I really wanted to like Bear Hands’ sophomore album, Distraction. The Brooklyn natives formed in 2006 and released their first album, Burning Bush Supper Club, in 2010. Distraction is full of interesting new sounds and confident, irreverent lyrics, but somehow still feels disjointed.
The album starts on a high note with “Moment of Silence.” Layers of echoing lyrics build up with flickering organs as lead singer Dylan Rau chants, “let the water wash me away so I can live with innocent.”
Unfortunately, after a stellar opening track, the album goes downhill. Leading immediately into a shouting mix of dance music and indie rock ideas on “Giants,” Bear Hands show they haven’t completely left behind their punk roots. The whole song consists of a recurring descending guitar riff and the line “I am loving you more,” with an occasional ethereal electric piano break.
“Bone Digger” is reminiscent of ’80s pop with driving drum fills and flickering techno piano. However, it is hard to get past the chanting chorus, “the lies, the lies, the bullshit and the lies,” which is fairly coherent yet manages to say nothing of significance.
The harsh, heavy singing of “Bone Digger” provides a stark contrast with the monotone whispering on the next song, “Vile Iowa.” An almost-ballad, the lines “you’re a star in my eyes” seems to refer to both a lover and the midwestern state.
The low point comes with “Bad Friend.” Not an altogether bad song—the mid-song guitar break creates an interesting blend of garage-rock and country—but the repetitive statement “bad friend, but still I love you” increasingly feels like being beaten over the head with a wooden spoon.
Ending with “Thought Wrong,” Distraction decidedly defies mainstream trends. Hip-hop drum hits and swelling synths support Rau crooning, “I thought we were in love, but you proved me wrong.”
Ultimately I am a sucker for unique sounds, and Bear Hands is certainly not trying to imitate anything else or fit into some trendy, conventional box. Their individualism is enough in itself to prove that this group will only get better with time. But on Distraction they still feel slightly underdeveloped.
Rating: B-
