First Impressions: Roky Erickson With Okkervil River

First Impressions:

 

-Former 13^th Floor Elevator founder Roky Erickson is releasing his first album of new material in 14 years. For the album, Erickson enlisted veteran Austin outfit Okkervil River as his backing band. The two have played at SXSW the past two years. Okkervil River’s lead singer Will Sheff produced the album.

 

-True Love Cast Out Evil picks up in “Goodbye Sweet Dreams.’” The lyrics are intense, with Erickson singing of a darkness that has entrenched his life and can’t seem to shake it.

 

-Erickson’s voice is reminiscent of an old outlaw, who has been through it all. It’s raspy, yet smooth. Sort of like Jeff Bridges in Crazy Love.

 

-Okkervil River’s instrumentation does Erickson’s songs justice. They provide the backbone for the album.

 

-The main lyrical themes are drawn from images and redemption by using metaphors of the Old West. “Please, Judge” and “John Lawman.” They vary in tempo, “Please, Judge” is slower and drawn out whereas “John Lawman” is a rocker.

 

-The title track is an earnest reflection on the sins of love. The use of the slide guitar plays a very prominent role in making the song sound like a funeral dirge.

 

-There are candid, revealing moments where the band discusses things such as from the routing of the tour to their stage setup.

 

Key Tracks:

 

“Goodbye Sweet Dreams,” “Be and Bring Me Home,” “John Lawman”, “True Love Cast Out All Evil”

 

Predictions:

 

Roky Erickson’s first new album in 14 years will not disappoint. Okkervil River proved to be a more than worthy backing band. Much like how Time Out of Mind reinvigorated Bob Dylan’s career, expect this album to give Erickson a new audience with whom to share his music.