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.

Shearwater - 'Rooks'
[Photo by Steven Dewall]

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

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Comments (9)
  1. Meeee  |   Posted on Mar 4th, 2008

    They are amazing, love the new song.

  2. rook  |   Posted on Mar 4th, 2008

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

  3. rook  |   Posted on Mar 4th, 2008

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

  4. just_say_no  |   Posted on Mar 4th, 2008

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

  5. seth  |   Posted on Mar 5th, 2008

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

  6. husky025  |   Posted on Mar 5th, 2008

    thor rulez.

  7. Evan  |   Posted on Mar 5th, 2008

    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!

  8. dannygutters  |   Posted on Mar 5th, 2008

    this promo shot could use more side boob

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