Having released three full-length albums in five years, Grizzly Bear have taken plenty of time to develop as songwriters between releases, and their progression is fascinating. They have maintained a signature sound and achieved consistent, reliable results while managing to grow sonically from album to album. On their latest release, Veckatimest, they've reached a point where they are now appealing to all brands of indie listeners.
Placing a signature song early in the album as its centerpiece is the biggest way they maintain their form, and the second song, ""Two Weeks,"" serves as just that. It begins with an opening riff that is bouncy, catchy and everything a great pop song needs to be. Initially, it lingers by itself, letting you imagine how they could make this into a spectacular song with the rhythm section.
Then, just as you get something in your head, they spring upon listeners as if replying with an immediate, definitive ‘this is how,' with the beat and bass providing necessary depth without drawing the focus to any one element.
Veckatimest shines brightest on this song, and where they remained timid, dark and hauntingly beautiful on their previous albums, Grizzly Bear are suddenly ready to paint their talents with a more vibrant palette of sounds.
Horn of Plenty, Grizzly Bear's first album, was raw, stripped bare and dark. The lyrics never felt comfortable, as if they were trying to replicate forced, oft-awkward interactions. However, on their follow-up, 2006's Yellow House, they were bold enough to make their first overtly expressive statement on ""Knife."" And now Veckatimest is enhancing their expressiveness on ""Two Weeks,"" proving they are continuing to open up as songwriters.
And it's not just that one song-—the whole album follows this trend.
""Southern Point"" offers a frenzied opening number that no longer requires listeners to delve deep into their coy songwriting through repeated listens. Instead they dance around listeners, only requiring their attention in order to have an effect.
Of course, they retreat a little here and there as that initial burst of trust can leave them feeling vulnerable.
The third track, ""All We Ask,"" follows ""Two Weeks"" with a drowning acoustic riff that eases you into the song slowly. But after a couple minutes, you find another expressive statement presenting swirling choruses before stripping the sound down to close it out with a reflective feeling.
The overall success of this record is the continuation of their progressive songwriting. They've become more open, vibrant and interactive from album to album. From stunning songs like ""Fine For Now"" to ""About Face,"" to the album's secondary masterpieces, ""Ready, Able"" and ""While You Wait For Others,"" Grizzly Bear is clarifying their sound in more illuminating, open sounds that require fewer listens to captivate attention.
And by opening up more to fans over time, they're becoming more accessible. This accessibility over time doesn't just get more fans listening either, it also teaches them how to listen to their music. People who didn't follow Horn of Plenty because it didn't grab their attention for long enough can go back and begin to enjoy those records even more because they now know what subtleties and tendencies make Grizzly Bear so engaging.
In this way, Veckatimest is not only a sparkling album, but also a shining light on the rest of their catalogue.
