Music: Okkervil River

Posted by Dan October 8th, 2008 at 11:23am In General

You never read a single review of an Okkervil River record without the reviewer using a word like “literary,” and “brainy.”

And it’s not without good reason.  The singer, Will Schaff, has a tendency to conjure detailed images in his lyrics — telling little melancholy stories so that each album seems like an audio anthology. The band’s name was even taken from a Russian short story.

Sonically, Okkervil River show their Austin roots. The songs vary from sparse country-folk ballads to poppy Americana. Schaff has a sometimes cartoonishly dramatic voice — when you see him live you kind of want to throw Paxil at the stage — but it works with the nature of the lyrics.

So, yes… television!  Here’s the video for “Lost Coastlines” which not only might air on television, but also features the band members with televisions ON THEIR HEADS!  Silly geese.

Oh, and bonus: the band is also promoting their new album, The Stand Ins, by having their friends cover tracks. Here’s A.C. Newman of The New Pornographers doing a cover of this same song.