If you have less than three minutes to explain why Lou Reed identified Okkervil River as a standout indie band while doing post-VMA press, save your breath and let Will Sheff make his case with this new track, culled from the band’s Australia-only tour EP Overboard & Down. (Thanks, Kathryn!)
Will introduced the song to us at Castle Clinton a few months ago as a “bit of hypothetical fiction” (in other words, it ain’t wishful thinking). With movement from the sadness of tragedy (and the pedestal given its victims) to the vivid recall of the tiny, life-defining details such a moment enables, we get three shots, three snare pops, and a rollicking, Okkervil group groove.
But you’re wasting your breath, Lou. Lyrics that stand alone as poems have no place between The Hills and Pimp My Ride — even if they’re set to a four-chord strum.
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link isn’t working
this song is great, I can’t wait for their new album now
Thanks Amrit!!
The link is actually.
http://stereogum.com/Okkervil%20River%20-%20The%20President's%20Dead.mp3
anyone know where i can acquire Okkervil river’s australian ep?
But of course! We’re working out the server issue, but if you just right-click and save the link provided you’ll be in good shape. It’s worth it!
problem was an em dash in the URL…all fixed!
These guys are on my list to see @ Austin City Limits this week. Can’t wait!
Love Will Sheff. Can’t say the same about the President. Let’s live blog “The Path To 9/11.”
Vote and check out the results for this:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/3080261/
fuckin cool.
I have the EP, I am in Australia…
thanks so much for this. will sheff is perhaps the best american lyricist on the indie scene imo.
Great song. Love pretty much everything Will has done. Wish he was playing with Shearwater this weekend.
Theme song of “Death Of A President?”
i’ve got this ep, living in australia and all. its great, it also has this great song called ‘westfall’ as-well, which has great lyrics. okkervil is up there with the decemberists for best lyricists, to me anyway.