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Okkervil River
Stability is a trademark of most successful bands. It's hard get, much less sustain, any momentum with band members departing at nearly predictable intervals. With turnover there's also the danger of the group evolving or devolving into a frontman and a collection of backing musicians. Those are issues that Okkervil River had to face.
Will Sheff has remained the only constant since the Austin band formed in '98. The group has seen more than its share of musicians roll through. The list includes, Jonathan Meiburg (1999-2008) accordion/keyboards, Howard Draper (2004 -2007) keyboards/lap-steel and Brian Cassidy (2005-2008) guitar/keyboards. Finding a long- term drummer also proved challenging when founding member Seth Warren left after two years (in 2000). He was initially replaced by Mark Pedni (2000-2003) before Travis Nelson (2003-present) arrived. The situation on bass was a bit better. Another founding member, Zach Thomas stayed seven years (1998-2005) before splitting, leaving the door open for Pat Pestorius.
Okkervil River took their name from a short story by Russian author Tatyana Tolstaya. That in itself suggests this is a literate bunch. The group started as a collection of New Hampshire natives attending college in Austin and their songs (principally the work of Sheff) were known for their intellectual turns.
The group recorded an EP, "Bedroom" in '99 and that led to their garage recorded, self-released full-length debut, "Stars Too Small To Use." One of the advantages of being in Austin and having an album that has created a bit of a buzz is being invited to perform at the annual South By Southwest showcase. That led to hooking up with the indie Jagjaguwar imprint.
Another fortuitous result of the SXSW appearance was making the acquaintance of engineer and producer Brian Beattie. They began working with him on 00's "Don't Fall in Love with Everyone You See." Three years later the group issued "Down The River Of Golden Dreams." Though Beattie wasn't at the console for that album, he was for the next one, '05's Black Sheep Boy." This was the group's first album with Draper, Brackett, Cassidy and Pestorius.
Signed by Virgin/EMI for European distribution Okkervil River re-released "Black Sheep Boy" and its follow-up "Black Sheep Boy Appendix" as a double disc in '06. Jagjaguwar mirrored that effort in North American by issuing "Definitive Edition" with extra songs and videos.
With Beattie again at the helm and the group benefiting from a relatively stable line-up, Okkervil River unfurled '07's "The Stage Names." Then the group hit another glitch. While Okkervil River was touring New Zealand in early '08 Cassidy announced he was leaving which sent the band searching for another guitarist - initially one who would help fulfill tour dates. That person was Charles Bissell.
Before the release of '08's "The Stands Ins," a sequel to "The Stage Names," Okkervil River distributed, via their website, "Golden Opportunities Mixtape" which was exactly what the title implied.
Okkervil River has a rootsy sound, anchored by a rhythm guitar and piano or other keyboards. Uptempo songs also have a shape snare drum doing 4/4 time. When they are rolling, Sheff's vocals and the instrumentation have a cascading, natural effect. When things slow down, it gets problematic.
"The Stand Ins" has New Age-ish instrumental interludes ("Stand Ins, One, Two and Three") that would bore Yanni. Those "artistic" notions aside, the album is the best Okkervil River has produced.
Sometimes it's really good to hear a twangy guitar so out it comes on the Rockabilly "Singer Songwriter." The "completely incorporated" "Pop Lie" shows flashes of '80s Rock without giving away too much. The Folk/Pop blend on "Lost Coastlines" and "Calling And Not Calling My Ex (great title) are winning. Aside from "Stand Ins, One, Two and Three" only "Blue Tulip" and the set closer "Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed On The Roof Of The Chelsea Hotel 1979," both ballads, are genuine duds.
"The Stage Names" starts strong with "Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe" and "Unless It Kicks," which features a dirty electric guitar over a jaunty rhythm. "A Hand To Take Hold The Scene" has touches of The Cure's "The Love Cats." "You Can't Hold The Hand Of A Rock And Roll Man" has Sheff's emotive, riding the jagged edge of sorrow - but I'll keep going vocals.
Ballads are extraordinarily difficult. Without much effort they can become cloying and pretentious, largely because the lyrics stand out more. Melodies can drag if there isn't enough to hold them together. Okkervil River doesn't always succeed by on the title track of "Black Sheep Boy" they do. This album has a handful of other noteworthy songs including the great Rock N' Roll song "Black," the edgy "For Real," the head swaying ballad "A King And A Queen" and "Song Of Our So-Called Friend."