I Am Very Far is another step forward for Will Sheff’s band of merry men. Sheff’s music is primarily lyric driven, but for the first time they’ve made what is unquestionably a headphone record. Sheff states his goal for the album as being “to push my brains in places it didn’t want to go.” I’ve yet to figure out the thread tying these songs together, but being an Okkervil River record, it must have one. I’m going to run through most of the songs, so people might get a better feel for it. It rewards careful analysis.
The first track, “The Valley” sounds like Sheff burning what went before. He sings: “slicked back bloody black gunshot to the head. He has fallen in the valley of the rock and roll dead.” The previous OR albums, The Stage Names and The Stand Ins were concepts albums about pop stardom. They were meant to be considered together. This song sounds like Sheff firing a shot across the bow of his previous work, as if to send a warning to the listener that this is something new. The song is a barn burner. It’s slamming drums, clinking piano keys, and intense strings. The song sounds like a person setting a building on fire, and then running around it, while laughing maniacally.
The second song, “Piratess,” starts funky, and stays funky for most of it’s three minutes. There’s a bit of chaos swirling about, but the song manages to keep control. It’s a song about wanting “not to be like them.” The narrator sings about a woman out of control. He tries to control her, tries to suppress her with his insecurities. It’s a little harrowing.
“Rider” begins with a guitar blast, and morphs into a somewhat upbeat song. It’s another one full of pianos and banging drums. There’s a million things going on at once, for most of the songs. It seems to be about the ruins of a relationship, and the general chaos of life.
Track 5, “White Shadow Waltz,” starts with strange keyboards which Sheff sings over. The drums kick, and shortly after, things get strange. The backing track fades out a little, and the singing style changes a little. It’s very disorientating, and very cool. Words can’t begin to cover what’s going on here.
“Haging From A Hit” is a nice little waltz of a love song. It mines territory Sheff has covered before, but in a new way. The line “I lie back on my pillow and ask what her husband is like” immediately reminds me of ‘Maine Island Lovers” From Down The River Of Golden Dreams. Whereas that was an apathetic piece of morbid wonderment told from the point of view of the woman, this is most assuredly a love song. It’s an amazing piece of writing. The first half is the man talking about what he feels like with this woman, the second half is her telling him how she feels with her husband. It’s one of those instant classic OR songs that leaves a lot to ponder.
“Your Past Life As a Blast” reminds me of Big Star for whatever reason. It’s a steady piece of jangle pop, and a fantastically complex love song.
Track 10, “Wake and Be Fine,” is the first single, and another in a long line of incredible Okkervil River singles. It’s a loud spitfire thing, full of fear and falling trees. The video should be seen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iHaCtxW6Vv8
“The Rise” ends things with six minute of piano, and call and response. It’s a mellow ending, but not a happy one. It seems to be about dying, and is kind of the perfect way to end things.
I adore this record. It’s almost as good as Black Sheep Boy in my mind. Okkervil River manages to do something dramatically different with every record. I’ll be dissecting and digesting this for years to come. OR have been one of my favorite bands since 2002, and they rarely disappoint.
Track Listing:
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
