Shearwater - Winged Life
(Misra)
Okkervil River - Down the River of Golden Dreams
(Jagjaguwar)
Okkervil River's Down the River of Golden Dreams has taken off in a different direction from some of their earlier recordings. Before, there was more of a Will Oldham sparseness to their music, but with last summer's split with Julie Doiran, you can see a shift to add a more indie rock style reminiscent of Neutral Milk Hotel and sometimes Pavement. Nowhere is this more evident than in the track, "The Velocity of Saul at the Time of his Conversion," which sounds so different on their first album, Stars Too Small to Use. This new version has the same fascinating lyrics, stirring vocals, and heroic tone, but the addition of Jonathan Meiburg's organ playing and a more polished recording give it a finesse it didn't have earlier.
There are a couple of tracks on this new CD that drag a bit, but for the most part, it's got presence. Will Sheff's vocals on "It Ends with a Fall" remind me so much of Ray Davies, but elsewhere, Sheff uses his ardent voice to portray an array of emotions believably. Okkervil River is well on their way if they keep progressing the way they have. Sheff, Meiburg, Zachary Thomas, and Seth Warren are all talented musicians, and they are honing their own sound. Down the River of Golden Dreams is a solid record and possesses a charm that will make you a fan.
As if they weren't prolific enough, Jonathan Meiburg, the keyboardist for Okkervil River, and Okkervil River's lead singer, Will Sheff, have another band called Shearwater. Kim Burke joins them on upright bass and Thor Harris on drums and vibraphone. Harris also plays with the Angels of Light and Devendra Banhart.
Shearwater has indie pop sensibilities and a different sound than Okkervil River's sagas. Their third album, Winged Life, has been such a pleasure to listen to. I have it blaring from my speakers as the fifty-year-old guy upstairs jams with his rock band, and I can actually concentrate. Meiburg's heartening voice and Sheff's strident one warp their despairing lyrics into songs of hope along with a large array of instruments such as guitars, violins, B-3 Hammond organ, pump organ, lap steel, vibes, Wurlitzer, sampler, glockenspiel, and piano.
There are certain tracks on this that will have you singing along, such as "Whipping Boy", "St. Mary's Walk" and "(I've Got a) Right to Cry." All in all, Meiburg and Sheff can't possibly go wrong with either of these bands, unless they start jamming with the guys above my office.
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