Born to a rickety plastic world that has since dissolved in a smooth digital sea, the mix tape has outlived its own name. For there is something about the basic structure, the essential production process, which cannot be changed. You must begin at the end and move backwards. This becomes an analog loop, unreeling and flipping back upon itself, transformed into an infinite self-portrait. Yet it always leads to the inspiration, away from the composer and back to the audience. Okkervil River’s latest creation is officially labeled a mix tape. Golden Opportunities is a collection of nine live songs performed in 2006 and 2007. The resulting album is a collection of old postcards and snapshots refashioned as a unique found object. ...

ACL Previews Interview: Midlake Interview: The National Preview: The Wonderful Harmonizers, Loretta Williams Gurnell Preview: JJ Grey & Mofro and Charlie Musselwhite Preview: Young Love and the Dynamites Featuring Charles Walker ACL Band Clash, Round 1: Spoon Vs. Queens Of The Stone Age Snapshots Lollapalooza 2007 Snapshots: Summer Extrav-O-Ganza 2 Weekly Features The Argyle Academy New Release Tuesday: Art in Manila, Flight of the Conchords & Marissa Nadler Feature Review: Okkervil River's The Stage Names......

Okkervil River The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar) Like a knight clad in frail, antiquated armor but with precise and impeccable form, Okkervil River have proven on their latest release they have what it takes to awe a crowd that has come to expect so much from them. The Stage Names makes good on all forecasts calling for Will Sheff’s shaky, vulnerable vocals and sturdy indie folk songs with a eye for infection. They deliver a little......

Local favorites Okkervil River released their new full-length today. It's called The Stage Names, and we'll be running a feature length review of it on Thursday. Art in Manila Set the Woods on Fire (Saddle Creek) Orenda Fink, ne half of the now-defunct Azure Ray, has been writing and recording solo work for a while now, but her most recent project is a collaboration between Fink and a group of folks that used to......