Don't Fall in Love With Everyone You See (CD)
Don't Fall in Love With Everyone You See, Okkervil River's second full-length record and first for Jagjaguwar, is the follow-up to their 1999 self-released debut Stars Too Small to Use. The Austin Chronicle duly called this first record "a remarkable mix of frenetic stringwork and smart, narrative lyrics...the songs [are] a constant challenge to the senses and sensibilities of the attentive." Continuing on the same path, the new record gilds principal songwriter Will Robinson Sheff's literate and wrenching songs with such instruments as string and horn sections, pedal steel, mandolin, Hammond organ and mellotron. It also features a duet with outsider rock legend Daniel Johnston. Supported by some of Austin's best musicians and produced by Brian Beattie, it is no surprise that Don't Fall in Love With Everyone You See is an accomplished musical work. What makes this album truly singular, however, is that, lyrically, it is so good it makes your head hurt. The good kind of hurt. It reads like no other record we have ever come across, a very contemporary, reflexive masterpiece owing a lot in tone to the very best of the Russian and Southern Gothic literary traditions.
![]()
| Tracklisting | |
| Disk | 1 | |
| 1 | Red |
| 2 | Kansas City |
| 3 | Lady Liberty |
| 4 | My Bad Days |
| 5 | Westfall |
| 6 | Happy Hearts |
| 7 | Dead Dog Song |
| 8 | Listening to Otis Redding at Home During Christmas |
| 9 | Okkervil River Song |
| Logan Fry
- Ashland, OH, United States |
| "Westfall" is one of the best songs I have ever heard, and the other songs do not disappoint. This is a much different work than their newest one, Black Sheep Boy, but you should pick this up whether you liked BSB or not. | |
| robby powell
- augusta, , USA |
| This album is, simply put, one of the most amazing albums i own. This little known folk-esque band is one of the strongest i've ever heard and is able to hold it's own with neutral milk hotel, elliott smith, and song:ohia any day of the week. Though all their albums are an experience, i'd have to say this is the most extraordinary. If your looking for songs that shoot straight to the heart and tear a few strings while their there, this is the album for you.
| |
| Matthew Solarski
- Lemont, , USA |
| GROSSLY UNDERRATED. "Don't Fall in Love..." is a fantastic offering from these little-known Texans, easily one of the most enjoyable albums I purchased in 2002. They combine elements of folk, rock, alt-country, etc, even adding horns here and there a la Neutral Milk Hotel. Why more people don't appreciate this confounds me. Of particular mention is the sheer diversity of the songs, with no two sounding alike, and yet all function perfectly as a whole. The lyrics are top-notch as well: sincere, poetic, and often actually deserving of the overused description "poignant". Here's hoping the forthcoming album finally plants these kids firmly on the map of all things wonderful, where they very much belong. | |