True Love Cast Out All Evil

When it was announced that Austin indie rockers Okkervil River were recording a new album with local psychedelic legend Roky Erickson, there were cavils in some corners that Will Sheff and company were simply making an Okkervil River album with a 62-year-old acid casualty parked in front of the microphone, burnishing their own cool cred by recording with one of rock's legendary headcases. This erroneous assumption--equally insulting to both Erickson and the band--overlooks one key point: far from being the burnout of legend, Erickson has conquered his mental illness through improved medication and better family support. No longer the dazed-sounding chronicler of aliens and demons heard on his vaguely exploitative '80s/'90s records (some released without his knowledge, much less consent), Erickson sings better than he has since his early days in front of the 13th Floor Elevators. With a lived-in, clear-eyed honesty at times reminiscent of Johnny Cash's Rick Rubin productions, Erickson sounds completely engaged with his songs, some of which date back to the 1970s. Musically, Okkervil River is by some distance the most polished and competent band Erickson has ever worked with, qualities best heard on the songs previously released in rougher versions, like "Goodbye Sweet Dreams" and "John Lawman." Those whose interest in Roky Erickson focuses on the freakshow elements of his sad story may find this album's grace and simple humanity insufficiently weird for their tastes, but for his true fans, this has to rank among the most richly-deserved comeback albums of all time.