Austin natives Okkervil River is possibly one of the most underrated bands in the indie scene. They are the rare kind of band that can take a detour well into their career and succeed resoundingly. Known for a violently passionate take on indie rock, they introduced their brilliance with a carefully constructed debut in 2002; they introduced a zeal that was not easily mistaken. Nine years down the road, where many (and most) bands easily would find themselves in a developmental rut, quickly change directions and fail, Okkervil River has taken a well-loved sound and concept and revamped it. Their most recent release, I Am Very Far, is conceptually different but arguably more powerful than their first two releases. They still have a lot to offer and they aren’t holding anything back. As steadfast as the entire album is, I’m surprised it hasn’t gained much more hype over the past few months. It’s sturdy to say the very least–a canon ball record both lyrically and instrumentally. It’s audacious, daring and experimental in all the right ways. Honestly it almost feels pointless to be writing about it…stop wasting your time reading this and purchase the album.
Tracklist
1. The Valley
2. Piratess
3. Rider
4. Lay of the Last Survivor
5. White Shadow Waltz
6. We Need a Myth
7. Hanging from a Hit
8. Show Yourself
9. Your Past Life As a Blast
10. Wake and Be Fine
11. The Rise
