Okkervil River - Lost Coastlines

On this first single from The Stand Ins, companion piece to 2007's critically acclaimed The Stage Names, Okkervil River's Will Sheff takes the role of beleaguered captain, pointing out the similarities between life on the road and life at sea. With the propulsive beat and wandering bassline that channels Lust for Life, the song perfectly evokes the giddiness and aimlessness of travel. Meanwhile, Sheff’s desperate yelp is a counterpoint to Jonathan Meiburg's resigned baritone. Meiburg recently left the band to concentrate on his pet project, Shearwater; this story of a man overboard renders Lost Coastlines' balanced tale of touring particularly poignant. [Gillian Watson]