The Stage Names
| The Stage Names | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Cover art by William Schaff
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| Studio album by Okkervil River | ||||
| Released | August 7, 2007 | |||
| Genre | Indie rock | |||
| Length | 41:46 | |||
| Label | Jagjaguwar | |||
| Producer | Brian Beattie | |||
| Okkervil River chronology | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
|---|---|
| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 82/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   |
| Alternative Press |  |
| The A.V. Club | B+ |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+ |
| The Guardian | |
| Mojo | |
| NME | 7/10 |
| Pitchfork Media | 8.7/10 |
| Q | |
| Spin | |
The Stage Names is the fourth full-length studio album by American indie rock band Okkervil River, released on August 7, 2007. The album was recorded in Austin, Texas, with longtime Okkervil producer Brian Beattie, and with mixing from Spoon drummer and producer Jim Eno. Like other Okkervil River albums, the accompanying artwork is the work of artist William Schaff. The cover refers to a line from "Unless It's Kicks". The record was also released as a limited-edition 2-CD set that included a second disc of solo acoustic demos. A newly recorded version of "Love to a Monster", which appeared in rough demo form on the band's tour EP, Overboard and Down, was originally intended to appear on the album, but didn't make it on, and appears as a bonus track when the album is purchased through eMusic. "Shannon Wilsey on the Starry Stairs", described by lead singer and songwriter Will Sheff as "kind of a sequel to 'Savannah Smiles' and kind of a sister song to "John Allyn Smith Sails'", is included as a bonus track when the album is purchased through iTunes.
The Stage Names was originally conceived as a double album. Sheff said about the inspiration for the album,
An official music video was created for "Our Life Is Not a Movie or Maybe" directed by Margaret Brown.
"A Hand to Take Hold of the Scene" describes the television shows in which Okkervil River's music has been featured. These include a 2006 episode of Cold Case ("One Night") and an episode of Breaking Bonaduce.
"Savannah Smiles" is a song that deals with the life and death of Shannon Wilsey, a pornographic actress known by her stage name, Savannah, which was taken from the 1982 film, Savannah Smiles. The bonus track, "(Shannon Wilsey on the) Starry Stairs," is intended to be a sequel to "Savannah Smiles."
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Wikipedia