Why I love Okkervil River

Lyrics, lyrics, lyrics. There is absolutely no one on the indie scene writing lyrics as intelligent and intricately rhymed as Will Shef. Some criticize being excessively literate, but it's a bit like accusing McJagger of preening too much on stage. Isn't that the point?

From "Plus Ones":

And no one wants a tune about the 100th luftballoon
that was seen shooting from the window of your room,
to be a spot against the sky's colossal gloom
and land, deflated, in some neighbor state that's strewn with 99 others
as gentle or as clean as all the others
...
The 51st way to leave your lover:
Admittedly, it doesn't seem to be
as gentle or as clean as all the others.

Or how about "Singer Songwriter"

You come from wealth,
yah, you got wealth
what a bitch that they didn't give you much else. 

I heard cuts by The Kinks on your speakers,
I saw Poe and Artaud on your shelves.
While The Last Laugh's first scene
on your flat panel screen
lit Chanel that you've wrapped around yourself.

So, yeah, I'm just a little excited about Okkervill River's new release and the fact that they are playing Boston at the Royale on June 8th.