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11 Best Songs of the Week: Metric, Laura Veirs, Gaz Coombes, Katie Alice Greer, and More

Plus Spacemoth, Tim Burgess, Cass McCombs, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Jun 10, 2022

Welcome to the 23rd Songs of the Week of 2022. We settled on a Top 11 this week, in a list more populated with veteran artists than newcomers, including two solo songs from artists who became stars as the frontmen of ’90s Britpop bands. More

Shearwater - Watch the “Empty Orchestra” Video, Stream the New Album, and Read Our New Interview

The Great Awakening Due Out June 10 via Polyborus/Secretly Distribution

Jun 10, 2022

Shearwater have released their first new album in six years, The Great Awakening, today via Polyborus/Secretly Distribution. They have also shared a video for the album track “Empty Orchestra.” More

11 Best Songs of the Week: Suede, Katy J Pearson, Tallies, Why Bonnie, and More

Plus Shearwater, Chelsea Rose, Just Mustard, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

May 27, 2022

Welcome to the 21st Songs of the Week of 2022. It was terrible week for those who follow the news, fueled by the truly awful mass shooting at the elementary school in Texas. And once again the usual gun control debates came up and once again nothing will probably happen. After all, it’s been 10 years since the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting and no progress has been made. Also Depeche Mode’s Andrew Fletcher and actor Ray Liotta (Goodfellas, Something Wild) both surprisingly died yesterday, even though they were both only in their 60s. More

Shearwater Share Video for New Single “Laguna Seca”

The Great Awakening Due Out June 10 via Polyborus/Secretly Distribution

May 24, 2022

Shearwater have shared a video for their new single “Laguna Seca.” It is the latest release from their forthcoming album, The Great Awakening, which will be out on June 10 via Polyborus/Secretly Distribution. More

10 Best Songs of the Week: Shearwater, Tegan and Sara, Katy J Pearson, Martin Courtney, and More

Plus Metric, beabadoobee, Angel Olsen, Arcade Fire, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Apr 29, 2022

Welcome to the 17th Songs of the Week of 2022. It’s a very Canadian edition of Songs of the Week, with four artists from north of the border making this week’s Top 10. More

Shearwater Shares Video for New Single “Aqaba”

The Great Awakening Due Out June 10 via Polyborus/Secretly Distribution

Apr 26, 2022

Shearwater have shared a video for their new single “Aqaba.” It is the latest release from their forthcoming album, The Great Awakening, which will be out on June 10 via the band’s Polyborus label in partnership with Secretly Distribution. More

13 Best Songs of the Week: Craig Finn, Fontaines D.C., Good Morning, Hatchie, and More

Plus Jane Inc, Shearwater, Soft Cell, Bauhaus, and a Wrap-up of the Week’s Other Notable New Tracks

Mar 25, 2022

Welcome to the twelfth Songs of the Week of 2022. This week two icons from the 1980s united for a single and another artist from that era released their first new song in 14 years. There were also a couple of album tracks we loved. Tally it all up and we settled at 13 favorite songs this week. More

Shearwater Announce New Album, Share Video for Lead Single “Xenarthran”

The Great Awakening Due Out June 10 via Polyborus/Secretly Distribution

Mar 22, 2022

Shearwater have announced the release of a new album, The Great Awakening, which will be out on June 10 via the band’s Polyborus label in partnership with Secretly Distribution. The band has also shared a video for the album’s lead single, “Xenarthran.” More

Loma Announce Album, Share Lyric Video for New Song “Ocotillo”

Don’t Shy Away Due Out October 23 via Sub Pop

Jul 29, 2020

Loma have announced a new album, Don’t Shy Away, and shared a new song from it, “Ocotillo,” via a lyric video. One song, “Homing,” was produced by Brian Eno. More

Nov 06, 2018

To help motivate our American readers to get out to the voting booth today, we’ve asked some musicians to share words of encouragement. In this piece, Jonathan Meiburg of both Shearwater and Loma writes about the one election choice he once made that he sincerely regrets. More

May 23, 2018

A band like Loma, as great as they are, probably doesn’t get a huge budget for a music video for a deep cut from the album, three months after the album came out. Hence their new video for “White Glass” is a fairly simple and low budget concept. The black & white clip features singer Emily Cross drawing out picture representations of the song’s lyrics on a big pad of paper, as if playing a game of Pictionary. More

