Okkervil River - thoughts, recommendations?

['Scratch]

I've heard a few Okkervil River songs here and there and they were great. Good enough to make me head on over to eMusic and check some samples. This is where I get lost. There are 5 albums available:

The Stage Names
Down the River of Golden Dreams
The Stand Ins
Don't Fall in Love With Everyone You See
Black Sheep Boy.

Here are my questions - any of you guys fans? why? which album would you recommend to a first timer? why?

Basically I'd just like to hear what ya'll think of these guys.

Gracias.

[beantownbubba]

As is so often the case, I found their fans' enthusiasm to be a bit overstated, but was very glad to have checked 'em out anyway - they're really good. I still don't know all the albums but found The Stage Names to be an excellent starting point.

[cortez the killer]

I like these guys a lot. My two favorite OR albums are The Stage Names and The Stand-Ins. Apparently the band intended them as a double album, but the record label was opposed to it. The record company won and they were released separately. I'd start with The Stage Names, and if it strikes your fancy, go grab The Stand-Ins.

[shuffle]

I love OR, one of my favourite bands of the '00s. I'd go with The Stage Names if you want the more rock-ish version of Okkervil River, and Black Sheep Boy for the more indie-folk-ish. The differences in sound aren't huge, but there's a more obvious classic rock vibe and influence apparent through The Stage Names (and The Stand Ins) than on their previous work. My favourite album of theirs is BBS though, it's a '00s classic imo, but The Stage Names and The Stand Ins are very good too.

[scotto]

Great band. Saw 'em open for The New Pornographers and was surprised at how much they rocked live.
I'll second CtK's recommendations: The Stage Names and The Stand Ins are tops. But Black Sheep Boy is also well worth checking out.

[Jack Flash]

I have The Stage Names and The Stand Ins and like them both. However, my interest in the band has waned since I saw them open for Levon Helm back in January. The performance was kind of flat, the new lead guitarist was terrible, and Will Sheff came across like a complete tool. Only "Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe" really got me going. Plus, I was really turned off by their fans, who seemed to me to be predominantly teenage prep school douchebags who I think were only at the show to appear "deep" and "alternative" to their prissy girlfriends.

I'd still check out the albums though.

['Scratch]

"predominantly teenage prep school douchebags who I think were only at the show to appear "deep" and "alternative" to their prissy girlfriends."
LOL! It's funny how the fans can ruin a band. We probably hate to admit it, but I'm sure there are a few (dumb-ass SFRs) who would say the same about us and DBT. Well, I dare them to say it to our faces!

Great recommendations. I have 12 DLs left on this month's eMusic subscription so I might just go with The Stage Names. Black Sheep Boy was mentioned and I think the first OR song I really liked is on there. But when I listened to the sample it was a little too emo/indie/whatever and NTTATWWT, but I prefer my introspective tuneage to be a little less egg-heady.

eMusic gave a few extra complimentary DLs out this month and with Dio passing, I had to get Mob Rules and Heaven and Hell. I had them on cassette way back when and I'm so glad I got them again. Following the old school revelation theme I got Zep's Houses of the Holy too. Maybe OR will be a good counter to the classics. On the other hand Hendrix's Valleys of Neptune is out, and there's Mudhoney's Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge....decisions decisions. It's like trying to figure out what to do with your Powerball winnings on only much more realistic, read nanotech scale.

Mudhoney or Okkervil River? Hmmm....

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

Love 'em. I've only seen them (twice) as an opener for Wilco, so haven't had to deal with their fanbase, though I can totally see them being as described. As everyone else said, the last two albums are the best, and most accessible, place to enter. Though I highly recommend all of their albums. The first few are pretty angst-ridden but I like it, a lot. Amazingly literate lyrics.

['Scratch]

WWCD, I have to ask...what's the back story on your avatar? The nearest I can figure it it's about "stepping in shit" ie: a metaphor for good luck. But I'm sure I'm wrong so what's the word?

[scotto]

"predominantly teenage prep school douchebags who I think were only at the show to appear "deep" and "alternative" to their prissy girlfriends."
LOL! It's funny how the fans can ruin a band. We probably hate to admit it, but I'm sure there are a few (dumb-ass SFRs) who would say the same about us and DBT. Well, I dare them to say it to our faces!

Yep, fans can ruin a band.
A friend of mine (who's not a fan) calls Okkervil River and their ilk "English-major rock."
Sheff is definitely a thinker and their music is chock full o' intelligent references (isn't their name from a Dostoyevsky novel?), and I can understand that being off-putting, but as someone who likes to read and is fekkin' tired of "intellectual" having negative consequences, I'm all for bands putting a bit more thought behind their words and music.
Tomaytoe/tomahtoe, etc.
Glad you're digging them.

[beantownbubba]

WWCD, I have to ask...what's the back story on your avatar? The nearest I can figure it it's about "stepping in shit" ie: a metaphor for good luck. But I'm sure I'm wrong so what's the word?

