Word: albums
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Shearwater’s romanticism is perfectly reflected in the opening thirty seconds of the album. Before even a note is played, a profound tribal song, reminiscent of a prayer, greets the listener. This prologue segues into the first track, “Meridian,” which continues to be a testament to the group’s talent. Shearwater expertly create a rich texture through guitar and multiple percussive instruments, including bells, while Meiberg lyrically juxtaposes the peaceful ocean with violent warfare. Cymbal rushes wash powerfully over the listener, simultaneously invoking the sound of ocean waves and exploding...
...cover of Shearwater’s new album, “The Golden Archipelago,” features strikingly dramatic imagery. A man on a canoe, completely covered in a white sheet, follows a golden, sunlit pathway toward a lush island. It suggests a reversion to an innocent and natural life, immediately hinting at the album’s anti-societal theme. Unfortunately, after appreciating the cover, it is probably best to leave “The Golden Archipelago” alone, as the album fails to achieve the quality of music necessary to back up such a powerful message...
This promise is never fulfilled, however, as far too often the remaining tracks fail to distinguish themselves from where the album started. The once fresh and complexly layered sounds quickly become stale and pedantic. “Hidden Lakes,” to take just one example, maintains an aura that is reminiscent of “Meridian,” which primarily derives from Meiberg’s unchanging singing style and the repetitive nature of the underlying music. Not only is the lack of variety monotonous, it also detracts from the merits of each individual song, as each...
...only do the songs lack variety, but the emotions of the album frequently feel forced. In particular, Meiberg strains his voice ad nauseum to create melodrama, manipulating his deep baritone to sound as though it comes from a heavy trance. While at times this is an asset, his voice becomes more and more affected as the album progresses, until it reaches an unbearable level of pretension. The zenith of Meiberg’s vocal affectation can be heard on “God Made Me,” where he abhorrently accentuates every note with an exaggerated swell...
...imagery of the lyrics throughout certainly has deeper meaning, and there is much to explore on “The Golden Archipelago.” The deluxe edition of the album includes a fifty-page booklet, “The Golden Dossier,” to accompany the carefully crafted songs. The dossier contains pictures of foreign islands and birds, and excerpts of explorers’ memoirs that have traveled to such islands. One excerpt in particular, where an explorer speaks of shooting natives, was clearly chosen to add to Meiberg’s already overdrawn sloganeering, which after listening...