Veckatimest - Grizzly Bear's Newest Release

Grizzly Bear, a group of four lads, is as humble as they get.  Although their last album, Yellow House, was received with wide approval by critics and fans they still continued to tour small bars and help gain exposure for friends.

They have then since became open acts for groups such as Feist and Radiohead.  Even now, as the newest album Veckatimest is gaining much hype, they still remain humble as ever.

Fortunately, (for them as well as us) it delivers, quite possibly more than anyone even expected. Veckatimest takes the lush, textured components we fell in love with from Yellow House and raises them to new heights. The vocal harmonies that carry the melodies of "Two Weeks" and "While You Wait For The Others" are strongly reminiscent of Yellow House standouts "Knife" and "Easier," yet with a higher air of confidence that comes only with experience. That said, anyone who considers themselves a fan of the orchestral sound of Yellow House is almost certain to enjoy Veckatimest.

What has undoubtedly changed for Grizzly Bear on this record is their approach to song. Almost entirely gone are the meandering qualities from Yellow House, which are replaced with a pop sensibility that has only been hinted at in the past. Almost every track on Veckatimest is a stand-out, which is an awful lot to be said for a record, especially in an age where singles are the primary focus of the music industry. While each of these songs can certainly stand on their own, the record remains an incredibly cohesive unit, and is meant to be viewed as a solid piece of work to be listened to straight through, from beginning to end. Vary rarely is a band able to create an album where not a second of filler can be found, no matter how hard you look, and Veckatimest is indeed that record.

The Grizzly Bears have maintained their position in the music industry as the most forward thinking modern rock acts.  Although there is not much talk about their future plans, I am hoping it will not be another three year wait for their next album.