Shearwater – Rook
I’ve been sitting on this album for fucking ages, waiting for it to be released so I could review the bastard. It’s superb, and you should all buy it. Immediately.
What it isn’t, however, is what I expected. I heard Rooks as a promo track long before I actually heard the album and it put me in that sort of lush, sad, beautiful mood that you get when a certain kind of music floods your ears. It is just a gorgeous song, and much of the rest of the album is the same. But much of it is significantly different too, and surprisingly so.
I read Tim’s review over at the Daily Growl and find myself agreeing with pretty much everything. It’s so vulnerable and lovely much of the time, that when they sound the charge and that trumpet thunders at you it’s nothing short of physically intimidating. Accompanied by chiming piano and growling guitars, this is remarkable fearsome for such a quiet, lovely album.
There are elements of the likes of Midlake in this, particularly during the prettier moments, although I can even hear hints of Bon Iver from time to time in the tenser, moodier parts. All in all though, especially with its contradictions, this is a captivating, brilliant album. Buy it.
Shearwater – Rooks
Shearwater – Century Eyes
Website | More mp3s | Buy the album from Amazon
In other news, I am pleased to announce that I will make it to your shindig this saturday after all. delighted to support a show bettered only by trampoline and the gentle invasion this week……
Bettered? BETTERED? And you have the cheek to suggest that I need to wash my mouth out, sir?
pretty much everything shearwater’s recorded is worth selling yr newborn for. or at least renting it out to childless couples.
and bugger me if that ain’t the beautifulest album cover i’ve seen in bloody ages…
I’m only just getting into them, but I will definitely be exploring. Apparently Meiburg is an ornithologist and the cover is one of his own photos.
the covers actually by this lot (pedant that i am) i think…
http://www.kahnselesnick.com/
they shot some equally beautiful/mad shit up on skye a few years back.
Hmm, dubious information from the label then.
Shearwater? You know, I don’t get it. ‘Shear-boredom’, more like.
Wait a second. Better look this up…
Shearwater? You know, I don’t get it. ‘Sheer-boredom’, more like.
(Bugger!)
I’m really into Okkervil River so have always given Shearwater a bash. With a few exceptions (If You Stay Sober, (I’ve Got A) Right To Cry) I don’t get the fuss. I wish they would, erm, open up a bit.
But having said this, I haven’t listened to the whole of Rook yet, so my mind may yet be changed (although they have had a number of albums already, so I’m Mr. Pessimistic here).
I loved Rooks the song such a lot I went and downloaded their previous album, which I really failed to come to terms with, so perhaps that might have something to do with it. But I love this one.
…And for Euan….a ratty old growler. Profanity! I knew I had forgotten something. Can I make up for it by writing “fuck” just here? Too late? Fuck.
Fuck off C&B.
Hey, this Shearwater is really quite good isn’t it? Cha-ching.
Oh yes indeedy.
My god it’s gorgeous! I ordered it on vinyl and it sounds fucking sensational. I hear a great deal of Mark Hollis and late Talk Talk in this.
I have to say, I really was enjoying the lack of un called for profanity on this site whilst you were away Matthew. You have a potty mouth sir. Wash it out with soap….for fucks sake!