WINGED LIFE

While "Winged Life" sounds less than the work of two very different writers than the first 2 SHEARWATER albums, finally folds in JONATHAN MEIBURG's ornithological muses, and begins to mess around with (experiment is a bit too complimentary a term at this juncture) the longer form, it's still shockingly timid and lethargic. Luckily, it's a bit more indie pop oriented, with "My Good Deed", the JONATHAN RICHMAN-like "The Convert", and "A Makeover" reflecting back some of that OKKERVIL RIVER sunshine in an appropriately more laid back format. As for Meiburg himself, he seems to be marking time here, stealing for what would become the Island Arc trilogy, and he is otherwise incognito, which makes only half a good album. I was expecting a bit more, but unfortunately this falls somewhere between "The Dissolving Room" and "Everybody Makes MIstakes" in quality and memorability, rarely taking flight, hence 2.5 stars, rounded down.