Down the River of Golden Dreams

Rate It! Avg: 4.0 (427 ratings)
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Total Tracks: 11   Total Length: 45:58

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River of greatness!

Dark1

Album is great!

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quality, a must-have!

mainelonestar

this is an incredibly beautiful album. okkervil river is my all-time favorite band, and this album i think might be my favorite. try "seas too far to reach" and "dead faces."

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One man's warble...

MisterCharlie

A band's vocalist is often the doorway into the music. If you don't like the singer, it'll be hard to like the band. If you don't like the bass parts, well, that's not such a big deal, right? I don't dislike the singer, though, the delivery and intent seem earnest, his voice is just PITCHY, too often. This albums SOUNDS really good, the ebb and flow of the music is well-crafted w/ vintage-y keyboards & mandolin and pedal steel snaking through the guitar/bass/drums. Slower tempos than your average rock band. But there are too many times I just can't get past the sound of the singer's out-of-tune-ness. It's frustrating cuz at times he sounds GREAT and I just wish they took the time to make the WHOLE thing sound great. “It's all about the vibe" is an excuse for out-of-tune vocals. Van Morrison emotes like crazy but he always seemed to stay within the song, imo. Naming a song "The Velocity of Saul at the Time of His Conversion", though, is almost worth 1 star all on its own!

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Listentothisonyourdeathbed

Eggman

I am reviewing this because noone else has and I can't believe that. This album is as good as anything else of theirs and equally worth owning. In fact, I think this is put together better than any of their other albums, it is saturated with feeling, grace, and longing. By the time you hit "Song about a Star" crank it up that extra notch and let the accordian wash you away...

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They Say All Media Guide

Down the River of Golden Dreams is the record Okkervil River has been threatening to make since its 2000 issue, Stars Too Small to Use. Songwriter Will Sheff has turned out his nicest batch of tunes here and reined in his voice just enough to communicate his ideas without pushing too hard, while simultaneously keeping the urgency and emotive qualities he showcased on the predecessor to this record, Don’t Fall in Love with Everyone You See. Because of this, Down the River of Golden Dreams is easily the group’s most cohesive record to date, and solidifies Okkervil River as a band worthy of scrutiny. The fluidity of Sheff’s thoughtful lyrics align with his ability to play with tension, which comes across rather nicely on the jaunty “It Ends with a Fall,” the dynamic epic “The War Criminal Rises and Speaks,” and the delicate “Maine Island Lovers.” The band has grown into a tighter unit with a knack for some nice arrangements — which again was hinted at on Okkervil River’s previous releases, but not fully realized until now. Liberal use of Rhodes, Hammond organ, and Mellotrons is the catalyst of these songs, leading the strings and horns through crescendos and textural landscapes without losing the raw nature that has always suited Okkervil River’s honesty and desire to connect with the listener on an emotional level very well. – Gregory McIntosh

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Activity

  • 02.10.12 I think Dylan's "If You See Her, Say Hello" woulda been better if Mick Jagger sang it. I get more into him singing about Tangiers than Dylan
  • 02.10.12 The mounting horror of learning your joke was already made by "The Office!" Gonna be an eletrician named Electricity Rob argh that sucks.
  • 02.10.12 Blew a fuse & the studio went black. That's it, I am quitting music to become a vegan chef. From now on please call me "Broccoli Rob."
  • 02.08.12 After burglary, fever, & computer problems, today I'm FINALLY going back into Crystal Snifter Sound!
  • 02.08.12 Another childhood tweet: At 9 I decided that as soon as it was legal I would get surgery to give myself the face of Sean Astin in "Goonies."
  • 02.08.12 Check out Light in the Attic's anthology of the spine-tingling soul singer Wendy Rene. Came out today. Incredible shit. http://t.co/YMroaPa1
  • 02.08.12 Also, I think Joni is one of the best non-rap celeb musicians who can write honestly about being wealthy without it seeming douchey.
  • 02.08.12 Man I love Hejira! Joni's words are best in that weird murky soundglobe. No grating cutesiness (except on Blue Motel Room ugh), just mastery
  • 02.07.12 Once, as a kid, I ran away from home to live w Michael Jackson. Can't help but feel that my work would be more rich & complex had I made it.
  • 02.07.12 Once you've been on Twitter a little while, you kind of start remembering & recognizing your haters. It's sort of sweet.
  • 02.07.12 I think INXS wins by a nose over the Cars. But that's just me and my horrible little brain.
  • 02.07.12 Ok so @EricKloos pointed out I blanked on the Replacements. That is inexcusable & I am quitting music. It's been nice, folks, thanks a lot.
  • 02.07.12 ..I'm talking a BAND (not soloist or soloist w band) that played ROCK & ROLL (non-introspective) & had most of their success in the 80s here
  • 02.07.12 The best rock & roll band of the 80s might have been INXS. I'm having a hard time coming up with a better contender.
  • 02.07.12 As a card-carrying liberal elite, I'm just so tickled that Barack Obama's campaign manager is one half of Loggins & Messina.
  • 02.06.12 My friend Dave also said that if I died before him he would see to it that my tombstone was topped with a massive statue of Garfield.
  • 02.06.12 My friend Dave once said, "If I die before you, just go ahead & parade my severed head through town, see if I care."
  • 02.06.12 I'm so into that Jordin Sparks song where she says, "Don't look back, got a nude erection."
  • 02.06.12 Stayed up til 5am watching a DMT doc. Fell asleep & dreamt I worked at a movieplex concession stand, selling jumbo popcorn to Wallace Shawn.
  • 02.06.12 What, in your opinion, is the Meek Mill of End-Arounds? RT @DonaldGlover That was the Rick Ross of touchdowns.