Search - Shearwater :: Palo Santo (Bonus CD) (Exp) (Dig)

Brilliant reimagining of a classic.

C. Gadbois | Philadelphia, PA | 04/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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!"

The forgotten album of 2007?

A. Gilmour | Seattle, WA USA | 01/01/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I hope not. This album is amazing, from the quiet personal musings of the piano in "Failed Queen" to the soaring notes in "Hail Mary". I had never heard of this band a couple of days ago, and I'm now unable to stop listening. The album, as an album experience (the tracks are not to be parsed or separated), is compelling and intense. It holds together from beginning to end, with not a wasted track on the album. I must say I have trouble discerning a material difference between the repeated tracks, but I don't care. This is the music that slips through the cracks, but it mustn't. It needs to be passed around by word of mouth and saved. I'd love to see this played live, as you can tell the energy in the songs would translate well to a small concert setting. Anyhow, just buy it from whomever or wherever."

OK, Computer Like-and that's saying something!!!

S. ODonnell | West Chester, PA | 01/02/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I remember the exact place and moment I heard the sounds of OK Computer for the first time...and that rush of euphoria which overcame me, the uncontrolable chills that ran across my arms listening to it. I will never forget that moment I realized I would be comparing all bands to the bar that Radio Head set. If you are reading this, and you can relate, or perhaps shared in this experience I am talking about here...then prepare yourself for that same type of musical journey. This is not a Radio Head wanna be band! In fact, they are not similar instrumentally-they just posess equal talent. Can I give a better compliment? And this is why Shearwater's Palo Santo did to me those very same things OK Computer did to me. Shearwater has put out something magical here-this album is a utopia of beauty and musical genius. Without question, this band is the most underappreciated band in the music industry today. Get this album, no matter the investment, and you will never regret it."