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| The Stand Ins | 
 enlarge | Artist: Okkervil River
Label: Jagjaguwar
Category: Music
List Price: $14.98
Buy New: $9.88
You Save: $5.10 (34%)
New (42) Used (10) from $8.20
Avg. Customer Rating:  10 reviews
Sales Rank: 300
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.3
MPN: 52124
UPC: 656605212425
EAN: 0656605212425
ASIN: B001CTUHZQ
Release Date: September 9, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Tracks:
| • | Stand Ins, One | | • | Lost Coastlines | | • | Singer Songwriter | | • | Starry Stairs | | • | Blue Tulip | | • | Stand Ins, Two | | • | Pop Lie | | • | On Tour With Zykos | | • | Calling And Not Calling My Ex | | • | Stand Ins, Three | | • | Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed On The Roof Of The Chelsea Hotel, 1979 |
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Product Description
The sequel to 2007's critically acclaimed "The Stage Names", which Pitchfork praised as "one of the year's best", is part two of a staggered double album, picking up where part one left off, but delving deeper into the story and theme of "The Stage Names".
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 More of the same, and that's a great thing September 9, 2008
8 out of 9 found this review helpful
Okkervil River really made a significant jump (don't call it a quantum leap) with last year's "The Stage Names" album, their 5th studio album, which gained critical acclaim all over, and finally won the band greater acclaim and recognition as well in the indie-rock scene. Now, almost exactly a year later comes their 6th studio album, a straight sequel to "The Stage Names", as indeed the recording sessions for that album were so fruitful and productive that it produced material for 2 albums. Rather than releasing a double-album, the band decided to release 2 separate albums.
"The Stand Ins" (11 tracks; 40 min.) brings 8 new tracks, amplified by 3 short instrumentals (those "stand ins"). After the first of those instrumentals, the album crashes in with "Lost Coastlines" and the hard-charging feeling of "The Stage Names" is immediately felt and continued. My favorite track of the album comes next, an equally urgent "Singer Songwriter", with a great opening line of "Your great-grandfather was a great lawyer/And his kid made a mint off the war", setting the stage for an irresistible tune. But truth be told, there are no weak tracks on here: from the pensive "Blue Tulip", to "Pop Lie" (sounding early 80's REM-like), to "Calling and Not Calling My Ex" to the impressive closer "Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed On the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel", it all flows great, and at 40 min., the album clips by in no time. Wow. Nice.
If you wonder where you can hear great indie music like this album, check out internet-only WOXY (Bam! The Future of Rock and Roll!), truly the best place for indie rock in the entire country in my book. Meanwhile, "The Stand Ins" is a great album. I finally had an opportunity to see these guys live earlier this year when they were still touring behind "The Stage Names" and they were terrific. I hope that Okkervil River will come back to this area soon as I can't wait to see how "The Stand Ins" translates in a live setting.
 Okkervil River - The Stand Ins 9/10 September 10, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The Stand Ins, Texas indie-rock outfit Okkervil River's fifth album, is the planned second half of a double album project that began with 4th record The Stage Names, but it more than stands on its own. Continuing the theme of musicians on tour, The Stand Ins is lyrically bleak and depressing, despite the often-upbeat instrumentation, and singer and writer Will Sheff is in fine form. Just check out opener "Lost Coastlines," where Sheff laments "every night finds us rocking and rolling on waves wild and wide, well we have lost our way, nobody's gonna say it outright," along "Lust for Life"-esque bass and drum line before exploding into an energetic outro of "la la la's."
With song titles like "Singer Songwriter," "Pop Lie," and "On Tour With Zykos," it's not hard to figure out the theme of the record, but never once does Okkervil River bore or weigh down. "Singer Songwriter" is an effective country-rocker about artistic pretension that is actually quite entertaining if listened to closely (sample lyric: "you come from wealth / yeah, you got wealth / what a b*tch, they didn't give you much else"), while "Blue Tulip"'s miniscule details, from a simple yet intense lyric by Sheff to the gently tinkling piano, make a lasting image with just a few short strokes.
