Tom Lynch

Austin-based Shearwater, led by Jonathan Meiburg, which released its debut in 2001 (“The Dissolving Room”), has quietly built a larger and larger devoted fan base as each year has passed, the expressive, relaxed indie-rock striking a chord with not only crossover Okkervil River fans but also those drawn to the tones of slow-core. “Palo Santo,” Shearwater’s 2006 release and final record on Misra, garnered considerable acclaim and attention compared to the band’s previous records, and also caught the ear of Matador Records, which is releasing “Rook,” Shearwater’s new album, its cleanest, most confident effort to date. Meiburg’s vocal expressionism has never been so adventurous, exploring various registers unexpectedly, sometimes startlingly. As always, a bevy of instruments form the material; mostly piano-led, Shearwater displays expertly reserved use of banjo, vibraphone, lap steel, glockenspiel, an assortment of strings and a pump organ. Also as usual Meiburg strays away from typical major-chord progressions and frolics on the gloomier side of the fence—“Lost Boys,” featuring Meiburg’s muffled falsetto, a song that begins with a church-hymn-like intro and launches into a howling, military-roll-beaten second half, serves as a centerpiece for the record, pretty and uneasy at once.

Shearwater plays June 24 at The Mansion, 2408 North Kedzie, at 8pm. $14. (2008-06-17)

Also by Tom Lynch

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(2008-06-10)

Tip of the Week
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Leader of Sun Kil Moon and the defunct Red House Painters—as well as a recording/touring artist under his own name, as evidenced on this jaunt—Mark Kozelek, indie-folk singer-songwriter mega-talent, has succeeded in breaking all hearts once again with “April,” the recently released second record or original material by Sun Kil Moon
(2008-06-03)

Lit 50
Chicago’s book world can be a quiet place. In part due to the solitary nature of the work, and in part due to the void of publishing parties that keep New York’s assorted gawkers journaling away, it’s easy to think nothing new is happening. Jeffrey Eugenides moves to town, Jeffrey Eugenides moves away, and no one seems to notice. Then, bam!, Aleksandar Hemon publishes “The Lazarus Project,” the comparisons to Nabokov resume and suddenly we’re the center of the universe again, if only for a moment
(2008-06-03)

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Ultramusic
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