The Stand-Ins, and its predecessor, The Stage Names, are essentially integral parts of my record collection. Will Sheff and company have long been creating mini-masterpieces of unique pop/folk/rock and even if the band released an album every year, it still wouldn't be enough for me. In the hiatus in between albums, Okkervil River hasn't been idle, and have actually been a part of two of my favorite albums from last year, including Roky Erickson's True Love Cast Out All Evil, and Shearwater's The Golden Archipelago. When I Am Very Far drops on May 10th via Jagjaguwar, I'll be the first in line. The band is also taking an interesting course marketing the new release, choosing to have two of the new tracks hit the interwebs via live video performance, as opposed to MP3. Those will come, no doubt, but for now, the videos work. "Weave Room Blues" will be a B-side to the album, and the studio version will wander around the internet closer to the May 10th release of the LP. This recording was done off the air during a Fallon taping, and includes AC Newman, just as the last release did. Okkervil River has a stellar formula and create excellent, cerebral, and infectious music. This is a big one for me personally, and I'm excited new tracks are bouncing around. Enjoy the video below. Additionally, enjoy the first official MP3 from the album, "Mermaid."