While Okkervil's decision to include three instrumental interludes evenly spaced throughout the album is, I suppose, a way of upholding the stage/tour theme, the trio's lack of substance only serves to keep the album from flowing along properly. Luckily, it doesn't seem to be a result of any lack of ideas; from the raucous, driving power pop of "Pop Lie" to the ambivalent melodrama of the rather animated "Calling And Not Calling My Ex," The Stand Ins is a fantastic piece of lyrical and musical ideas combining in ways that puts Okkervil River right up there with the Decemberists. Here's to the rigors and pains of the touring life!
Okkervil River - The Stand Ins September 14, 2008
2 out of 5 found this review helpful
The Stand Ins (2008, Jagjaguwar) Okkervil River's fifth studio album. ***1/2
Wherever you think Okkervil River derives their influence from, they've proven to be one of the most peculiar bands in recent history. Over the course of their career they've never had a clean solid hit; I don't mean a radio-friendly jingle that makes their name, I mean a completely solid album from start to finish. That's not to suggest the idea that Okkervil River's albums aren't entertaining, but they've never been able to achieve the power that they want to.
The Stand Ins is another example of that. Yet again, the band has crafted an album I'm sure I'll add to my record collection at some point this year, but they've succeeded in maneuvering away from crafting a true masterpiece. They could have done it, particularly on their last two releases, but Okkervil River gets too hokey for their own good. Musically, many moments are breathtaking, and Sheff's emotional vocal delivery never gets old. Lyrically, however, they never match the sincerity or force that the music does. An example is the pounding "Lost Coastlines," whose alternative folk sound rocks hard. It starts off simply with an acoustic guitar, but it accelerates into a sonic whirlwind. And while the words may sound pretty, the ideas don't always shine through clearly.
Even one of the albums prettiest moments, "Blue Tulip," can't escape the stereotype. Sheff's finest vocal performance on The Stand Ins by far, yet bland lines like "I'll feel your feelings crackling" render it emotionally gutless. What's so strange about this failure of individual lines is that the themes are radiantly clear without being didactic; lost love, loneliness, and the like. Overall, The Stand Ins is not a weak entry in a fairly impressive catalogue; rather, it seems to fit right in with the good job that they've done since they've been playing. Okkervil River continues the band that is rarely breathtaking, often genius, mostly good, and never unlistenable. (Lost Coastlines, Blue Tulip, Bruce Wayne Campbell)
awesome! December 22, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I am a bit predjudiced since my son, Brian, is the guitarist on this CD, but it's an awesome CD.
Stage Names Part II September 10, 2008
Okkervil River's new album "The Stand Ins," coming out just about a year after the wonderful record "The Stage Names" is really a wonderful follow up. The artwork connection, and the similar titles suggest the albums do complement each other. And listening to the record, the Stand Ins has many of the similar themes expressed on its predecessor. These two albums together really express a jaded view of the entertainment world. Many opinions I've seen expressed rate this one just below the Stage Names, but I beg to differ. The sound on this album is much bigger, and the band uses a much wider sonic palate. You hear strings, vintage keyboards, banjos, mandolins, brass; in general the arrangements are just fuller and feel better. There is also some really exceptional bass playing on this record. Just take some time to listen to the bottom. The ballad "Blue Tulip" is so much more epic than "A Girl In Port." "Pop Lie" almost sounds like a tongue in cheek pastiche of The Hold Steady (and gets the point across quite clearly, and the whole premise behind "Calling and Not Calling My Ex" is just so gripping. What I've always loved about Okkervil River is the sense that there is such a strong sense of universal metaphor across an album and the fact that they have kept it going over the course of two albums is even more impressive. This album really creates a nice and cohesive counterpart to the Stage Names. If only there was a little more material (The album clocks in just over 40 minutes, a little short for me). Also, the album could use a slightly stronger climax. The Bruce Wayne track is a little light compared to the last cut on The Stage Names. Nevertheless, Okkervil River have supplied a great counterpart to The Stage Names and supplied us an exciting record with gripping song writing, lush arrangements and clear concept.
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