"Our Life Is Not A Movie Or Maybe" by Okkervil River

[wasabihansen]

will sheff > will shake

[njglennon]

This is by far my favorite band followed closely by Radiohead. Each and every one of their songs is worth listening to.

[cessnacitationx1]

@njglennon except for the rise. fuck that song

[uvulum]

asco das

[bazman3000]

Fucking beautiful.

[downwithcheesecake]

haha the singer always has this dazed look on his face, like hes never directly looking at sumthing... is he blind ?!

[Animaduniversum]

I'd love to have them here in my living room for personal concert for me and all of my friends. We'd listen drink dance and sing til the morning breaks. Hell yeah!

[markgittins123]

band of the day?

[contrageehard]

Filmspotting brought me here.

[Staxrock]

Great Energy, interesting vocals and very creative Video. I likey!

[redshaftedflicker]

PURE HORSESHIT SHOULD BE THE NAME OF THIS "BAND" AND "SONG."

[bennissimov]

arcade fire wannabes

[Devoo55]

This is the greatest song I have heard in the past 6 months.

[ben123wright123]

@Devoo55 Very specific, i like it. What did you hear six months ago that usurps this in greatness?

[TheGreatYmir]

All i know is that i hate pop music and i love indie.

[NarwhalProductions]

I liked Okkervil River before they were cool. Lolz jk I saw them open for Arcade Fire and they're amazing live.

[TrevDA9]

guys I think I just caught a case of the hipsters

[Amehtana1]

I feel that this song couldn't be any more perfectly sung for the lyrics. What is a hipster?

[normandoozer]

1972

[MILeSsK8101]

my cats a hipster

[alwisner123]

Shut the hell up about being "hipster" and listen the the damn music

[theguyIShere24]

am I hipster for watching this? fuck

[magnagei]

adam sandler has a new band?

[Annie4522]

pseudo-intellectualism is dead, just for those of you still trying to beat the dearly deceased horse to life.

[kdylan68]

u suck

jk i dont get it

[mattwatkins]

@thatguru877 i haven't really read through all of these comments, but i have no idea what you are trying to say. this accompanied with a sighting of the phrase "well spoken" in the middle of your paragraph led me to have a good time here at this video. thumbs up.

[evamarimo]

Whaaaaaaaaaat's going on?? I really LOVE that song!! :-)

[BobDylansPet]

it may sound very "hipster", but in a way, I am not unhappy about the fact that you can't hear this band on every elevator in every shopping mall in the country...this is magnificent music that mainstream hasn't had the chance to destroy yet.

[thatguru877]

fucking hipsters



[wheresthecorporal]

I was almost a little disappointed with this one until the song reached it's climax, yet I guess you can never really expect a specific style go

[TheReturnofBOOMSTICK]

This was recommended to me, and i'll check out some more songs but there is absolutely nothing special about this song. regardless of how "literate" the band is. Listen to The Mountain Goats if you want literacy.

[ArseneWengerIsGod]

Independent of the song...it must be said that the drums sounds AWFUL. Jesus. Just awful.

[3001416]

@JackyVSO

I have a PhD in "Ctrl" and Master's in "T," as well as a homepage at Google. Whenever I have a need to validate my false sense of accomplishment, I too use my degrees first.

[leightosis]

i don't like this.

[NaziFrocioNigga]

@leightosis Tastes... I'd recommend to listen to it again though.

[ToxsickEntertainment]

so sick of 'hipster' 'indie' movements, my god.

I'm just here for good music. so many people are just here cos they think they're indie or whatever. lame.

[megamanx300049]

@JackyVSO

It's a short story by Russian Author Tatyana Tolstaya. Not to dispute your degree, just saying.

[ryanthethird]

@megamanx300049 ha. haha.

[cookiemonster6142]

love this song, (:

[SethGrandpa]

Anyone else get the Berryman reference with the number of the murder room?

[MyPseudonymIsKnox]

Tatyana Tolstaya - Okkervil River.

[apostropheYes]

I love this song.

[grapess80]

I absolutely love this song, the beat, the lyrics..it meshes so well!

[CarloMism1]

Fantastically alive with wit, grit and emotion.

Luv These guys.

[usedfuzzbox]

This may well be in the next Oxford dictionary as an example of hyperbole ,"If this song were any more amazing the universe would catch fire."

