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Okkervil River: The Stage Names

Okkervil River
The Stage Names
2007 | Jagjaguwar

In anticipation of the new album by Okkervil River, The Stage Names, I began reflecting upon the first time I ever listened to them. A friend of mine sat me down and made me listen to the song "Westfall" off their album Don't Fall in Love with Everyone You See from 2002.  I was struck dumb by the haunting intensity of not only Will Sheff's vocals, but also of the flat out disturbing lyrics he was singing. I learned from there that Okkervil River is a complete package for a band; they not only sound good, but they can tell a story as good as any great storyteller can, keeping you enthralled and hanging on edge. And yet again on their new release do they do that again, making every second of the nine songs stand out and pull you in.

The Stage Names starts out punchy and then lulls you into a softer, more melodic listen as plot after plot unfolds in each song. And in the end, recreate their version of the "Sloop John B" that brings the album back up into full swing. "Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe" packs pounding drums, OOh-ing choruses, and Sheff's wailing voice into the opening track, highlighting their rock side. "A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene" is a jangly pop tune reminiscent of Voxtrot's lighthearted piano-tinged songs- a song you can probably even dance to. They also fall back into their more folky, country tunes in such tracks as the bittersweet "A Girl in Port" and "Title Track".

On earlier albums, there was always some bumps, whether in the delivery of the vocals, or the production value not being consistent. However, here the kinks have been smoothed out into a more accomplished sounding album. I'd recommend "Unless It Kicks", "A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene" and "A Girl in Port".

-Elana Rintala

(Sounds like: The Decemberists, Bishop Allen, Calexico)

Thu Aug 9 2007 · Posted in Reviews on littleradio.com

Sound Exchange comes first, music second

Executives at SoundExchange don't exchange anything, other than handfuls of cash to people who help them get more of it. The fine folks who brought us digital-music royalty collections and months of stressful, sleepless nights, have been caught lobbying to MusicFirst Coalition.

MusicFirst is basically a front that represents the special interests of the major labels. A federal appeals court handed them some justice because they were caught lobbying to levy performance royalties on terrestrial radio stations. These people are horrible human beings.

Of course lobbying is not allowed for a company like SoundExchange. Their nonprofit status prohibits them from spending money on anything other than the "administering and settling of disputes from the collection, distribution and calculation of royalties." 

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Tue Aug 7 2007 · Posted in Daily on littleradio.com

Manic: Another New Home EP

Manic
Another New Home EP
2007 | Suretone

Los Angeles based band Manic's second E.P. Another New Home pushes the boundaries between moody, lyrical soundscapes and well, just some good ol' rock. The combination of the lyrics and vocals on their four song E.P. makes the tracks seem incredibly personal and introspective, quietly raging inside the mind of someone who has gone deep into a dark part of themselves. There is an eerie sense of despair on the album with the whispers of lyrics such as in the song "Nickel Medication" and the heavy grinding of guitars on the title track "Another New Home". Plastic faces and ghosts haunt the listener as they are carried through rising and crashing walls of sound that in some ways mimic the brain activity of someone who really is manic. What I like about Manic's sound is that even though there is that "heaviness" to their music, I don't feel like they're trying to pander to those gloomier rock audiences.

Another New Home is a strong E.P. that feels like the band has a good idea of what direction their music should go. Even though this is just a small taste of what they have to offer, I look forward to seeing what a full length release would sound like.

-Elana Rintala

Mon Aug 6 2007 · Posted in Reviews on littleradio.com

John Vanderslice: Emerald City

John Vanderslice
Emerald City
2007 | Barsuk

Emerald City, John Vanderslice's follow up to 2005's Pixel Revolt, is chock full of the fuzzy, lyrical tunes that both seem humble and shining in their delivery. Vanderslice does not stray too far from the style of his earlier albums here, but produces a polished piece that any fan will enjoy.

Vanderslice is known for his love of the right recording instruments (he's even been known to tell interviewers that they're using the wrong kind of gear) and that attention to detail comes across heavily in his music. Notes, instruments, just the general sounds being created on his albums sound correctly produced; not in the sense of over-produced, but in the sense of being there and experiencing the music. Each song adds a new instrument, or at least a new "noise". This eclecticism ranges from keys to drum machines to what possibly might be rabbit-ing frogs- whatever works for the song I guess.

I feel a strong connection to some of the Elephant 6 Collective artists listening to Vanderslice, especially Neutral Milk Hotel, and a bit of Elf Power. The connection of NMH is in the vocals and slow, lo-fi-ish melodic playing in several of the songs ("Time to Go", "Numbered Lithograph"). In "the Tower", he sings that "Tonight I'm staying in, to do my tarot, I got stuck on a card and couldn't let it go..." There is a definite presence in the lyrics of instability and a general dismay with the current state of the world. The Emerald City correlates to some degree as the one in the book- one where everything might seem shining on the outside, but underneath it all, it's corrupt and unpleasant. And yet the songs are overall a great listen. I'd recommend "Time to Go", "White Dove", and "Numbered Lithograph".

-Elana Rintala 0 comments

Thu Aug 2 2007 · Posted in Reviews on littleradio.com

Bodies of Water: Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink

Bodies of Water
Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink
2007 | Thousand Tongues

Bodies of Water produce a sound that, upon your first listen, you feel inexplicably good. Ears Will Pop & Eyes Will Blink is the first full-length album from this Los Angeles band, one which I cannot stop listening to. The songs range from 60's Pop-folk numbers, full on choral chanting, and even spaghetti western tinged songs akin to Morricone ("Doves Circle the Sky"). Many feel like mini soundtracks to movies where the underdog is winning the battle or scenes of all out happy dancing in fields, somewhere along the lines of the Polyphonic Spree, just less voices.

Once the entire ensemble of voices and instruments kick up, there is a slightly Evangelical element about them, reaching out and forcing you to join in the symphonic chaos. I find myself wanting to jump out of my chair and wave my hands around, head tilting back in an unknown musical frenzy. Which brings me to the Christian influence over the lyrics on the album; namely, they are there. However, from an agnostic point of view they are not blatantly in your face, yet rather complementing the harmonies of the songs like in "We Coughed Up Honey" and "I Turned My Face" where you could always put your own interpretive spin on them. You have to strain sometimes to hear the lyrics because they mesh so well with the instruments, in fact, they almost feel like instruments at times. Songs such as "These Are the Eyes", "I Guess I'll Forget the Sound, I Guess, I Guess", and "Doves Circle the Sky" all showcase the band's ability to create whole stories of sound, adding and subtracting musical elements that continually build upon themselves until the final apex of the song, usually ending in their four part roars and pounding of instruments.

It's funny to think that regardless of how energetic these songs are, Bodies of Water is a band that must be experienced live as well. Though, "Eyes Will Pop..." does do the band justice with their sometimes off-key vocals and wild, lively playing. I usually try to recommend songs to listen to off an album, but really, from start to finish this is good listen, although it was extra nice to hear "Here Comes My Hand" again.

-Elana Rintala

Mon Jul 30 2007 · Posted in Reviews on littleradio.com