Mar 29, 2018

Loma is a new band consisting of Shearwater singer Jonathan Meiburg and the two members of Cross Record (Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski). They released their self-titled debut album back in February via Sub Pop. Now they have shared a video for “Dark Oscillations.” More

Jan 24, 2018

Loma is a new band consisting of Shearwater singer Jonathan Meiburg and the two members of Cross Record (Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski). They are releasing their self-titled debut album on February 16 via Sub Pop. More

Jan 11, 2018

Loma is a new band consisting of Shearwater singer Jonathan Meiburg and the two members of Cross Record (Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski). They are releasing their self-titled debut album on February 16 via Sub Pop. More

Loma (Shearwater/Cross Record Side Project) Share New Song “Relay Runner”

Loma Due Out February 16, 2018 via Sub Pop, Tour Dates Announced

Dec 12, 2017

Loma is a new band consisting of Shearwater singer Jonathan Meiburg and the two members of Cross Record (Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski). They are releasing their self-titled debut album on February 16, 2018 via Sub Pop. They previously shared a video for the album’s closing track, “Black Willow.” Now they have shared another song from the album, the Krautrock-y “Relay Runner.” More

6 Best Songs of the Week: Loma, Tame Impala, Björk, Anna Burch, Shame, and More

Plus Noel Gallagher and a Wrap-up of the Week's Other Notable New Tracks

Nov 17, 2017

As we get into the holiday season and build up to Thanksgiving next year there were inevitably less new songs of note this week, but there were still enough gems for a Songs of the Week post. We’ve got three songs from upcoming debut albums due out in 2018 and two songs from Tame Impala tied for #2. More

Nov 15, 2017

Loma is a new band consisting of Shearwater singer Jonathan Meiburg and the two members of Cross Record (Emily Cross and Dan Duszynski). They have announced their self-titled debut album and shared a video for the album’s closing track, “Black Willow.” More

Under the Radar Examines Music and Politics with the 2016 Protest Issue

Special Issue Takes On Sexism and Feminism in the Music Industry, Tackles the Election, and Features Amanda Palmer on the Cover

Sep 09, 2016

Under the Radar is excited to announce the full details of our 2016 Protest Issue (out September, October, and into November), which is out now both digitally and on newsstands. We’ve done a Protest Issue every U.S. Presidential election year since 2004 and as before this issue features articles examining the intersection of music and politics and photo shoots with musicians holding protest signs of their own making. Then in mid-October we will be launching our charity Protest Auction, in which we auction off all the protest signs in the issue, with all profits going to the American Cancer Society. More

Shearwater Announce More Tour Dates

Jet Plane and Oxbow Out Now via Sub Pop

Sep 08, 2016

Shearwater released an excellent album, Jet Plane and Oxbow, back in January on Sub Pop. And then in May the band expertly covered the late David Bowie‘s 1979 album Lodger in its entirety for A.V. Club’s A.V. Undercover video series. More

Watch: Shearwater - “Pale Kings” Video

Jet Plane and Oxbow out now via Sub Pop

Jun 09, 2016

Today Shearwater has shared an animated lyric video for “Pale Kings,” off of the band’s recently released album Jet Plane and Oxbow. More

Watch Shearwater Cover David Bowie’s “Lodger” in its Entirety

Recorded for A.V. Club's Undercover Series

May 13, 2016

Usually the way the A.V. Undercover series works is that bands pick a song to cover from a predetermined list, but this time Shearwater approached A.V. Club with the idea to cover the album. As Meiburg explains, he was listening to Lodger a lot last year. It’s not the most celebrated of Bowie albums, but was well-liked by Bowie himself, although he didn’t tour the album and rarely played any of its songs live. More

Jan 14, 2016

Various albums due out next Friday, January 22, are now streaming over at NPR First Listen, including the new albums by Eleanor Friedberger, Ty Segall, Shearwater, and The Besnard Lakes. All can be streamed below More

Shearwater Announces New Album, Shares Single “Quiet Americans”