But yes, I agree, this song is all kinds of awesome :D

[coopsta12p]

Haven't listened to this song in a long time...so good.

[alkalinecuban]

Lets hope they never turn up on mtv

[HalfTheSpeed]

THIS SONG IS INCREDIBLE

[Floydthefuckbag]

If this song were any more amazing the universe would catch fire.

[tanty151]

today my coach told me his brother was in this band! ZOMB! how cool is that, i still have to figure out which onehe is though lol

[KrisOnBass]

I was dating a guy a while back who looks suspiciously like William Sheff... I shared this discovery with him a few months ago, but he has since cut his hair shorter :< I was very upset. lol now I just tell him its what Will would look like with shorter hair. : )

[Deekumadee]

Thank you Lydia :'o] xx

[TheIToldYouSo]

why the hell is okkervil river and mily cyrus mentioned in the same sentence? one is an artistic exploration of emotion and intellect; the other is entertainment for young girls. We're talking two different audiences (or... ugh... are we?)

If you begrudge entertainment for young girls, you don't get that even they have the right to be young; "bad movies" come later in life with unfortunate experiences and lost moments of reflection: "If only..."

These guys are one of the few I follow.

[alepgo]

@TheIToldYouSo I am a young girl and i really love okkervil river...miley cyrus is something from a different dimension to me! and i agree with you but still, that "right to be young" sometimes is a bad excuse to avoid any type of thinking and questioning...

[aminapantsamina]

He has a nice back of the head <:

[NoRegretsForOurYouth]

Where have you gone Okkervil River?

[Crosb13]

@Green2456 because by self-identifying as a "hipster" and not taking myself seriously, I'm making fun of the entire trend-- being a "hipster" IRONICALLY, which obviously makes me EVEN MORE pretentious and aloof than self-denying hipsters. Thus by ass-backward hipster logic I am in fact COOLER AND MORE PRETENTIOUS than any other hipster could ever hope to be. Whatever, it keeps me warm at night. That and my Kerouac fan fiction.

[shroom1357]

@Crosb13 This is possibly the greatest youtube comment ever.

[XxRefterxX]

@shroom1357 agreed.

[jrichardson4mvp]

@Crosb13 Duuuude I would love to share a decaff and Washington Post with you some time! ;-)

[FuturisticRetroRobot]

@Crosb13 There's no such thing as a "self-identifying hipster"

[DelMonteOnSteroids]

@Crosb13 too much thought.

[Crosb13]

@TheAbsolutionHowl I'm a nerd as well-- and a self proclaimed "hipster", but I find the entire concept ridiculous (which is why I made fun of your comment). Face it dood, you like Russian lit, you're getting a worthless degree (mine is History, don't flare up, I'm no better than you), and you post perfectly punctuated paragraph long defenses of indie bands on Youtube. You're a hipster. Sorry. Also, I fucking love Wavves. I wear flannel. I don't take myself seriously.

[alepgo]

@Crosb13 I really enjoyed all your comments...it's really funny to read them!!!

Worthless degree! i deny to believe that...I'm getting one in History as well and another one in Arts.

Someday the nerds will rule the world!!!!!

[flakemusic86]

They are working on a new album right now, as far as I know.

William Shaff said so. (Do not confuse him with Will Sheff; Although their names are quite similar, he is the artist who did most of their cover artwork) And he is already creating the artwork for it.

[TheAbsolutionHowl]

@flakemusic86 - They are, in fact, recording a new album - it's apparently been a slower process than usual and has a (hopeful) projected release date of fall of next year. I learned this all after attending a Murder By Death show - when their lineup included Scott Brackett as an auxillary member (Scott Brackett being, of course, from Okkervil River) and chatting with him after the show. He was very kind and gracious - if you ever get the chance (or some time) to talk to him - do it!

[Wolfenstein2021]

oh and love the bass solo its great

[Wolfenstein2021]

Like i say to all theyre songs ITS A GREAT PIECE OF ART

[shredmonkeydwd]

im not trying to be insultin to anyone but i just need to know is that dude blind?

[Lifeisamazing]

great song

[SideshowJared]

I get the impression Will loosely bases his look on Brian Wilson circa "Pet Sounds"

[chrismderidder]

@SideshowJared kinda reminds me of Roy Orbison

[jazbulla]

yeh scotty

[thagoodz420today]

okkervil river has my vote for a kick ass band!!!!!! this song gets me pretty pumped!

