New Shearwater - "Rooks"

We haven't heard much from Rook, the follow-up to Shearwater's Palo Santo. In fact, all we've heard is one tune, "Rooks" ... but what a great start! We also know the album's ten tracks were recorded by Matthew Barnhart at Echo Lab and produced by frontman Jonathan Meiburg. Or, as JM put it at the band's site, "We recorded it in November at the Echo Lab in Argyle, Texas, among barred owls, pet donkeys, coyotes, and the ominous sounds of gas wells being drilled in the near distance; rural north Texas retreats as Dallas approaches." Some of that owl-y mojo made it into both the lovely, crow-heavy promotional and album art and this hushed, particularly feathered and lovely tune.

[Photo by Steven Dewall]

Shearwater - "Rooks" (MP3)

It seems like some sorta apocalyptic Hitchcockian overflow -- starlings, sparrow, crows darkening the sky. With horns!

Rooks is out in June. Before then, Shearwater has some shows in support of Clinic:

5/09 - Boston, MA @ Paradise
5/10 - Montreal, QC @ La Sala Rosa
5/11 - Toronto, ON @ Lee's
5/12 - Chicago, IL @ Empty Bottle
5/13 - Minneapolis, MN @ 7th Street Entry
5/16 - Seattle, WA @ Neumos
5/17 - Vancouver, BC @ Richards
5/18 - Portland, OR @ Doug Fir
5/19 - San Francisco, CA @ Independent
5/20 - Los Angeles, CA @ Troubadour

Posted at 5:12 PM in MP3, Tour Dates
Tags: Shearwater

8 Comments

They are amazing, love the new song.

Posted by: Meeee at 03/04/08 7:51 PM | Reply
Score = 1

a great some from what is sure to be an amazing album

Posted by: rook at 03/04/08 9:34 PM | Reply
Score = 0

a great song from what is sure to be an amazing album

Posted by: rook at 03/04/08 9:35 PM | Reply
Score = 0

sounds good....hopefully they don't pull an Okkervil River and blow huge chunks on this after a fantastic album in Palo Santo...

Posted by: just_say_no at 03/04/08 10:08 PM | Reply
Score = -1

isn't will sheff in that band? did they crop him out of the promo photo?

Posted by: seth at 03/05/08 5:43 AM | Reply
Score = -1

thor rulez.

Posted by: husky025 at 03/05/08 8:58 AM | Reply
Score = 0

Where to start...

Okkervil River has matured and improved with each album. And I'll fight to the death over that. The Stage Names is genius.

Sheff used to help out and write a bit with Shearwater, but not any more.

This song is awesome, though!

Posted by: Evan at 03/05/08 9:53 AM | Reply
Score = -1

this promo shot could use more side boob

Posted by: dannygutters at 03/05/08 1:36 PM | Reply
Score = 0