Okkervil River

The Stage Names

(Jagjaguwar)

Record Review by Adam McKibbin

Okkervil River's fourth album, The Stage Names, takes a long step away from its acclaimed predecessor, Black Sheep Boy. Some of the rough angles and emotional gravitas have been tabled in favor of good-spirited rock 'n roll and lyrical levity (as on the proudly music-geeked "Plus Ones"). Correspondingly, there's more warmth, immediacy and universal appeal—and fewer emotional socks to the gut. Longtime listeners may yearn for a few more cracked wails from songwriter extraordinaire Will Sheff, but the tradeoff mostly plays out effectively, and should build the band's momentum as one of indie rock's leading lights

There are still somber set pieces, like the twinkling "Savannah Smiles," detailing an unfortunate run-in with a daughter's diary, and the elegant "A Girl in Port." But the album lives to kick up its heels and spin a good tale, as on "A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene" and "You Can't Hold the Hand of a Rock and Roll Man." Sheff's literary flourishes attract a lot of attention, and rightfully so, but it's the simple humanity of his songs, whether happy or sad, that really makes Okkervil River vital.