The Stage Names - Okkervil River
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Metascore

Universal acclaim - based on 28 Critics What's this?

User Score

Universal acclaim- based on 59 Ratings

  • Summary: The fourth studio album from the Austin, Texas-based band mixes it up with the help of Jim Eno of Spoon.
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 27 out of 28
  2. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Everything is here: melody, harmony, great lyrics, smart instrumentation and pure emotion. It’s book ended by two of the best songs of the year and everything in between is music gold.
  2. 80
    John B Sheff's wavering, sometimes overwrought, vocal takes getting used to, but it's worth it for songs like these. [Mar 2008, p.108]
  3. Simple, patient, dreary (in a good way) music dominates this soundtrack, providing the perfect accompaniment for Sheff to wail off about doctor and patient sex in a shrink office, society’s pervasive attraction to celebrity and the plights of aging, among other topics.
  4. 60
    If at times it's a little too knowing for its own good, the music itself is less claustrophobic than before. [Nov 2007, p.121]

See all 28 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 34
  2. Negative: 0 out of 34
  1. SaintGod
    10
    Better and more coherent than Black Sheep Boy, which basically means a perfect record. Can't wait to see what follows stage names and stand in's... Okkervil River: Stewardess. Will could make something incredible out of it, no doubt. I said it first. Honestly this record is perfect. Not just one of the best records of 2007 but taken with the Stand Ins after, stands among the best double albums, or taken alone, best albums, since contemporary music began. Seriously, the 60's where just a start people, get over it. Collapse
  2. ConnorG.
    10
    Incredible album, listen to the depth and you will be surprised. Look for the stories, the meanings and you will find that this is easily the best album out of 200...No contest, hands down. Expand
  3. I thoroughly enjoyed this whole album. From start to finish, it's a melodic, rhythmic triumph that gets better with each listen. All In All, Okkervil River never tend to fail. Expand
  4. GuyH.
    7
    I have been listening to this album on and off for three weeks and at first I was convinced this was brilliant. Unfortunately the impact has really dulled now and I rarely listen to tracks 7 or 8 anymore. If you aren't in the right mood the yelping vocals will find you reaching for the volume control (or in extreme cases the off button!). Plus Ones is the one song I always feel like listening to and is definitely the highlight. Overall good but not great. Expand

See all 34 User Reviews