullseye. Because he's close, and on a heck of a roll besides, it's so rare when someone can write this well repetitively. Nice job.

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Rating: - Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
The Stand Ins (2008, Jagjaguwar) Okkervil River's fifth studio album. ***1/2

Wherever you think Okkervil River derives their influence from, they've proven to be one of the most peculiar bands in recent history. Over the course of their career they've never had a clean solid hit; I don't mean a radio-friendly jingle that makes their name, I mean a completely solid album from start to finish. That's not to suggest the idea that Okkervil River's albums aren't entertaining, but they've never been able to achieve the power that they want to.

The Stand Ins is another example of that. Yet again, the band has crafted an album I'm sure I'll add to my record collection at some point this year, but they've succeeded in maneuvering away from crafting a true masterpiece. They could have done it, particularly on their last two releases, but Okkervil River gets too hokey for their own good. Musically, many moments are breathtaking, and Sheff's emotional vocal delivery never gets old. Lyrically, however, they never match the sincerity or force that the music does. An example is the pounding "Lost Coastlines," whose alternative folk sound rocks hard. It starts off simply with an acoustic guitar, but it accelerates into a sonic whirlwind. And while the words may sound pretty, the ideas don't always shine through clearly.

Even one of the albums prettiest moments, "Blue Tulip," can't escape the stereotype. Sheff's finest vocal performance on The Stand Ins by far, yet bland lines like "I'll feel your feelings crackling" render it emotionally gutless. What's so strange about this failure of individual lines is that the themes are radiantly clear without being didactic; lost love, loneliness, and the like. Overall, The Stand Ins is not a weak entry in a fairly impressive catalogue; rather, it seems to fit right in with the good job that they've done since they've been playing. Okkervil River continues the band that is rarely breathtaking, often genius, mostly good, and never unlistenable. (Lost Coastlines, Blue Tulip, Bruce Wayne Campbell)