Will Sheff of Okkervil River has nearly perfected the pop song. His melodies, which underlie the strength of his heartfelt crooning voice, are immediately noticeable on The Stand Ins, the sequel to 2007’s acclaimed The Stage Names, which was originally planned to be a double album. While still displaying Sheff’s distaste for pop culture, The Stand Ins also deals with the ideas of both conceit and faltering love in great detail, while simultaneously orchestrating memorable moments of pop bliss.
The entrapments of the musical scene are highlighted with cynical lyrics. In “Pop Lie,” Sheff addresses the careful calculations of an artist, “all sweetly sung and succinctly stated/to make you sing along,” while “Singer Songwriter” attacks the Hollywood cliché of an ego-driven artistic type. Sheff yearns for a distinct voice of reason amongst his shallow musical contemporaries. The Stand Ins also examines the complications of love in a musician life: stories told through the eyes of a groupie on “Blue Tulip” and “Starry Stairs” demonstrate the problems of falling in love with a pop idol.
Musically, the rest of the band constructs a concrete foundation. With suspenseful bass and drum entanglements, the tracks reach a heightened sense of character. The abundance of rhythmic texture on the album, whether it be piano or folky guitar, creates a beautiful backdrop to the album’s compelling lyrical statements. The piano balladry of “On Tour With Zykos” helps belie a heart-wrenching image of infatuation, while the orchestral interludes serve to dissipate tension and build mystery.
Okkervil River’s most fluent effort yet, The Stand Ins exhibits a disgust with popular culture and sing-along hits, yet it would be difficult to imagine the crowd of an Okkervil River show hesitating to sing right along.
Voice’s Choices: “Pop Lie,” “Lost Coastlines,” “On Tour with Zykos”
