Released 25th May 2009 - Warp Records



Occasionally, word of mouth and glowing endorsements can point you in the direction of bands that one would normally miss. After chancing upon their performance of 'Two Weeks' on Later Live a couple of weeks ago, I became suitably intrigued with Brooklyn's Grizzly Bear.

With artists such as Fleet Foxes benefiting from the current appetite for CSN&Y vocal harmonies and the band's lauded appearance at SXSW this year, it easy to see why Grizzly Bear are gathering recognition with their third full-length release, Veckatimest.

The sheer ambition of the record is instantly appealling, the textured Bright Eyes musicality and sophisticated choral arrangements of 'Southern Point' and 'Cheerleader' are creatively sublime. 'Two Weeks' is also remarkable, easily the most accessible of the entire album, its four part vocal hook dovetails beautifully around the accompanying piano

Like fellow Brooklynians TV On The Radio, Grizzly Bear aren't after a throwaway number one or inclusion on an Ugly Betty soundtrack. At times, the experimental aspirations outweigh any evidence of a bona fide 'song' to the album's detriment and, unlike TVoTR, the boundaries have been set all too firmly. By the fifth and sixth listen of the album, it becomes a little samey and the skip button gets a bit of a workout halfway through, which is unfortunate considering the musicianship on display.

Chances are that this album will no doubt feature in many best of year lists come Christmas time, those 'in the know' attempting to assert their superiority with Emperor's New Clothes aplomb. Apparently Radiohead are fans, I'm not so convinced.


(6/10)

Posted In Album Reviews, May 28 2009. Words - Tony