by NICK WIMMER

On their fifth full-length album, released by Jagjaguwar Records, Austin’s golden boys Okkervil River deliver their most honest release to date. The Stand Ins, is a runaway train of victories, sorrows, memoirs, last rights and one-night stands. The album is arranged into three vignettes, separated by musical interludes aptly named, The Stand Ins: 1, 2 and 3. Leading off with a salty sweet track, “Lost Coastlines”, lead singer Will Sheff croons out a dark story about loss and leaving amidst an upbeat Motown riff, reminiscent of Gladys Knight (with or without the Pips). With lines such as “…looking deep inside but I don’t want to look so deep inside”, Sheff gives us that gleeful gloom that is the O.R. signature.

“Your world is gonna change nothing / your world is gonna change nothing” - the tongue and cheek prophesy from the next track in the first vignette, “Singer Songwriter”, is a CCR-esque narrative that tells of the rise and fall of music and success. There is no room for broad strokes here- Sheff and Co. bring family, fame and failure into the spotlight for a direct and personal interrogation.

“Pop Lie”, an 80’s revival tune with hints of Chicago’s Andrew Bird, comes complete with hand claps from the galley and is sure to be the next great bar brawling anthem. I love this track for many reasons but I’m specifically drawn to lines such as, “get completely incorporated” and “we’re feeling alright though we know it’s all wrong.” Most indie-bands are too pretentious to openly claim that they a) Listen to pop songs and radio hits and b) Know they are lying when they sing along.

Next up: “On Tour with Zykos”, a beautiful piano-led story of a screw up situation on tour with fellow Texans, Zykos. One can’t help but get sucked into the swirling organs and horns and stumble through your own foggy memory of a major screw up that seemed to last way too long.

The last track of the record, (which, at first glance, I actually thought was an extra bonus interview) “Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea”, is not just trying to make up a superfluous name. This is an explosive song - clever and subtle, and its a real joy to find such a gem at the end of an album. Sheff’s gritty verses tremble alongside a soft mandolin, “Old times, hello-hey I miss you. Old life, hey now let me in. Because you win on every issue - now can I kiss you - don’t you care how long it’s been?”. Suddenly, the chorus bursts (sparkles even) into a bright, brazen tune and delivers the kind of melody you need on a long cross-country drive.

The Stand Ins is one of the best albums I’ve heard in 2008. I can’t help but imagine part, or the sum of it’s parts, being perfectly overlayed in the next Wes Anderson film (I secretly hope). Okkervil River have knowingly fashioned a lyrical and musical juxtaposition between the mundane and the heavenly. Yet, they aren’t trying to prove anything except that they are OK with being honest - and honest is very refreshing.

Nick Wimmer is a contributing writer for Into the Hill. He lives in South Carolina with his wife, son and dogs.