Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest
Posted on 18th Jun 09 by Rob Cumiskey | 
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Veckatimest is named after a small island in Dukes County, Massachusetts. It’s a place that Grizzly Bear (GB) spent time rehearsing and they have fond memories of their time there. Engineering duties were again taken on by band member Chris Taylor, but this time, instead of using the one location (second album Yellow House was recorded [...]
Veckatimest is named after a small island in Dukes County, Massachusetts. It’s a place that Grizzly Bear (GB) spent time rehearsing and they have fond memories of their time there. Engineering duties were again taken on by band member Chris Taylor, but this time, instead of using the one location (second album Yellow House was recorded in, you guessed it, one of their grandmother’s Yellow House), they used a number of different locations. Namely, a place in Cape Cod, Upstate NY and a church.
Grizzly Bear have come on leaps and bounds since their lauded sophomore effort. Veckatimest takes the earnest, baroque style that has stood them well and adds a warmth and immediacy akin to some of Fleet Foxes’s faster stuff, or The Shins more intimate pop.
Southern Point kicks proceedings off with some great acoustic moments, and a driving beat that reminds one of a steam engine. This is a musical journey kicking off. GB understand the art-form of the album and it’s a pleasure to listen to such carefully, crafted music flowing seamlessly from one song to the next.
It’s reminiscent of some of Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief era awkwardly beat-ridden rock
New single Two Weeks is a delight. Two-note piano, and ‘ooooh’ vocals over sporadic drums and bass leads the way for Droste to showcase his otherworldly vocal talents. Fine for Now brings some baroque harmonies together for an intimate slow moving lo-fi treat and About Face takes proceedings up a notch again with a lighter piece of croony pop.
While You Wait for the Others is another stand-out. It’s reminiscent of some of Radiohead’s Hail to the Thief era awkwardly beat-ridden rock. The build up to the chorus here is fantastically engineered, crunchy guitars seeping through the vocal melodies.
I Live With You starts with a sound that could have been released in the twenties. The Coen Brother’s classic O Brother, Where Art Thou comes to mind. It moves into a 50s/60s psychedelic mash-up with powerful, angsty vocals and a wonderful orchestral build-up.
Foreground is a haunting close to a magnificent album with minimal drums, and hypnotic piano, ending our journey with choir vocals that delight and spook in equal measures.
Note must be made of the artwork on the album. Willaim O’Brien’s wonderful colours fit perfectly in with the palette of sounds and angular style of the album. Album of the Year for me.
Drop-d Rating 9.5/10
For those of you have not not yet read my interview with Grizzly Bear, well then, clicky here
Rob Cumiskey runs the music and culture blog Venntertainment.com
Tags: Fleet Foxes, Grizzly Bears, The Shins, Veckatimest
Sounds like the kind of stuff radiohead, Mr Cohen, early murmured REM or chris issac blues harmony would have come up with. Understandably listenable music if you like that style.
But it lacks ideas or freshness in 2009, I think you get the point.