[itsallride]

think thank : )

[ferret12]

Does anyone else think Will Sheff looks like John Darnielle?

[jacobfiala]

@ferret12 nah john darnielle's prettier. but i like okkervil better that tMG.

[wwthomass]

@ferret12 Not at all..

[sleeplessmind]

this song rox! (it sounds arcade fire-ish)

[Keybotsch]

Just a great band! I was searching for a new favourite band which playes Alternative Country / Indie and I found, what I was searching for! Love their music.

[GuelahPapyrus84]

wow I don't think these guys could get much better!

[Edlin261]

i must have missed alot somewhere, this was a super underground same scene-as-brighteyes band last I knew. This tylor swift, m. cyrus, gac, and cmt comparisions seems really bizarre to me. lol

[brownson1970]

god damn i love this band eh....

[lpzie]

miley cyrus is much better than these scrubs please get it together or end up behind on the wayside at the bayside cause ur stupid like these guys. just look at their name it doesn't even make sense atleast miley cyrus is her real name so you know she's keeping it real. realler than these guys haha. so you lose. i win. cya, got some miley cyrus to listen to.

[TheAbsolutionHowl]

There's a reason this band is critically applauded by musicians and novelists.

They're literate.

I'm afraid the same can not be said of Miley Cyrus - who probably wouldn't even be a recognizable name if she didn't have a famous father.

I will not say she has no talents, because she's got a major one. Consistenty picking the right people to market her.

Sadly, that's about it.

Also, if you read, you'd probably know that their name comes from a fantastic piece of Russian Literature.

[lpzie]

you have convinced me, good sport. i'm gonna break my miley cyrus cds right now. how do iget started with okkervil river?

[TheAbsolutionHowl]

If you really want to get into Okkervil River - i think the easiest way is the way I did.

Start with The Stage Names - if you fnd you like that, go backwards successively and get Black Sheep Boy, Down the River of Golden Dreams, and Don't Fall in Love With Everyone You See. By that point you should probably be curious as to what they're doing now so you should get The Stage Names companion piece, last years excellent The Stand-Ins.

[TheAbsolutionHowl]

and by that point I'm guessing it'll be passed April 20th and you'll probably have discovered what I personally consider to be this past decades best release - Black Sheep Boy (Definitive Edition) - which is a pairing of the BSB LP the BSB Appendix EP and the For Real single plus two videos. By then it should be April 20th and you'll be able to download/purchase their latest effort - True Love Cast Out All Evil - where they back legendary 13th Floor Elevators frontman Roky Ericksn.

[TheAbsolutionHowl]

THEN (FINALLY) when you get a chance to - see them live. You will not regret it - they've put on the best show I've seen thus far ranking ahead of worthy contenders like The National, The Walkmen, WHY?, The Swell Season, Elvis Perkins in Dearland, Black Lips, The Thermals, Other Lives, Flight of the Conchords, and a bevy of "local" bands.

Excellent stuff, all of it.

Worth a look once you're done with Okkervil.

[Diggzist]

@lpzie

You had miley cyrus cds in the first place?

[lpzie]

and posters and pin ups and bed sheets. i'm waiting for her to turn 18.

[Diggzist]

@lpzie

lol

[DisfiguredCowboy]

It's a bit unfair to assume that because someone hasn't read the story, they don't read...I mean...I haven't read it, but I try to read a book a week when I'm not too busy. I mean, honestly, would you even know where to get a copy? Have you even read it?

Ipzie could be an ivy league lit professor, for all we know؟

[TheAbsolutionHowl]

You can get it online - I'm actually pretty sure you can access the short in its entirety as well. It's excellent.

Judging from the natureof Ipzie's comment I thought a rebuttle of that nature to be necessary - it also led me to believe that he was not, in fact, and Ivy League professor. But he could be, who knows? As for you, DisfiguredCowboy, I wish there were more people like you posting intelligent comments on YouTube. Consider yourself saluted.

[davidpbryant0616]

@TheAbsolutionHowl yeah, but miley has a better haircut. and isn't russia, like, irrelevant?

[TheAbsolutionHowl]

@davidpbryant0616 Russia's ALWAYS relevant (especially so when discussing Okkervil) - hair on the other hand, IS irrelevant when discussing music.

Unless you can supply me with a published psychological study explaining a valid connection between hair length and musical talent.

