Palo Santo - Shearwater (2006)

Shearwater started as an offshoot of Okkervil River (also worthy of a write-up sometime) but came into their own with this album. It’s the first to be led exclusively by singer Jonathan Meiburg.

Anybody who reads this knows how much I love contrast, and Shearwater is all about contrast. Beautiful, quiet passages segue into wild squalling rock passages and then back to laid back Americana. Meiburg’s tenor voice is so expressive and clear that he can paint in details just in the vocal lines that other bands don’t match, let alone the inventive sounds and great musicianship.

Tracks I Liked

Red Sea, Black Sea - a scorcher, yet still gorgeous. Something between The Waterboys and Florence + The Machine

White Waves - the brainiest Rolling Stones song you’ll ever hear