Okkervil River

The Stage Names

[4.5/5]

Stage Names may be Okkervil River’s fifth full-length (and fourth for Jagjaguwar), but now more than ever the Austin, Texas, septet are poised for the breakthrough they so deserve. The lineup may’ve fluctuated since the band’s inception in 1998, but the leadership and direction from vocalist/guitarist and main songwriter Will Sheff has remained steady. Musically, The Stage Names encompasses a wide range of moods and styles-from alt-country-tinged boot-tappers (“You Can’t Hold The Hand Of A Rock And Roll Man”) to jangly indie-pop (“Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe”)-but nothing seems out of place or misdirected. Bonded by both Sheff’s incredible vocal talent-which effortlessly transitions from smoky lament (“A Girl In Port”) to impassioned near-yelling (“Unless It’s Kicks”)-and his story-like songwriting-which rivals that of Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst-this album truly is a collection of gems. (JAGJAGUWAR) Rachel Lux