For The Birds

Rook
Shearwater
Matador, 2008
8.9/10

Boy, has this guy got a voice. Jonathan Meiburg, of Okervill River fame, has a vocal range that would have rivalled Jeff Buckley - wrap it around some delicate, descriptive lyrics and some of the nicest alt-country instrumentation you'll hear anywhere, and you've got yourself one hell of a record. Rook has a cleaner sound than the band's last LP Palo Santo (the first release, in particular), and a shorter playing time, making it a less intimidating listen. Where Okervill River can tend to be a bit theatrical (particularly on recent releases), Shearwater's sound is more elegant and restrained - though, when necessary, the band still aren't afraid to go at it hammer and tong, such as on Century Eyes, where you can literally hear Meiburg taking a step back from the mic, tilting his head back and yelling into the sky. One of the great things about Rook is the contrast between the rockier and softer numbers, an example of which comes with the very next track - the beautiful I Was A Cloud - where the soft strings and shimmering piano keys paint the perfect watercolour backdrop for Meiburg's softer side. The album's finest cut, however, comes in the form of piano-driven rocker The Snow Leopard, a song built around a proud piano and bass combination right out of the seventies. A brilliant album, and one sure to feature in end-of-year top ten lists.

Artwork: B+
Nice idea. If that's a real dude under all those birds I'll bump it up to an A.