Week 4: A float down Okkervil River

Welcome to week four of my now universally renowned blog.  A few administrative notes before we get to the pick of the week.  First of all I would like to recognize and thank my newest followers Joe Crane, Ashley King, Adam, and my sister-in-law Amber Cutler.  I would also like to call attention to Amber's blog http://ambers365dayproject.blogspot.com/.  She takes a picture every day, so far for 470 days straight, and blogs about it.  High five Amber for 470 days strong! While we are on the topic of followers, I want to address why I did not include my dad and Bri Seipel in introducing my new followers.  Though they claim to be followers, Ed through text, and Bri through Facebook, it is evident by the column on the right that clearly reads FOLLOWERS, and does not include either of their names, that they are NOT followers of my blog!  For this Ed and Bri get:

FAKE EYEBROWS! You can't fool me!

In other news, I think I need to define the word "chook."  This was a word unintentionally invented by my father, Ed Cutler. Credit.

chook [ch-ook] -  hook + chain = chook
    -verb (used with object) This IPA is off the chook!

This weeks IPA comes to you all the way from Portland, ME.  It is called Shipyard IPA and it just does not float my ship.  I feel like there is a lack of the hops kick that makes an IPA an IPA.  I was not impressed by Shipyard's IPA, and must say that this ship has sank.  For this, I give Shipyard IPA:

NO EYEBROWS UP.

Now down to business.  This weeks pick of the week comes in hot from Austin, TX.  I have to admit I was unsure if I wanted to make this my pick of the week because in the past this band has not blown me away.  The band is Okkervil River, and their previous two CDs The Stand Ins and The Stage Names didn't really do it for me.  I felt like there was so much excitement for those two CDs, and resulted in a large let down for me, that I was skeptical about their newest release.  Luckily I fell for the Okkervil River trap again, and I must admit, I'm glad I did because their newest release I Am Very Far is really good!  My choice this week, and current favorite on the album, is "The Valley."  It is a gothic, drill like song, with a gunshot snare drum that keeps me coming back for more.  I especially love the strings that wrap up the song, "times ten."  Overall this song is very much a trip down the "valley of the rock 'n roll dead."  If you like this also listen to "Piratess," "We Need a Myth," and from The Stage Names "Our Life is Not a Movie or Maybe." (the video to that song is incredible)

This week I decided to throw in a bonus song!  On my way to work yesterday I revisited this song featuring Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) and Feist.  It's off of the Dark Was the Night collaboration released in 2009.  I love this song.  It's a cover of Vashti Bunyan's 1966 "Train Song."  Give it a listen and tell me what you think!

See you next week!