FELLOW TRAVELERS

With the possible exception of one track, this is an album of covers, but of the also rans rather than the classics, based on the dubious choice of artists with whom SHEARWATER had toured in the decade prior to release. Since I had already invested too much time in the reviewing exercise before my compatriot gently broke the news to me, I am hereby shattering my unwritten rule that states such albums are beneath my station and best to pretend it's not part of the truly "official" discography of major releases. After multiple listens, my policy is as intact as ever, but here we are.

LIke a musical Stockholm Syndrome, "Fellow Travelers" attempts to persuade us that those late nights with guitars and groupies are as important to us as to them. It's a sentimental move by Meiburg and co and I am not averse to shmaltz but prefer it in the music. It's a given that Shearwater's versions are generally superior to the originals, other than COLDPLAY's "Hurts Like Heaven", but that's about all I can say. The highlights are two heavier numbers "I Love the Valley Oh" and "Natural One", with "Tomorrow" almost reaching that plateau, and "Mary is Mary" the best of the balladic as it sounds most like what the group might do on its own, or at least might have done 10 years earlier. "My F'd up Life" isn't terrible either,. with vocal emphasis that could have passed for PETE MORTON. Too bad they didn't tour with him.

This isn't prime time Shearwater in any manner and, while a case could be made fo rounding up in support of the "making something out of nothing" argument, I didn't ask them to attempt it, and I can't help feeling duped into a bargain trip when I would have rather stayed home.