Okkervil River - I Am Very Far
Album Review: Okkervil River – I Am Very Far
by Lance Burson
May 29, 2011
Ever listen to a band, know they’re good, but just not dig them? I’ve always been this way with Okkervil River, until now.
The Austin band with lush guitars, moody lyrics and a deep affinity for concept albums have done what a good band usually does, change. Their new album, I Am Very Far, leaked about a month ago, is a new direction. After The Stand Ins and The Stage Names, it appeared Okkervil River was cornering the market on well played, but weird myth busting rock concepts.
I Am Very Far is dark, but just really good guitar music. Singer Will Sheff wrote and co-produced the album. You can always tell when a songwriter stops playing to his audience and starts writing for himself. The songs are usually stronger and you have to listen to the record three or four times to get everything.
“The Valley” is the lead track and so far, most heard of the songs. My favorite is “We Need A Myth”. It’s the kind of song Radiohead used to write. The best thing about I Am Very Far is the production of the guitars. Okkervil River is a band that tells a stories with their instruments.
I like being converted to a band after initially not liking them. The way Sheff has written and the way I Am Very Far comes across as a looser display of anthems. “The Valley”‘s line “the valley of the rock and roll dead” is bound to summer car sing a long for some. “Hanging From A Hit” will cut very close to home for married people.
The coolest part of I Am Very Far is how the lyrics and the music go together. I had always thought Okkervil River’s previous work was disjointed. This album sort of lays it all out together. It sounds like 100 guitars are delivering the message and that’s just awesome.
While my favorite song is “We Need A Myth”, the closing tune, “The Rise” is pretty much what you’ll like about the record. It’s the perfect end of a good album because you’ll hit replay and listen to it again.
I Am Very Far is a pleasant surprise from a band that’s tried too hard to make happy. Now, it appears, Okkervil River is making art.
Editor’s Note: Lance Burson is a contributor to DeadJournalist.com. He also writes his own blog which you can read here and you can follow him on Twitter: @TLanceB.
