Shearwater Winged Life CD

The third full-length by Shearwater, the baroque side project of Okkervil River's Will Sheff and Jonathan Meiburg, is a widely spread pop opus. WINGED LIFE at times hovers around Fleetwood Mac-inspired AM radio ("The Kind," "The World in 1984") and also approaches common ground with a highly emotive folkie like Damien Rice ("St. Mary's Walk"). It makes sense that Shearwater has a wider reach than the more highly focused concepts of an Okkervil LP, but some of LIFED is arguably even more inspired than the main band's other releases.

Audio Mixer: Matt Pence.

Recording information: The Echo Lab, Argyle, TX.

Photographer: Kim Westerskov.

Shearwater includes: Will Sheff, Jonathan Meiburg, Thor Harris.

Personnel: Howard Draper (lap steel guitar); Scott Danbom, Travis Weller (violin); Matt Pence (drum programming).

Uncut (p.104) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[T]he soaring vocals and wintry hush of Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff's arrangements catch the breath like sudden snow flurries..."
CMJ (3/08/04, p.5) - "[T]his is music for sitting back, closing your eyes and letting the sound wash over you."