Jet Plane and Oxbow due out January 22 via Sub Pop

Oct 20, 2015

Shearwater has announced a new album, Jet Plane and Oxbow, for release on January 22 on Sub Pop. The group has also announced the first dates of a 2016 tour. Hear the album’s lead single, “Quiet Americans,” below. More

Track-by-Track: Shearwater on “Fellow Travelers” Part 2

Jonathan Meiburg on Tracks 6 - 10 on the Band's Ninth Album

Nov 22, 2013

For our Track-by-Track feature, we go in-depth with an artist about each song on their new album. This week we are featuring of Shearwater‘s Fellow Travelers, and for the next three days we’ll post commentary by frontman Jonathan Meiburg on each of the album’s songs. More

Track-by-Track: Shearwater on “Fellow Travelers” Part 1

Jonathan Meiburg on Tracks 1 - 5 on the Band's Ninth Album

Nov 21, 2013

For our Track-by-Track feature, we go in-depth with an artist about each song on their new album. This week we are featuring of Shearwater‘s Fellow Travelers, and for the next two days we’ll post commentary by frontman Jonathan Meiburg on each of the album’s songs.

Nov 18, 2013

Next week Austin-based ensemble Shearwater will release their very own covers album Fellow Travelers, tackling the works of artists the band has had the privilege to tour alongside of over the years. More

Watch: Shearwater – “You as You Were”

Also: Band hits the Road With St. Vincent

Mar 28, 2012

Shearwater is out on the road with St. Vincent in support of this year’s album, Animal Joy. Even so, the band found time to premiere a new video for album cut, “You as You Were.” More

Under the Radar Announces Winter 2012 Issue with Dirty Projectors, Grizzly Bear, and Twin Shadow

Issue Also Features: Air, Bear in Heaven, Best Coast, Andrew Bird, Chairlift, Dan Deacon, First Aid Kit, Grimes, Spiritualized, Tegan and Sara, and more

Mar 12, 2012

Under the Radar’s Winter (March/April) Issue will be hitting the stands soon. The issue features an In the Studio 2012 themed cover with the frontmen of three notable acts set to release new albums later this year—Dirty Projectors’ Dave Longstreth, Grizzly Bear’s Ed Droste, and Twin Shadow’s George Lewis Jr. The issue also features interviews with Air, Bear in Heaven, Best Coast, Andrew Bird, Chairlift, Dan Deacon, First Aid Kit, Grimes, of Montreal, Frankie Rose, Spiritualized, Tame Impala, Tegan and Sara, and much more. More

Shearwater Signs to Sub Pop

New Album Due Early 2012

Apr 22, 2011

Sub Pop welcomes a new member to their family today. More

Shearwater Explore The Golden Archipelago

New Song, "Castaways," Available for Download

Dec 02, 2009

Shearwater is releasing their sixth LP, The Golden Archipelago soon. It’s dropping February 23rd in North America (and February 15th internationally), via Matador. The forthcoming long-player is “the third album in a triptych of excursions about man’s impact on the natural world.” More



Interviews

Shearwater on “The Great Awakening”

After Six Years, a Great Re-Awakening

Jun 09, 2022

The new Shearwater album features an instrument that has no precedent in the annals of rock history: a singing refrigerator. More

Loma on “Don’t Shy Away”

Once Bitten, Twice Shy

Feb 05, 2021

The latest Loma album should come with a warning sticker: AirPods not Advised. At a time when millions of people listen to music through the ubiquitous wireless headphones, Loma’s sound just isn’t suited to in-ear speakers that are smaller than your pinkie toenail. The trio specializes in creating vast ecosystems of sound. As such, Don’t Shy Away is best experienced through the expanse of a high-fidelity stereo. Hearing it on AirPods is akin to wearing a gas mask inside a parfumerie. More

Loma on Their Self-Titled Debut Album

Journeys Through Nature

Apr 03, 2018

Jonathan Meiburg’s favorite moment from Loma, his collaborative record with Dan Duszynski and Emily Cross of Cross Record, happened completely by accident. As Meiburg, best known as the mastermind behind 21st century indie mainstay Shearwater, tells it, the song “I Don’t Want Children” “happened very quickly, but was completely random. More

