Archive for the ‘Shearwater’ Category
Shearwater – Rook Review
Shearwater was the side project to the amazing band known as Okkervil River. Shearwater themselves are critical praised and it first started with Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff as they made quieter songs not appropriate for Okkervil River. How different could they be? I thought to myself.
I was definitely in for a surprise upon hearing Shearwater’s opening track to Rook, “On The Death of The Waters”. I instantly forgot what I was listening to and in my head I couldn’t believe this was associated to anything by Okkervil River. Meiburg has an angelic voice while musically it is rather quiet in nature with pianos until it hits a point where a choir hits all instruments are raging out of control then back to silence.
Definitely very interesting and original and it tends to be decent background music but otherwise I feel quite useless to come up with anything more to what I can say. It’s a quiet orchestra that keeps you on your toes as you do not know what to expect next and it’s one of those albums that is best left to have the music come to you rather then searching for it.
My favorite song on this album is Century Eyes, I almost couldn’t believe that this was the same Meiburg singing. He sounded more like a rock singer then an opera singer in this case and the change was welcome enough for the song to stand up. It’s arguable their most straightforward and up front song.
The music itself is creative, inspiring and original BUT I can understand the dislike for it. Some people don’t enjoy quiet albums due to being bored with it or heck even just not being demanding enough. I don’t particularly find myself going through my library and saying “Hey! I think Shearwater would be appropriate”. It’s one of those albums that finds you and can bring you to your knees if you let it.
Rating: 4.25 out of 5
I don’t know if I would ever recommend it but it’s hard to criticize music that is as unique as this one.
Buy this album at Insound/CD Universe/Amazon
