Harp Puts Okkervil River Atop Its Top 50 CDs Of 2007 (Stereogum)
MS: 10 Jason Isbell - Sirens Of The Ditch
09 Neil Young - Chrome Dreams II
08 Arcade Fire - Neon Bible
07 Radiohead - In Rainbows
06 Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
05 Feist - The Reminder
04 Future Clouds & Radar - Future Clouds & Radar
03 Iron & Wine - The Shepherd's Dog
02 Band Of Horses - Cease To Begin
01 Okkervil River - The Stage Names
Modern Rock Goes Back to the Future (Crawdaddy)
MS: “When I write a song about someone who’s say, 19, everyone can relate to it because we’ve all been 19 once,” Finn says. “In other words, we’ve been able to capture a lot of older fans for a rock band because at age 36 you have a certain perspective about what was funny about being 19. And you can’t have that perspective when you are 19. The things that you’re really embarrassed or concerned about back then are kind of funny 20 years later, cause at the time you think you know everything... but you really don’t.”
Fuck this town: 18 kiss-off songs to cities (A.V. Club)
MS: 4. The Bottle Rockets, "Indianapolis"
A million songs have bemoaned the hard-knock life of a small-time touring musician, but The Bottle Rockets capture it on the most tedious level here: a van breakdown that strands them in Indianapolis. Ten days into a tour, the novelty has worn off, and frontman Brian Henneman openly fantasizes about ditching his bandmates for a ride home. The waiting, and Indiana's favorite son, may drive him over the edge: "Who knows what this repair will cost, scared to spend a dime / I'll puke if that jukebox plays John Cougar one more time."
Key line: "Is this hell or Indianapolis?"
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