[njl4515]

@TheAbsolutionHowl

Who the fuck mentioned anything about Miley Cyrus

[MrSquelcher]

@TheAbsolutionHowl

I can agree completely, okkervile river isn't made from any great celbratys, but the songs are based upon real problems, with real ways if explaining a situation where will sheff can reach out of ure ear phones and reach into ure heart.

[Crosb13]

@TheAbsolutionHowl oh god the hipster-ness of this comment is painful

[Crosb13]

@TheAbsolutionHowl oh god the hipsterness of this comment is painful

[TheAbsolutionHowl]

@Crosb13 - I wouldn't be so quick to confuse literacy and music nerdiness for hipsterness. Hipsters embrace irony and wear that badge proudly. I enjoy things that appeal to me, unironically. Hipsters also really dig Best Coast, Wavves, and whatever else Pitchfork tells them to like (even though they'll never admit to reading - or liking - that site).

I'm only a Comm/English major that happens to enjoy the hell out of literature and music... unironically. That just makes me an A&E/Lit nerd.

[wonchokoosey299]

@TheAbsolutionHowl i'm gonna take a wild guess and say you got the russian literature reference directly from wikipedia.

[TheAbsolutionHowl]

@wonchokoosey299 - Nope, don't go on Wikipedia much. I think I probably read it off of either their AMG Bio, directly from their website, or in an article (can't remember which). Although I do have an extreme (almost unhealthy) fascination with older (often foreign) literature - I actually think that started upon my discovery of where Okkervil got their name from.

It's a wonderful piece - strongly reccomended.

[Floydthefuckbag]

@TheAbsolutionHowl Implying Mily Cyrus even makes decisions about who markets her? Doubt it, that's what managers are for. I don't think she has any talents at all. She was born with a pretty face and a famous father. Shes got autotune to fix her singing and writers to write her songs. Any person could be put in her place if they are pretty enough.

Its sad how nothing that has anything to do with being a musician effects how sucessful you are at it in this modern age.

[XxRefterxX]

@Floydthefuckbag She isnt that prettyy...

[thecuriouscritic]

@TheAbsolutionHowl "Also, if you read" You pompus fuck....

[rychamomile]

@thecuriouscritic Some people don't read.

[papatia]

@TheAbsolutionHowl jesus christ man

[Southie99]

@TheAbsolutionHowl

"Also, if you read, you'd probably know that their name comes from a fantastic piece of Russian Literature."

Well, if you read their Wikipedia page you'll know that. Admit it, poseur.

[goodw29]

@Southie99

Dude never said what you have to read to know where the name came from.. maybe wiki was the intent.

[Southie99]

@goodw29

That's even worse if he's equating reading to browsing the internet or getting your facts from wikipedia. Usually when one claims to read they imply they're reading something of substance or merit, not just idly browsing the internet or looking at an online encyclopedia with tons of factual errors.

[Biverix]

@TheAbsolutionHowl Tatyana Tolstoy represent ;)

[Biverix]

@Biverix Tolstaya*

[robhayes10]

@TheAbsolutionHowl I hope you feel better about yourself.

[JackyVSO]

@TheAbsolutionHowl

I have to say I actually have a degree in comparative literature and I don't know what piece of Russian literature you're referring to. Not to dispute your points, just saying ;-)

[me4cereal]

@TheAbsolutionHowl you're really clever because you dislike miley cyrus

[TheReturnofBOOMSTICK]

@TheAbsolutionHowl i hate you so much. Alright literally anybody watching this will agree that Miley Cyrus is not a talented artists, but how much of a cock do you have to be to condemn her at every turn. It's not the condemnation in itself that i really disapprove of its just the idea of listening to music you like and all you can think about is how much better it is than music you don't like. Oh and how special are you, you can read... at least the first line of a fucking Wiki page. FuckinCunt

[thatguru877]

@TheAbsolutionHowl First of all Okkervil River fucking sucked, if want to argue literacy at least do it about a artist that has a reason to be literate not a group of middle class whiny hipsters from Texas go look at some well spoken artists it may be a little out of your hipster genre range but go check out Immortal Technique and other real independent artists who didnt rip there name from a laughable Russian short story.

[Kimphotog]

@ lpzie i'm not a fan of hers and i know her name isn't miley cyrus. you're probably 8. stupid. and a chode.

