The Stand Ins, the upcoming album by Okkervil River to be released in September, has hit the underground internets, and well… First impressions? It’s fantastic. Okkervil River has been smoothly putting out more and more upbeat songs since 2005’s Black Sheep Boy, culminating in an album that takes all the energy of Black Sheep Boy and 2007’s The Stage Names and brings it to A Happy Place. Oh sure, Will Sheff still emanates melancholy, but by-and-large this is a fun album.

Okkervil River – Pop Lie

Track listing:

01 The Stand Ins, One
02 Lost Coastlines
03 Singer Songwriter
04 Starry Stairs
05 Blue Tulip
06 The Stand Ins, Two
07 Pop Lie
08 On Tour With Zykos
09 Calling and Not Calling My Ex
10 The Stand Ins, Three
11 Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel, 1979

The album is also a great concept, acting as a sequel to The Stage Names. Check out the poetically paired album art:

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