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Words: Steve Weston Album number four finds Will Sheff's ramshackle band of rock 'n' rollers continuing the graceful flowering of talent showcased on 2005's wonderful Black Sheep Boy. Sheff's lyrics again provide the focal point as he skilfully combines themes of love and memory with working-man's blood sweat and tears to create songs that come across like movie scenes in minature. Indeed the lyrics, artwork and the album's title itself create the idea that he could just as easily have turned these songs into a play rather than the majestic, memorable album that he did. Still, Okkervil River is not a one man band and it's the joyful playing of the groups musicians that brings Sheff's words to life, uniting with his cracked, soulful voice in a way that shows a band all operating on the same expressive level. Whether
sedate and moving (A Girl In Port), or uproarious and glad (Unless It's
Kicks), the bursts of violin, coronet, pedal steel and xylophone, to name
but a few, join with guitar, bass, drums and voice in a way that most
definitely deserves your hard-earned, 'cos here is a bunch of guys at
the top of their game. |
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Iron and Wine - The Shepherd's Dog Dead Meadow - Live at Brighton Audio High on Fire w/Russian Circles - Live at Brm Barfly Rilo Kiley - Live at Shepherds Bush Empire Okkervil River - The Stage Names
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Okkervil
River – The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)