[TehNoobrKr]

How do you win exactly? You can't even spell or use proper grammar. You're argument is invalid

[liza236]

Hahaha you're commenting on people's grammar? Look up the difference between "you're" and "your" please...!

[firegrrrrl]

LOL wow..........how uneducated can you get before you decide to let "facts" fly. her name is actually jasmine. Miley came from her being called smiley all the time when she was a little kid. I would also like to point out, that "Miley" cyrus, does not write her own songs, her daddy does, she also rarely plays an instrument, AND lip syncs most of her shows. NOW, do you think these guys have daddy write their songs, and have other people play music, and lip sync? doubtful. you lose.

[rogueninja12345]

@lpzie trolling is a art

[wasabihansen]

i just have one thing to all people saying that paris hilton, britney spears and miley cyrus are better than okkervil river, STOP SMELLING ACRILIC PAINT, that's bad for your mind, i mean this is the music that c.m.t. and g.a.c. should play instead of taylor swift, miley cyrus and kelly clarkson

[Frekalishous]

what does 'trollin' mean?

[miketarno]

Good stuff.

[briangus01]

awesome!!!

[handsomevision]

this is shit. miley cirus should give this ahole a couple of free singing lessons. b spears could perhaps teach him/them whoever how to write a better lyric.

[dominikaluvmileyc]

hahah lol ;] agree with the miley and brit part ;3 MILEY FTW! ;] nice song anyway..but mileys the best x

[handsomevision]

@dominikaluvmileyc rock on brotha. lets no forget about my gal TAYLOR SWIFT!!!!

git r done.

[dominikaluvmileyc]

Yeaa sure ;3

taylors awesome♥

[handsomevision]

i just hope paris hilton puts out a few more cd's. she has so much talent. maybe kim k (the gal that made the unsavory home made movie) could sing with her.

[Mongfug]

they see me trollin

[handsomevision]

they sure do. git r done.

[kean10c]

sweet

[rhivan4889]

is that Maja Ivarsson from the sounds???

[theSOUNDinterpreter]

was wondering the same thing.

[ryan06105]

I'm almost sure his acoustic is a Martin 000-18

[jennincl]

What are those chords? I see the capo on the 5th fret and it looks like a G - D then G - B minor - A.

Help

[booe999]

Pure Music

[adrianencalada619]

scott stevens is god

[themantrevor]

@adrianencalada619 is he the son of cat stevens

[brnn888]

nasty song its in scott stevens part in the stack footy snowboard video, check it out

[LiduenKvaedhi]

Okay this is an excellent song. I'd put it in my favourites right after my number one okkervil song, For real.

[sondrablog]

I love this song so much, one of my favorites. :)

[bouchemike4]

Okkervil River and Tin Tin Can are the only bands I've been listening to lately.

[311isamazazing]

who is tin tin can?

[icemangcoy]

it makes me cry too... :(

[xGIRLanachronsim]

this song just makes me cry

[freelancetada]

es-335 or something of the like

[MrNoobGuitarist]

yep that would be a 335 for sure

[bmx10rider25]

first introduced to them by a bmx video haha good song

[LadyAlfiletero88]

TEMAZO

GRUPAZO

[candikane21]

they were amazing at coachella yesterday... seeing them live was awesome!!

[ULfan808]

Does anyone know what kind of guitar he's playing on the bed?

[Reint25]

Looks like a Gibson. 330 I think.

[atomicjohnny]

Looks like a Gibson Dot. Will Sheff is playing a Martin small body acoustic, probably a 000-15

[xXxtaytoxXx]

Yay they're playing electric picnic!!!

[MaryMayhem01]

i saw these guys last year and they were great, can't wait to see them on 14th Sep in Scala!!!!

[wesrolan]

i got to see them in LA. i can listen to them all day.

[botacular]

haha i love travis tapping on stuff

[JLMarrufo]

I get to see them at Coachella, JOY!

[JLMarrufo]

seeing them at Coachella, JOY!

[jarrod3]

there coming to Aus! :D

[LelouchAscendant77]

this is completely different from their early stuff...

much more rock, a lot less folky

i like it, but its surprising...

[Gallas1000]

i love okkervil river.

just beautiful!

[nickyt0teh0destroyer]

i love this band.

[eoipa]

Is the blonde chick from the Sounds?

[genericemokid5]

dont they have another keybaordist with blonde hair and spectacles?