Black Sheep Boy is Okkervil River s most ambitious and cinematic record yet, a love story and adult fable that evokes the mature songcraft of Leonard Cohen s New Skin for the Old Ceremony, the sophistication of Scott Walker s Scott 4, the shambling slow-motion bravado of Neil Young s On the Beach, and the raw nerves and trick effects of Big Star s Third/Sister Lovers. It also occasionally echoes Lou Reed s Transformer in that it is actually the band s most playful and confident record by far, delighting in linguistic games, scrapping all caution and reserve, reveling equally in sheer pop, lacerating rock and roll, and straight-up country weepers. The most fully-realized and wildly adventurous Okkervil River record yet also introduces into the modern folk bellwether s traditional palette of mandolin, pump organ, steel guitar, Wurlitzer, strings and horns such previously foreign elements as children s keyboards, digitally-manipulated field recordings, and dirty splatters of distorted guitar. The longing might be keener, but the fun is funner this time around, too; somebody has spiked the drinks, and there are at least two bullets in the Russian roulette chamber.

Tracklist:

Black Sheep Boy
For Real
In a Radio Song
Black
Get Big
A King and a Queen
A Stone
The Latest Toughs
Song of Our So-Called Friend
So Come Back, I Am Waiting
A Glow
Missing Children
No Key, No Plan
A Garden
Black Sheep Boy #4
The Next Four Months
Another Radio Song
A Forest
Last Love Song For Now
Goodnight, Irene
I'm in Love with Susan Smith
See See Rider
Knoxville Girl
Satan Is Real
Good Liquor Gonna Carry Me Down
Willow Tree
Moonshiner
Oh, the Wind and Rain
What Are They Doing In Heaven Today?
Trouble In Mind

UPC: 656605228020
Label: Jagjaguwar
Release Date: 12.4.15
Format: CD

Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy (10th Anniversary Edition) (2 CD)