Okkervil River, the Texas band led by Will Sheff, have been the storytelling poet laureates of indie folk for nearly 15 years now—and with each new album, Sheff’s musical ambition has grown with his lyrical prowess. The Silver Gymnasium, released in 2013, was their most sprawling yet, with grand, almost Springsteen-esque anthems. Three years later, Away is a sonic retreat to the early days, with lush, simple arrangements of strummed guitars and flourishes of strings and organs wrapping up hushed folk. It’s the first Okkervil River album in years that’s truly all about the words, meaning that Sheff’s lyrics come front and center, but it also means that melody and drama take a back seat. On albums like Black Sheep Boy and The Stage Names, the band balanced intricate storytelling with riveting music to astounding effects. Here, though, we’ve got purely lovely, often gorgeous songs that somehow fall short of captivating listeners. On the swaying “Mary on a Wave,” Sheff sings, “I get a little soft shiver in my shoulders because I think there’s someone watching. I get a little soft whisper in my ears now, but I guess it’s just time passing.” Such is Away, a gentle, enjoyable breeze that quietly slips away.