Album Club, February 2017: Shearwater - 'Rook'

[Album Club]

The Album Club choice for February 2017 comes courtesy of Richard (lovejoy) with Shearwater's 'Rook'.

Please listen to the album in it's entirety before you comment and/or vote.


https://images-eu.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51DjOMgkVwL._SS500.jpg

[/URL]

My second go at the Album Club and sticking with artists that begin with 'S' (let's see if I can keep that going). This is an album that might strike a chord with fans of Talk Talk (the band, not the communications company). The singer Jonathan Meiburg's voice eerily reminiscent of the haunting tones of Mark Hollis and some of the songs here could have easily been sessions from some of the later Talk Talk albums. Rooks is a varied affair however starting with a gentle piano and vocal intro before raising to an almighty rock crescendo before leading into to the title track 'Rooks' which steps more into rock/pop territory. Tempo is up and down from that point and the album never becomes laboured or boring. Anyone familiar with Van Morrison's Veedon Fleece will find track 4 more than a little familiar in the lyrics.

Stand out tracks for me are Rooks, Home Life and The Snow Leopard but the whole album hangs together almost as a concept album.

Spotify link here: https://open.spotify.com/album/3eM6iFsshHr3QnFn0jYCCQ (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rook_(album))
Tidal link: [url]https://listen.tidal.com/album/2274388

Happy listening

[Jac Hawk]

A really good album, i wasn't sure if i'd like it as i was never a big talk talk fan, i liked most of the track except 1, track 6 Century Eyes, where the singing style changed to be more shouty. Overall an immensely enjoyable listen and a band i will continue to look out for and listen to more of in the future.

[struth]

gonna give this a listen. Not heard of them; or talk talk for that matter.

[struth]

Ok some good, some not so, but overall I would say I would listen to most of it again. Picks were first track(bar the short noisey bit) and last 3, especially the cranky South Col, which for some reason reminded me of once upon a time in the west. Snow leopard is very nice too. Interesting falsetto type voice that on occasion annoys but overall its good, and tuneful. nice nature feel to it.
strong 6....maybe will get upgraded later.

[Pixelpopper]

If nothing else this album made me realise that I don't know what I like anymore.

Melodically all was no more than OK for me which would normally score a 5 - 6 or occasionally more. The voice, that voice, it really didn't work no matter how I tried. I listened to the whole album but that was it, no more :scratch:

I don't know what I like anymore, but I know that much :confused:

Sorry, it scores a 3 for me, without the vocals (it'll never happen) maybe a 5.

:oops:

[high.spirits]

Track one sounded interesting and I thought I may like this album.
However as it went on I did not take to his voice. Century Eyes to me was loud and cluttered while South Col sounded like an impression of whale communication.
Only a 5 - sorry.

[Pete The Cat]

It’s been a couple of years since I listened to this. At each revisit I get a bit more from it. It was originally recommended to me by my brother-in-law who has more “alternative US” tastes than I do and we ended up going to see them on The Golden Archipelago tour.

Back then I was initially uncertain about Rook. It seemed hard to point to its derivation - which is probably a good thing in terms of not being easily pigeonholed. The use of piano, brass, guitar and percussion (the drummer at the time was called Thor !) mean that they can bring things to a crescendo when they want to, but mostly the album has a feel of delicate beauty which I guess matches its ecological themes.

I also like its ambition. There’s a “bigness” to it even in the quiet moments - you can tell something’s building up, for example from the beginning of On The Death Of The Waters - but without any bluster.

I don’t think it’s great though…yet. Much as I like the combination of Jonathan Meiburg’s voice (think a blend of Mark Hollis, Thom Yorke and Jeff Buckley) and piano, I find they make the album a bit samey overall. I think it’s me who needs to work on it more though, and that it’ll reward repeated listens over a few more years.

The Snow Leopard is utterly fabulous and anyone passing this page should give it a go in a quiet moment. That secures this album a 6. I must mark it again next time I put it on.

Thanks to Album Club for reminding me of it.

Pete

[Rothchild]

What Pete said! Thanks for summarising my thoughts so succinctly!

I too had heard this when it came out, quite like it, find it interesting, well made, richly textured etc. but also just cant bring myself to love it, bit samey and lacking some overall 'grab'

[Audio Al]

Unusually for me I thought it was OK , sort of stripped back bare bones not over produced songs
The singer voice was OK and did not grate on my ears , I have heard a lot worse
Its a 6 from me

Thanks for putting this up

Would I buy it , sadly not

[lovejoy]

Thanks to those who put the time in to listen. Always good to read honest reviews of what people thought of it and interesting that it was the vocals that polarised opinion most.

For those interested, if you liked some of this album but thought it went too far one way or the other, the band's sound has progressed into more straight up rock territory over time, so if that's what you want then the last album Jetplane and Oxbow is worth a listen. If you like their more gentle side then stick with the earlier albums. The Golden Archipelago (the follow up album to this one) has some moments of real beauty on it, but overall is definitely more rocky than this one. The first album is not one I've ever managed to give much in the way of listening time so one for me to pick up on at some point.

They're also worth catching live if you get the chance.

[struth]

I quite liked it Richard. I wouldnt have listened if it wasnt here and thats the whole point of the Album Club and why its important for folk to put contributions in, as if you get even 1 new appreciation then youve done something proactive.

[HackneyRF]

Reading the intro and the Talk Talk comparisons I was looking forward to hearing this one. However unfortunately it didn't pull me in this record. I can't really put a finger on why that is really. But I found myself drifting off and not paying attention to it after about 3 or 4 songs. Anyway as always it's good to hear new things and what others are listening to, so thanks for posting Richard. But not for me this one.

Cheers

Loz