The Smiley Smile Message Board

Thanks to a fellow forum member who posted a link to the song "Two Weeks", I was introduced to Grizzly Bear and the album Veckatimest. Upon first listen, it was so foreign to me that I couldn't quite place what was going on, but something compelled me to listen. Listen after listen, in different places and situations, until it finally grabbed a hold upon me.

There are harmonies and unconventional pop structures. This is hipster music, and I'm ok with that. Any other fans?

http://www.amazon.com/Veckatimest-Grizzly-Bear/dp/B001U7FWM8/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1354036169&sr=8-1&keywords=grizzly+bear+veckatimest

There are a number of Grizzly Bear songs I like (Two Weeks is up there, but my favorite is definitely On a Neck, On a Spit) but I don't think they have very strong albums. Haven't checked out the newest one yet.

I still prefer Yellow House (and disagree about it being an inconsistent album) but Shields is probably their most well-rounded when it comes to their pop side. Easily tied as the best live show I've seen in the past year too.

A few things.

I wasn't impressed at all for a while.

Veckatimest did indeed sink in as a really good album (after a while), and I felt like a horribly stereotypical NPR-listening urban guy for thinking so. But it was (and is) good, Volkswagen or whateverthefuck commercials be damned.

When I saw VDP live, he name-dropped the band. Heh.

New album, good but not as good as Veckatimest.

What does it all boil down to? Nothing. I'm drunk. There is no such thing as hipster music, only hipster reaction to music.

The first time I came across Grizzly Bear was actually a college choral group singing a great arrangement of Knife (off of Yellow House) on youtube. It was in the suggestion list as I was watching a clip of this same group doing God Only Knows. I then went and listened to the actual song off of Yellow House and was blown away.

Their new album Shields is great, very well-rounded as another poster said. Sleeping Ute, Yet Again, What's Wrong, and Gun-Shy are some of my favorites off of it.

They also did a cover of The Crystals' He Hit Me from a 2007 EP: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjrxcDNNk_A

I've been laughed at for comparing Two Weeks and Good Vibrations, the influence seems pretty unmistakable though.

Big fan of them since they released Yellow House.
The song 'Knife' is drenched in beach boyesque harmony and resembles Brian's effortless melodies. There is some true influence to be had on that song.
Knife: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quU_TyL_xc0


Their new album 'Shields' is very accomplished as well. Less harmonies or obvious BB influences on this. Imo this is good as dynamic bans which evolve are far more interesting to listen to. 'Yet Again' is a great song from the new album, almost a true classic already.
Yet Again (live, they are fantastic musicians and live performers too):http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quU_TyL_xc0
The studio version is equally good, but that is easier to find.

If you ever have a chance, see them live! They are a crowd rousers!


Edit: The very best Grizzly Bear song and their most experimental must be 'Ready, Able' which is the Surf's Up of Veckatimest.
This stunning live performance on David Letterman a few years ago is a must see/hear for any Grizzly Bear fan!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4lnAsV-Z5TU

I saw a video of them where they were definitely invoking Pet Sounds with all sorts of goats and stuff running through their studio.  The music seemed good and interesting -- I need to catch up on these guys.

Are you thinking of Fleet Foxes? That sounds like the video for their "He Doesn't Know Why".

While not a founding member of the group Daniel Rossen is clearly the central figure of the band and mainly responsible for all the songwriting.  He is a skilled multi instrumentalist and well accomplished songwriter.
Here he performs 'Heroes And Villains' with VDP and Robin Pecknold (leader of Fleet Foxes) at the Barbican theatre this summer in London. Clearly he is inspired by VDP and I suspect he has a liking for The Beach Boys.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nUb2vumE_0o

Haha -- yes, you are right!  Grizzly Bear, Fleet Foxes, Artic Monkeys, Band of Horses...I'm just lost at the zoo!

I thought Ed Droste was their main guy. Or is more of a Mike Love frontman-mouthpiece type to Rossen's BW writer-composer-secondary lead singer type?

Ed is the central figure. Daniel is a very essential part, though. It is becoming more and more of a group effort, definitely, but Ed is the lead man. Without him, there would have been no Grizzly Bear. Chris Taylor (their bass player) is the producer.

Grizzly Bear is kind of like the 1969-1973 Beach Boys. Multiple writers, contributors, etc. Droste/Rossen are like Lennon/McCartney. They are the primary songwriters and collaborate together. Taylor and Chris Bear also give contributions, it is why the writing credits go to Grizzly Bear and not one or two members.

Stripped down version of new best song 'Yet Again'
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Kop5ylg0kc

The band is similar to the Beach Boys in so many ways. Even their drummer is the best looking one of them, albeit I doubt he is quite as charismatic as Dennis was (who could ever be?)  ;D


Regarding the leadership in the band I guess they are all percieved as equals and it is correct that the bassist produces their records. I feel Rossen has more leads now than on Yellow House and Veckatimest, something which might hint to his central role in songwriting (as many songwriters do want to sing their self-penned material).

I don't particullarly care for Yet Again. Not that it's a bad song, it just sounds very bland and generic to me. Shields, despite rave reviews, hasn't stuck on to me yet like Veckatimest has. I really like "A Simple Answer" though, that's exactly how I like my Grizzly Bear.

I really dig their new album. It's definitely worth a couple listens to see if you're into it.

I'm a "Yellow House" guy--especially the first minute or so--that piano bit sends me to heaven.

I think these guys will ultimately get better in time--they, like too many others, seem to want to hide their personalities. C'mon, guys, let 'em out! It makes the music come through more directly!

The louder stuff on "House", however, began to remind me too much of what I call "shaggy Canadian music"--big drumbeats, dark chanting. Y'know, stuff like what's on the soundtrack of "Where The Wild Things Are". It became the new alternative trend.

But still: I like 'em.

Well, I can understand why Ed Droste would ultimately hide his personality. I'm not sure about the others, though. They are still a young band in only their third album. I like the evolution though.

The opening to Easier on Yellow House is fantastic. That whole album definitely has a certain mood. Veckatimest also has a certain mood, but it's a bit more diverse. Shields is even more diverse than that, most likely thanks to Rossen's songwriting.

They have four albums, you're forgetting about the debut, Horn of Plenty .

I didn't forget. :p The evolution of the group with 4 members includes Yellow House, Veckatimest, and Shields. I intentionally left Horn of Plenty out. That was largely Droste as a solo artist. Chris Bear himself said he came in when it was basically finished, though he did contribute. Taylor and Rossen came in afterwards to tour and that started the band.