Okkervil River - I Am Very Far (2011, JagJaguar)
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"The goal was to push my brain to places it didn't want to go. The idea was to not have any idea – to keep myself confused about what I was doing,"
Will Sheff insists that I Am Very Far is a standalone album, unlike their last three albums, each of which can be considered concept albums, with their own main themes. The Black Sheep Boy narrative on the album of the same name. The perils and triumphs of stardom on The Stage Names. The emotional toll of the inability to gain recognition as an artist on The Stand-ins. The problem with Okkervil River now making an album of relatively standalone songs is that Will Sheff is such a great songwriter that his skills are almost wasted without a main theme. It's almost as if a great novelist, instead of releasing another great novel, has decided to release a collection of short stories. While they are still enjoyable by themselves, it leaves the reader (or in this case the listener) wanting more.
Track 1: The Valley
While I enjoy to marauding drums, that is really the only redeemable part of this song. Strangely lazy songwriting and lyricism. There are other bands where I would appreciate the repetition in this song, but it's not something that Okkervil has really utilized in their career. I'm surprised that this song even made the album let alone led it off.
Verdict: 5/10
Track 2: Piratess
Although this song has much better lyrics, it suffers from similar problems as "The Valley". It seems to mostly just plod along, With Mr. Sheff's storytelling being the only thing keeping it afloat. it does earns some points back with some interesting breaks and sound mixes near the end.
Verdict: 6/10
Track 3: Rider
We get some strings on this one. I honestly am finding it very apparent that Will Sheff is completely running the show on this album. Many of the songs live or die by his contributions. This is another one that ends up being mediocre because there just isn't much going on behind the vocals. This is a disappointing album so far.
Verdict: 6/10
Track 4: Lay of the Last Survivor
This is the first song I really enjoyed on this album. Still pretty slow and subdued, but the first one where I really enjoyed the lyrics enough for it to not bother me as much. Will gets a female backing vocal part for much of this song, which is a nice turn of events. Where the other songs so far felt generic, this one had some underlying beauty to it, including a horn section to accompany the female vocals.
Verdict: 8/10
Track 5: White Shadow Waltz
I Am Very Far is finally starting to pick up. This is another song that feels fully realized. Sheff again plays with his vocals which adds to the narrative of the song. The plodding piano track that runs throughout the song feels well placed, unlike in earlier songs, because the songs changes and reforms around it instead of conforming to it. One of the stronger lyrical songs as well, although this album is one of Will Sheff's weaker showings in that department.
Verdict: 9/10
Track 6: We Need A Myth
I really enjoy this song. Just the concept of the song. Kind of pessimistic I know, but I like to think it's more about the hope that we ascertain through our dreams and stories. Middling musically, although it does work up to pretty interesting climax and there is a few changes in tone that are always worth pointing out.
Verdict: 9/10
Track 7: Hanging From A Hit
A nice little song. Doesn't necessarily do anything new or interesting. Could have easily been a b-side on Black Sheep Boy. Things that I like: horn sections and harmonizing.
Verdict: 7/10
Track 8: Show Yourself
This is probably the most perplexing song on the album. It is about the only song that takes any real chances on the whole album. It's definitively grown on me through multiple listens. It builds up into a pretty convincing climax, but then continues to a complete shift in meter. Finally breaks into as close as this version of Okkervil can jam with about 45 seconds left. A song with some interesting moves to it, and probably the one song that gives me hope for this new incarnation.
Verdict 10/10
Track 9: Your Past Life as a Blast
This is my other favorite lyrical work on this album, along with the aforementioned "White Shadow Waltz". Just an enjoyable song, both musically and lyrically. Very upbeat and carefree, which you only see once in awhile from Okkervil. It seems like a love song, but I feel like it's more about finding someone that you can share the intimate details of your life with, and vice versa. Less love, more trust.
Verdict: 10/10
Track 10: Wake and Be Fine
After the serene beauty of "Your Past Life as a Blast" we are met with the jagged edge that is "Wake and Be Fine". I'd define this song as menacing. There is a underlying darkness to the song, the narrator is stuck in a nightmare. Or someone stuck in past miseries. Either way it's one of the more fast paced and emotional songs on the album, but not my favorite.
Verdict: 8/10
Track 11: The Rise
We had a such a good run. Not a very good song at all, but at least it makes sense as an outro track.
Verdict: 6/10
Cohesiveness Score: 7/10
Does ok, but the intro and outro tracks, while they make sense, aren't that good. Still confused why "Your Past Life as a Blast" and "Wake and Be Fine" are right next to each other.
Final Score:
7.6
Final Thoughts:
An album that starts slow, and gets pretty good for about 6 songs. A good album, but a weak showing by Okkervil Standards
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