You're obviously not a college basketball fan, scratch. Our WWCD is a major league university of north carolina tar heels (tar HEELs, get it?) fan.

[cortez the killer]

Tomaytoe/tomahtoe, etc.

Where does that leave 'mater?

[scotto]

Tomaytoe/tomahtoe, etc.

Where does that leave 'mater?

It's fans like you that make me hate 'maters.

['Scratch]

WWCD, I have to ask...what's the back story on your avatar? The nearest I can figure it it's about "stepping in shit" ie: a metaphor for good luck. But I'm sure I'm wrong so what's the word?

You're obviously not a college basketball fan, scratch. Our WWCD is a major league university of north carolina tar heels (tar HEELs, get it?) fan.

Duh. Might be why I'm liking Okkervil River. I was a Painting major.

Insert embarrassed emotie here.

[beantownbubba]

So why is none of your work posted where all can see?

['Scratch]

That's a good question with a long, convoluted answer. The simple response is "because I'm on sabbatical?" Life has its detours but I still reserve the right to be a bum/writer/artist type one of these days. In fact, once I'm out of the woods as far as being a semi-responsible adult and parent I plan to paint again. In the meantime I'm teaching myself how to play guitar to keep the synapses alive.

[beantownbubba]

So why is none of your work posted where all can see?

what, just because some of us paint or draw we have to share with the class?

Geez, if you're gonna put it that way. I thought it was just a semi lighthearted invitation to share and an expression of friendly curiosity/support. I didn't mean to pry or make anyone uncomfortable. Next thing u know i'm gonna be the first defendant under one of these new bullying laws.

['Scratch]

So why is none of your work posted where all can see?

what, just because some of us paint or draw we have to share with the class?

Geez, if you're gonna put it that way. I thought it was just a semi lighthearted invitation to share and an expression of friendly curiosity/support. I didn't mean to pry or make anyone uncomfortable. Next thing u know i'm gonna be the first defendant under one of these new bullying laws.

Artists can be sensitive.

[whatwouldcooleydo?]

WWCD, I have to ask...what's the back story on your avatar? The nearest I can figure it it's about "stepping in shit" ie: a metaphor for good luck. But I'm sure I'm wrong so what's the word?

You're obviously not a college basketball fan, scratch. Our WWCD is a major league university of north carolina tar heels (tar HEELs, get it?) fan.

what BTB said. NC is the Tar Heel state. See this link for lengthy discussion of meaning
http://alumni.unc.edu/article.aspx?sid=3516

Here are two explanations from the Civil War, one extolling the NC boys' fighting skills and the other, well, not so much:

(1) But when, beyond doubt, did the term Tar Heel begin to be applied to North Carolinians? Clearly during the Civil War. In the third volume of Walter Clark's Histories of the Several Regiments from North Carolina in the Great War, 1861 to 1865, published in 1901, James M. Ray of Asheville records two incidents in 1863 that suggest the nickname's original application. In a fierce battle in Virginia, where their supporting column was driven from the field, North Carolina troops stood alone and fought successfully. The victorious troops were asked in a condescending tone by some Virginians who had retreated, "Any more tar down in the Old North State, boys?" The response came quickly: "No; not a bit; old Jeff's bought it all up." "Is that so? What is he going to do with it?" the Virginians asked. "He is going to put it on you'ns heels to make you stick better in the next fight."

(2) A San Francisco magazine, Overland Monthly, in its August 1869 issue, published an article on slang and nicknames. The author cited a number of terms used in the Old North State. "A story is related," he wrote, "of a brigade of North Carolinians, who, in one of the great battles (Chancellorsville, if I remember correctly) failed to hold a certain hill, and were laughed at by the Mississippians for having forgotten to tar their heels that morning. Hence originated their cant name 'Tarheels.' "

[alicedmillionaire]

Black Sheep Boy and The Stage Names are pretty good, but I agree, I find their stuff whiny. I met Will through a mutual friend, and he is kind of an arse. Someone up the thread hit it dead on with "prep school" and "English-major" fans. Not that there is anything wrong with thought provoking lyrics, I just find his a lil' pompous.

The name comes from a crush he had on a foreign exchange student in High School. She was from a small town on the Okkervil River (outside St. Petersburg, I think).

[UncleFrank23]

Great band. Saw 'em open for The New Pornographers and was surprised at how much they rocked live.
I'll second CtK's recommendations: The Stage Names and The Stand Ins are tops. But Black Sheep Boy is also well worth checking out.

I think I was at that show at The Pageant, scotto. I agree with you, Okkervil River were really amazing live. In fact, I thought the New Pornographers were incredibly disappointing (although it hurt having Neko as a last minute cancellation) and they shined when Will came out and played with them.

My gateway to Okkervil River was The Stage Names, so that's a good start, but Black Sheep Boy is my favorite.