DC ROCK CLUB
Long live rock, I need it every night

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Let's Discuss: Grizzly Bear

Potsy's going to the sold out Grizzly Bear and Here We Go Magic show on Monday. While I'm a fan of Here We Go Magic (check out their Daytrotter session), I don't have a strong opinion on Grizzly Bear. "Knife" on Yellow House is a great song but I really never got into them. Their new album, Veckatimest, was released this week and everyone has opinion. Some love it, some hate it. I haven't listened from start to finish so I'll reserve judgement for the time being. However, based on what I've heard on their MySpace page, I don't see what the fuss is about. Hopefully, seeing them in Austin on June 16th will help me decide which camp I should pitch my tent.

Are you undecided as well? Here's something to help you out - the video for "Two Weeks". I find the song a little boring but the video is too fucking creepy not to love.

19 comments:

Jumbo Slice said...

The more I watch the video the more I like the song, even if the slow singing is a little annoying.

Anonymous said...

album is A+++

gorgeous compositions and arrangements and melodies to die for. Took me a few listens but then it clicked and it clicked hard.

Jimbromski said...

not a bad song. you're right, the video's interestingly creepy as well.

Potsy said...

I like their on a neck on a spit song, not sure about all their ethereal stuff...

Jumbo Slice said...

I went back and listened to the new stuff on MySpace and I like it more and more. However, they are capable of mindnumbingly boring songs. "Colorado" is a perfect example. "He Hit Me" is another one. Those songs blow.

Unknown said...

in the year, like, 2024, yr kid is going to be rummaging through all of yr dusty old MP3s and will find some grizzly bear songs in there and in a disappointed voice will say, "dad, i thought you were cool."

Jumbo Slice said...

Your probably right. Other things my kid will likely say in 2024:

"Why did you leave us?"
"When are you getting out of jail?"
"Uncle Jimbromski makes me feel weird."
"When are you going to kill that stupid blog of yours?"

Jumbo Slice said...

Damn it. I meant "You're" not "Your".

Jimbromski said...

Things I will say in 2024 to Jumbo Slice--"Sorry I ran over Mia with my T-16 while bulls-eyeing womp rats in Beggar's Canyon. You should have taught her better situational awareness back in 2009, when you had the chance."

Jimbromski said...

I had to refer to Wookieepedia to make sure I got all that right

Jumbo Slice said...

I'll teach her to keep her head on a swivel.

I shouldn't be surprised there's actually a web site called Wookiepedia, but I am.

John Foster said...

You know how you found those Nilsson records in your parent's stacks and snickered as a teenager but now you think it was pretty cool that they were there - you'll be fine with Grizzly Bear in your collection. As I mentioned in the byt thread, they are a wonderful live act. Everyone is super talented and inventive in the way that they play a number of instruments (except Rossen, who is this odd strummer trapped as a second songwriter which is interesting in it's own right even if he is more one-dimensional than the others.) Droste's signing can grab you live much more so than the recordings as well.

If this is the "uncool" band for our time - i.e. Dave Matthews in the 90s - then we are living in a golden age.

sacklunch said...

Sad Croc loves to make fun of the DMB. Next time you come to the shop we are playing "Satellite" on repeat. You have been warned.

I kind of like this GB song. Most of them I find somewhat boring. Curious to hear Potsys opinion of the live performance.

Jumbo Slice said...

Speaking of the DMB, he played Upstate NY the other day and half my friends Facebook updates were either about how excited they were for the show or how bummed they weren't going. You can see why I got out of there and why I'm raising my kid in Austin.

Potsy said...

so...you never made a mix with a DMB song on it?

Jumbo Slice said...

I've listened to many crappy bands over the years but DMB wasn't one of them. I may have included The Spin Doctors on a mix tape though. That might be worse than DMB. How much you want to bet the singer still wears that dooshy wool cap?

John Foster said...

I still have in my back pocket the track listing from Sack's "Dad's Reggae Mix" that was playing in the shop on one such visit for a later ransom.

My friend at Sub Pop (namedropper!!!) once told me a story about how he had to cancel his crush on a woman when he saw her car with a DMB bumper sticker. I nodded my head sadly, with a deep understanding and appreciation for the need for such a decision.

sacklunch said...

Seriously, he gave up his crush on the girl because she had a DMB sticker? Fucking ridiculous. Like I said before, there was a time when the DMB was "indie" and they probably would have played at Iota. Yes, I agree, the music sucks big, hairy balls now, but back in the day, they weren't bad. I't kind of like having an Eric Clapton sticker on your car. Yeah, now he plays adult contemporary crap, however, he used to rock hard (remember a little power trio called CREAM).
You guys are such indie rock snobs.

And, we were listening to a Toots and The Maytals compilation cd. It just so happened that we were at the end of the disc and the more recent(thus shittier) tracks when Sad Croc arrived. Are you going to tell me "Funky Kingston" isa bad tune? Don't make me look bad John, I will cut off your chocolate supply.

John Foster said...

If being an indie rock snob is a crime then we hang side by side... at the swinging party down the line...

Look at how sensitive Sack got - hee hee. Its true, he had Toots on and the man is responsible for some of my favorite songs. The Kong-produced stuff is classic. However, he was playing the stuff recorded 20 years later but I give him a pass (mostly because I NEED more chocolate!!!!)

Because of my sad sad addiction I will recuse myself from wading back into the DMB debate - haha.