The Stand Ins (2008)

STAND UP MEN Okkervil River sing about fame's downside on The Stand Ins

This Austin quintet follows 2007's The Stage Names with a second tour de force about the collateral damage of fame. Under the surface of The Stand Ins' lavish arrangements lurk harrowing portraits of such real-life casualties as the glam-rock singer Jobriath (''Bruce Wayne Campbell Interviewed on the Roof of the Chelsea Hotel, 1979'') and the porn-star suicide Savannah (''Starry Stairs''), plus the nameless, spurned lovers of those in the spotlight. We'd say Okkervil River should be famous — but on this evidence, maybe they're better off producing their classics from the sidelines. A
DOWNLOAD THIS: Watch ''Starry Stairs'' and other videos from the band's YouTube page