Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

Okkervil River's narrative rock on The Stage Names is the concept album of a concept album.  It is the story of how important art is in a confusing and sad world.  It is the intersection of the amazing and the mundane, the horrible and the wonderful. It is “What gives this mess some grace,” as they point out so well.  The ability to articulate emotions and thoughts seems to be a specialty for this band.  Will Sheff's lyrical abilities are unmatched on this album, creating dense musings on reality that are worthy of academia yet still lighthearted and accessible.  Sheff is reaching for something grand here.  Excellent, straightforward rock with brilliant wordplay never fails to impress, and it quickly becomes evident with The Stage Names that Okkervil River is capable of creating the timeless album that Sheff wants to create.

And they almost succeed.  For many this will be a knockout album.  Clever songs like Unless It's Kicks and Plus Ones will not fail to entertain, and most indie fans, and rock fans, will likely eat it up.  The Stage Names is a big, bold album.  The songs are layered with a whole arsenal of instruments that create a dynamic, orchestral-indie album with as much ambition and talent as great contemporaries The Arcade Fire.  Unfortunately the album can be slightly melodramatic at times due to Sheff's vocals which go a little overboard on songs such as “Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe”.  Despite the small setback, Okkervil River has managed to create something that is introspective and emotionally revealing.  They celebrate, even in their own sadness, and express what it is truly like to be an artist on the road in this crazy, messed up world.