Will Sheff is a master not only of unfurling stories within his songs, but going the next step to unfurl stories within entire albums. As 2005's Black Sheep Boy was built conceptually around the cover of Tim Hardin's song of the same name, The Stage Names plays out as a (semi-)autobiographical journey through the life of a "Rock And Roll Man". Sheff's clever lyrics wend and weave through 9 tracks about movies vs. life, realities of the road, unfaithfulness and failed suicide.
Sheff's lyrics are no doubt the most notable feature on any Okkervil River album, but even so it would be difficult to overlook the many other layers that contribute to the success of the album: dense instrumentation (rollicking piano, big guitars, horns, strings), backing vocals, and Sheff's voice itself. It's no big secret among Okkervil River fans - Sheff's voice, while extraordinarly unique, is not the best in the world. But with The Stage Names he's taken his vocals to a new level and has never sounded better. Plus, he can still whip himself into a good ol' frenzy by the end of a song.
Though the subject matter of The Stage Names may seem a bit dismal, the overall feel of this record is vastly more upbeat than Black Sheep Boy. There is not a bad song on the album, and Okkervil even manages to get away with a could-have-been-disastrous Beach Boys tribute of sorts in album closer John Allyn Smith Sails. I'd never have thought it possible, but in time this album may very well prove itself stronger than Black Sheep Boy.
Okkervil River - The Stage Names
available: August 7, 2007
Jagjaguwar
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