Blue in a Red State: Learning to Live in an Us vs. Them Country

A Conversation with Cursive's Tim Kasher, The Mynabirds' Laura Burhenn, of Montreal's Kevin Barnes, Okkervil River's Will Sheff, and Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg

Nov 10, 2016

There’s a quote—now considered apocryphal—from legendary film critic Pauline Kael that for years stood as damning evidence of the extent to which people could exist in their own cultural and social bubbles. More

A Season For Cynics: Musicians Contemplate a Lesser-of-Two-Evils Election

A Conversation with Billy Bragg, Deerhoof's Greg Saunier, Kristin Kontrol, Mew's Jonas Bjerre, Moby, Thurston Moore, Okkervil River's Will Sheff, Amanda Palmer, Henry Rollins, Shearwater's Jonathan Meiburg, Superchunk's Laura Ballance, and Andrew W.K

Nov 03, 2016

On July 11, 2016, Democratic nominee for president Bernie Sanders officially endorsed Hillary Clinton for president, thereby ending one of the unlikeliest campaigns in American political history. It had been a remarkable run for the 74-year-old Vermont senator, going from barely registering in national polls to running neck and neck with Clinton throughout much of the primary. And, if public statements and Twitter endorsements are to be believed, the world of indie rock stood almost unanimously in their support for him. Vampire Weekend, TV on the Radio, Grizzly Bear-all performed for Sanders at his rallies. Killer Mike of Run the Jewels filmed interviews with Sanders to help spread his message. More

2015 Artist Survey: Shearwater

Jonathan Meiburg on 2015's Best Animals, Streaming Music, Being Fired, and Star Wars

Jan 15, 2016

For Under the Radar’s 13th annual Artist Survey we emailed some of our favorite artists a few questions relating to 2015. We asked them about their favorite albums of the year and their thoughts on various notable 2015 news stories involving either the music industry or world events, as well as some quirkier personal questions. Here are some answers from Jonathan Meiburg of Shearwater. More

Nov 27, 2013

For our Track-by-Track feature, we go in-depth with an artist about each song on their new album. This week we are featuring of Shearwater‘s Fellow Travelers, and for the next three days we’ll post commentary by frontman Jonathan Meiburg on each of the album’s songs.

Track-by-Track: Shearwater on “Fellow Travelers” Part 2

Jonathan Meiburg on Tracks 6 - 10 on the Band's Ninth Album

Nov 22, 2013

For our Track-by-Track feature, we go in-depth with an artist about each song on their new album. This week we are featuring of Shearwater‘s Fellow Travelers, and for the next three days we’ll post commentary by frontman Jonathan Meiburg on each of the album’s songs. More

Track-by-Track: Shearwater on “Fellow Travelers” Part 1

Jonathan Meiburg on Tracks 1 - 5 on the Band's Ninth Album

Nov 21, 2013

For our Track-by-Track feature, we go in-depth with an artist about each song on their new album. This week we are featuring of Shearwater‘s Fellow Travelers, and for the next two days we’ll post commentary by frontman Jonathan Meiburg on each of the album’s songs.

Shearwater

Winging It Across the World

May 21, 2012

Like the migratory seabirds they’re named after, the band Shearwater will spend much of the year traversing the globe. The band, led by singer/songwriter Jonathan Meiburg, has just finished the first of three European tours scheduled in 2012 and is on the second leg of an American tour as the support act for St. Vincent. More


Reviews

Jan 12, 2016

To signal its new musical direction, Shearwater updated its Facebook page with a photo of a gray DeLorean fitted with a flux capacitor. Nowadays, it seems as if every musician on the planet is time traveling to the 1980s for inspiration. More

Nov 27, 2013

Fellow Travelers is perhaps more interesting as a concept than as a record. Its premise is pretty damn neat: Shearwater recorded covers of songs by bands they’d toured with in the past, while collaborating in the studio with members of some of those bands. More

Feb 16, 2012

Shearwater’s three-album cycle that started with 2006’s Palo Santo and closed with 2010’s The Golden Archipelago—dubbed by the band as “The Island Arc”—explored a single musical and emotional commonwealth, driven by lush, almost progressive instrumentation and frontman Jonathan Meiburg’s affecting vocals. More