Okkervil River. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: Courtney Barnett, Anna Von Hauswolff, Exitmusic, Okkervil River Courtesy of the artists hide caption

"What I really wanted so much was for this record to be helpful for people," Will Sheff says of Away, the new Okkervil River album. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Okkervil River's new album, Away, comes out Sept. 9. A Horse With No Name/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Okkervil River. A Horse With No Name/Courtesy of the aritst hide caption

Okkervil River's Will Sheff lies in a casket awaiting burial in a scene from a new video for the song "Okkervil River R.I.P." Courtesy of the artist hide caption

"I just want to make stuff that feels humble and natural and 'right' and comes from somewhere other than just my brain," says Will Sheff of Okkervil River. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Lead singer Will Sheff (above center) and Okkervil River. Ben Sklar/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Okkervil River performs a Tiny Desk Concert in September 2013. Meredith Rizzo/NPR hide caption

Okkervil River's new album, The Silver Gymnasium, comes out Sept. 3. Ben Sklar/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

Click to see an interactive map of Meriden, N.H., with stories from Okkervil River's Will Sheff about his childhood there. William Schaff hide caption

Clockwise from upper left: Goldfrapp, Okkervil River, Beck, Light Heat, Sarah Neufeld Courtesy of the artists hide caption

Click to see an interactive map of Meriden, N.H., with stories from Okkervil River's Will Sheff about his childhood there. William Schaff hide caption