pop culture, reviewed

It’s official — Okkervil River’s The Stage Names is in the running for my favorite album of the year.  Will it edge out Josh Ritter and The Avett Brothers?  I’m not sure yet.  It’s definitely in the top three right now, though.  It’s one of those albums where you keep changing your mind about which song is your favorite, because they are all so good.  I’m currently hard at work on a Best of 2007 mix for a friend and I have changed my mind about what Okkervil song to include at least three times.  It’s easy to pick out the song with the best title, at least — that honor goes to “You Can’t Hold the Hand of a Rock and Roll Man.”