Facts about Okkervil River: often, they save their best songs for their EPs. This version of “Love to a Monster” (which definitely cites some Joni songs, yes?) is so much better with the accordion as accompaniment. If you like writing, listen up, because the concise, devastating lyrics of this song are nearly their own lesson.

Two notes: it’s funny watching a band grow in popularity. Over the years, you notice that the people that come out to their shows are much, much better looking on average. And videos from La Blogotheque - it’s occasionally transcendent, but now nearly its own cliche, yes? The instant meaningfulness you get when French people reverently film you in real-time performing. So meaningful!