The Silver Gymnasium

"The Silver Gymnasium" is the seventh album by American indie rock band Okkervil River, released on September 3, 2013 through ATO Records. It is the band's first release after signing to ATO Records, and their first album not released through Jagjaguwar. The record is a concept album which takes place in lead-singer Will Sheff's home-town of Meriden, New Hampshire in 1986. The album's title is taken from the Charles Lewis Silver Memorial Gymnasium found in Meriden's Kimball Union Academy, the boarding school that Sheff attended. The album has been given a Metacritic rating of 78 out of 100 based on 32 critics, indicating generally favorable reviews. At Alternative Press, Chris Parker called the album "Often dark, but strangely triumphant.". The album charted at No. 66 on Billboard 200, and No.20 on Billboard Top Rock Albums.