Okkervil River - The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar, 2007)

The Stage Names - Okkervil River's fourth full-length release - is, without a doubt, one of the best albums to be released in 2007. It would be erroneous of me not to point out that this is the latest album from my favorite band on the planet, and that if you have not yet exposed yourself to their genius, you have done yourself a great disservice; however, even if I did not feel this way, even if I was evaluating this album objectively, I would still say that it is one of the year's best.
Okkervil River bring a level of emotion to their music that is almost intoxicating, particularly when you take into consideration the emotional vacuum that is much of modern living. Will Sheff - the band's songwriter and singer - paints vivid scenes with his lyrics, as the characters inhabiting his songs navigate their way through the realities of day-to-day living, with all of their flaws intact.
The songs on The Stage Name flow from the opening one-two punchiness of Our Live Is Not A Movie Or Maybe and the incandescent swagger of Unless It's Kicks, to the hushed, devastating beauty of Savannah Smiles and the sea-faring balladry of A Girl In Port.
While sounding completely modern, Okkervil River carry on a grand musical tradition that harks back to bands such as The Band, The Faces and The Beach Boys; a tradition that recognizes songwriting earnest in its attempt to transcend the everyday-ness of life. If you discover only one new band this year, let it be Okkervil River.

Check Out: www.myspace.com/okkervilriver ...where you can hear the entire album.