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