Black Sheep Boy

Infobox Album
Name = Black Sheep Boy
Type = studio
Artist = Okkervil River

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Released = April 5, 2005
Recorded = 2005
Genre = Indie rock
Length = 47:18
Label = Jagjaguwar
Producer = Okkervil River
Reviews =
*Allmusic rating|3.5|5 [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:8t6fmpb09foo link]
*PopMatters (9/10) [http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/o/okkervilriver-blacksheep.shtml link]
*Pitchfork (8.5/10) [http://pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/20552/Okkervil_River_Black_Sheep_Boy link]
*Stylus Magazine (A) [http://www.stylusmagazine.com/review.php?ID=2891 link]
*Tiny Mix Tapes rating|4|5 [http://www.tinymixtapes.com/musicreviews/o/okkervil_river.htm link]
*"Austin Chronicle" rating|4|5 [http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A264982 link]
Last album = "Sleep and Wake-Up Songs"
(2004)
This album = "Black Sheep Boy"
(2005)
Next album = "Black Sheep Boy Appendix"
(2005)

"Black Sheep Boy" is Okkervil River's third album, released on April 5, 2005. The title is inspired by '60s folk singer, Tim Hardin's song "Black Sheep Boy." The album itself contains a version of the song and as a whole, the album thematically revolves around it. Also featured in the album is Amy Annelle, singing in "Get Big", and Jagjaguwar artist Julie Doiron in "Song of Our So-Called Friend" as a backup vocalist. The album cover features the work of Providence artist William Schaff.

Most of the songs for the new record were written in February 2004 in Bloomington, Indiana by Will Sheff. Sheff describes the album theme in a 2005 interview.

:"The Black Sheep Boy is a fantastical character that crops up here and there on the album. In the lyrics pretty much anything in quotes is the voice of the Black Sheep Boy. I think a lot of the dirtier, rougher, more obtuse songs are the product of the Black Sheep Boy."cite web | url = http://www.popmatters.com/music/interviews/okkervil-river-050427.shtml | title = The Black Sheep Boys Have Arrived | date = 2005-04-27 | author = Peter Funk | publisher = PopMatters]

The album received many end of the year honors including the 22nd spot on Amazon.com’s Top 50 Albums of 2005 list. [cite web | url = http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/15879931/ref=ed_mus_boy05_qp?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=special-offers-2&pf_rd_r=0SM64TWWD2168AS1T75R&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_p=122539901&pf_rd_i=B0007UDCBC | title = Best of 2005 List | publisher = Amazon.com]

Track listing

tracklist
writing_credits = yes

title1 = Black Sheep Boy
length1 = 1:18
writer1 = Tim Hardin

title2 = For Real
length2 = 4:42
writer2 = Will Sheff

title3 = In a Radio Song
length3 = 5:39
writer3 = Will Sheff

title4 = Black
length4 = 4:39
writer4 = Will Sheff

title5 = Get Big
length5 = 3:55
writer5 = Will Sheff

title6 = A King and a Queen
length6 = 3:22
writer6 = Will Sheff

title7 = A Stone
length7 = 5:23
writer7 = Will Sheff

title8 = The Latest Toughs
length8 = 3:11
writer8 = Will Sheff

title9 = Song of Our So-Called Friend
length9 = 3:23
writer9 = Will Sheff

title10 = So Come Back, I Am Waiting
length10 = 8:03
writer10 = Will Sheff

title11 = A Glow
length11 = 3:43
writer11 = Will Sheff

Musicians

* Will Sheff - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Wurlitzer
* Howard Draper - Lap Steel, Pump Organ, Mandolin, Bass, Synthesizer
* Jonathan Meiburg - Vocals, Piano, Wurlitzer, Pump Organ, Casio SK-1, Electric Guitar
* Travis Nelsen - Vocals, Drums, Tambourine
* Zachary Thomas - Vocals, Bass, Mandolin
* Seth Warren - Electronics, Drums, Vibraphone, Whirlies, Shaker
* Amy Annelle - Harmony Vocals
* Brian Beattie - Bowed Bass, Sampler, Field Recordings
* Rebecca Browne - Violin
* Alison Derrick - Viola
* Michael Kapinus - Trumpet
* Caroline Slack - Violin
* Ben Westney - Cello
* Victoria Wolff - Cello

References

External links

* [http://www.jound.com/okkervil/blacksheepboystory.html Album summary by Okkervil River]
* [http://jound.com/okkervil/video/videos.html "For Real" music video]