Okkervil River - Black Sheep Boy

To my ears, Black Sheep Boy is kind of a more ragged, less concise version of The Stage Names, less 'chamber' and more 'barroom' (though that other is, it must be said, much more than latter than the former in any event), and with its folk influences perhaps a bit closer to the surface. I like them most when they're closest to out and out rip-roaring rock, such as on the Wrens-esque "For Real"; elsewhere on this record, they sometimes become a bit unfocused, the 'line' running through the individual songs less clear. All up, though, still very good.