Carolynne B. Mathis 2008-12-22

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

I am a bit predjudiced since my son, Brian, is the guitarist on this CD, but it's an awesome CD.

zenarrrow 2008-11-26

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Why is this cd so good, when the Stand In's was to me, a laskluster effort?

When I heard Okkervil River was putting out a new cd I was torn because I was glad to hear that their was new material, but then I heard it was the second half of what was supposed to be a double cd, the latter half of the Stand In's. Which to me was a labored listen at best. So I was hesitant about picking up the new cd.


I was glad I did. This cd seems to be solid from begining to end. At times, admittedly the melodies are simple, but it seems to do what the songs need to do and that is flow together perfectly and deliver a well put together cd. For me it is a return to BSB and DTROGD.

So if you are hesitant about this disc on the last release, rest easy as I feel that this is a much better effort.

B. Martin 2008-11-17

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

The Stand Ins is the sequel to last year's stellar The Stage Names from Okkervil River and the two could have been released together as a double album. But really, could we handle that much awesome rock in one helping? Will Sheff thought not so he and his band have delivered two alabums instead. The theme of their latest, much like The Stand Ins, is fame and the essential meaningless of it all. With his typical slurred delivery, Sheff tears into this set of songs with his usual intensity and fervor. On Singer/Songwriter he attacks the entertainment industry in general when he wails, "and your world is gonna change nothing". Strong words indeed. Sheff may believe that, but the underlying message of his music is that he is still going to try and find meaning or maybe make some kind of impact, even if it's on a solitary listener who might be discovering the band for the first time. Elsewhere, Sheff attacks the empty gloss of popular music on the aptly titled, Pop Lie. With synthesizers (you read that right) added in the background, Sheff rants against "the liar who lied in his pop song" and then turns his aim at the comsumers of this junk by adding "and you lie when you're singing along". Scathing stuff, but it's ok because the music on this set rocks thoroughly. Sheff doesn't lie in his songs so no one should feel guilty for singing along.

Allison D. Roth 2008-09-30

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Great album. "Singer Songwriter," "Pop Lies," and (the single) "Lost Coastlines" are three of the best songs I've heard this year. There is something so interesting about Will Sheff's song writing style and vocal stylings. I find the "Stand Ins" instrumental tracks sort of awkward. "Blue Tulips" and "Bruce Wayne" are definitely not two of my favorite songs. But all is forgotten because the other songs are so strong and unique. Okkervil River is definitely one of those bands more people should know about...

J. D. JANSEN 2008-09-30

0 of 0 people found the following review helpful:

Okkervil River's follow up to The Stage Names lives up to its predecessor with another excellent collection of songs about being a "mid-level band", which builds on and complements the previous work. Others have noted the connection with the album art, and several of the songs are connected as well-"Starry Stairs" is Shannon Wilsey's defiant first person account, and connected to the heartbreaking "Savannah Smiles". "On Tour With Zykos" is one of the finer cuts and shows the point of view of the groupie from "A Girl In Port". Sailing connects "John Allyn Smith Sails" which ends TSN to the tune of Sloop John B., to the opening track "Lost Coastlines", and also to the final track on this album where Bruce Wayne Campbell is sailing off in his "morning starship". That's not to say this is just some academic intellectual exercise--the songs are engaging to listen to on their own as well. They can be funny as in "Singer Songwriter", which takes the self-important title character down a notch, or heartfelt as in "Starry Stairs" and "On Tour With Zykos". "Pop Lie" is an over the top power pop song, and I'm sure they love the irony of us singing along to "he's the liar who lied in his pop song, and you're lying when you sing along". My only criticism is the relative brevity of the album, though I appreciate the tightness of this effort. Okkervil River has really hit their stride and I can't wait to see what they do next.