Palo Santo

Shearwater | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2006)
• Original Release Date: 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Misra Records
• ASIN: B000F3AJR6
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #334,545 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Once a side project of the woefully underappreciated Okkervil River, Shearwater's Palo Santo staggered enough listeners upon its initial 2006 release that singer and bandleader Jonathan Meiburg re-recorded much of the album for this expanded edition. The band has created a far more vivid, upfront, intense aural experience in the re-make. "Nobody" is still a brittle, eerie whisper (like the title track) with a wafting haze behind the guitar and voice, and "Seventy-Four, Seventy-Five" sports a ringing piano behind Meiburg's voice and a horn chart that recalls Neutral Milk Hotel. The most staggering moments find Meiburg going off the rails, bellowing where he once sang warm, yearning high-arcs—particularly in the album's stark opening moments and during "Hail, Mary," with its rush of electric pianos and hard-vamping thwacks as the singer barks across the top. Now Meiburg and Will Sheff need to balance their time--and their electric pianos, guitars, banjos, glockenspiels, and assorted scrabbling sounds between their magnificent other band, Okkervil River, and this tremendous ensemble. --Andrew Bartlett

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant reimagining of a classic., April 17, 2007

By 

C. Gadbois (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Palo Santo (Bonus CD) (Exp) (Dig) (Audio CD)

I'll admit, when I heard that Shearwater was planning to not only remaster and rerelease "Palo Santo" as part of their new deal with Matador Records, but also re-record half of the album, I was apprehensive, to put it mildly. The original was an undeniable classic, unlike anything I've heard in a long time..."OK Computer" was probably the last record that affected me in a similar way.

But then I read comments from Jonathan Meiburg (composer and vocalist on all 11 tracks) stating their reasoning for revisiting the album, and it did make sense, given the dissatisfaction the band had with the original recordings, not to mention the apparent serious mastering problems. And now that I hear the new version, I know I'll probably never listen to the original again. The new recordings ("La Dame", "Red Sea", "Seventy Four", "Johnny Viola", and "Hail, Mary") are so much more powerful than their year-old counterparts, and the other 6 tracks take on a whole new dimension now that they've been properly mastered. The instrumentation is so much clearer and more spacious now...the songs breathe in a way they weren't allowed to before. For me, the most dramatic improvement comes in the form of Thor Harris' Bonham-esque drumming...the drum sound is HUGE now.

I loved this record before, but now it's well into my all-time favorites list. Do yourself a favor and pick up this record now!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning 4th Offering, June 13, 2006

By 

M. Gaines (Alabama, United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Palo Santo (Audio CD)

Shearwaters new effort "Palo Santo" brings to mind the solitude and beauty of the best moments of Talk Talk ( Laughing Stock,Spirit of Eden)taking the listener on a musical journey that, with a dedicated ear, will find one returning repeatedly. Meiburg is developing his own unique vocal style that begs comparisons with Darren Richard of Pinetop Seven, Glen Richards of Augie March and Jeff Buckley.
In this day and age of pre packaged cookie cutter offerings it's fresh, invigoriating and stimulating to know that there are still artist who care about what matters, the music.
Shearwater are one of those unique few who matter.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The album to beat for best of 2006, July 9, 2006

By 

J. Palmer "victim & cultural hero" (Houston TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Palo Santo (Audio CD)

Well, here it is already, the year halfway over, but by far, Shearwater is out of the gate this year and seemingly there are few bands in the race for what could be a slam-dunk for record of the year. Jonathan Meiburg has found the soul of Mark Hollis, consumed it whole, and regurgitated it into a stark beauty that we haven't heard in years. This album could actually be in the running for best of the decade. If you like Shearwater, you're going to love this album. If you've never heard of Shearwater, delve here and let it wash over you.