Shearwater

Add Date: June 10

Artist: Shearwater

Album: Rook

Label: Matador

Genre: Folk rock, art rock

Comments: Shearwater are hardly hurting for praise or recognition. Their 2006 record, Palo Santo, was named Album of the Year by NPR, leading to an expanded-version reissue by Matador (Yo La Tengo, Belle & Sebastian, New Pornographers) a year later. Rook is thus the first proper Matador release for a band founded by Okkervil River's Jonathan Meiburg and Will Sheff nearly a decade ago. Sheff has long since left the band in the hands of Meiburg, who has in turn proven himself as brilliant a songwriter as the Okkervil frontman. Much like Palo Santo, Rook jumps from quiet, haunted folk tunes to powerful-yet-beautiful rock numbers. NPR won't be the only ones considering this one for year-end best-of lists. Start with "Leviathan, Bound," "Rooks," and "Home Life."