Grizzly Bear – Veckatimest – Album Review

(Editor’s note 1 – We know that Veckatimest was released on May 26.  We also realize that’s like six months ago.  We don’t care.  It was nearly criminally negligent editorial decision-making that prevented us from commenting on this record when it was released.  For that, we apologize.  However, you will receive the benefit of six months of listening.  Too often, as reviewers, we’re forced to digest a record quickly and offer something that passes as a refined, critical statement.   (Forced might be too strong, only because this is often a result of our own poor planning, but you get the drift.)  I’ve listened to Veckatimest something like 800 times since May.  I’ve thought about it and argued with myself (and Kevin) about it and loved it and lived with it.  If it weren’t for the immediacy of the stupid internet, I’d advocate for this type of approach more often.  You, dear reader, are capitvated by the now, so we’re often confined to reviewing things that are breathtakingly new.  Not today, when we’re turning back the clock a whole six months to look at an amazing record.)

(Editor’s note 2 – Kevin did a little internet experimenting with Veckatimest.  As recently as a couple of months ago, you could download the whole record from the hype machine.  This is total bullshit.  If you are either a) an unethical blogger who posted anything other than the band-sanctioned “Cheerleader” or b) a listener who downloaded the record for free from various sources and have been enjoying it for awhile, you’re kind of an asshole.  We had a protracted comment thread about fair compensation for artists, focusing on Grizzly Bear’s contribution to the New Moon soundtrack; if you didn’t pay these dudes a fair price for this record (and you love it), you’re part of the problem.  Give Grizzly Bear a fair wage for legitimate art and they might not have to whore out to Hollywood.  Just saying.)

(Editor’s note 3 – Stick with me; I know this is a lot of editorial fodder before the review proper, but I think it’s warranted.  Feel free to jump over the italicized text if you want the meat.  (I’ll think you’re a dick if you do that, but whatever.)  As mentioned above, I’ve had, arguably, too much time to think about Veckatimest.  For a brief period of time, I was flirting with writing the review in December as part of our “Best Songs of 2009″ coverage.  I was going to say that the five best songs of the year are all on Veckatimest.  Then I started thinking about all the songs I loved this year (“Gravelly Mountains of the Moon,” “Reflections of the Past, “Death of Autotune…”) and decided that would be kind of a dick move.  That concept, however, did make me think of that year that all of the Detroit Pistons’ starters were on the all-star team.  Which made me, obviously, think of basketball.  Which led to the (perhaps) strained extended metaphor that comprises the body of this review.  It seems that since the record has been on the shelf for awhile, this approach might work as most of the traditional things that can be said about the record have been said. With all of that out of the way, on with the review.)

You get no formalized critical statement today, dear reader.  Just know that I love Veckatimest enough to imagine what the starting lineup would be if the record was a basketball team.  Below is the starting five for Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest. Neither you nor Mrs. Citizen want to know how much I’ve thought about this.

Center – “I Live With You” – This was the easiest decision to make on the line-up card.  The muscularity of this track brings to mind classic-period Shaq.  When the strings and horns swell on this thing, behind the bruising “yes we can, you’ve brought us this far,” it’s like a big man hitting the drop-step and taking it strong to the rack.  When the band introduces the spacey keyboard riff with around one minute left, it’s like the integration of a  finger roll; a nuanced bit of flair in front of all the brute force.  While the rest of the record is covered in finesse, “I Live With You” is the cut where Grizzly Bear set the niceties aside and get loud.  To say it’s one of my favorites on the album is a horrific understatement.  (Quick aside:  I listen to Veckatimest on vinyl more than anything else I own.  “I Live With You” is on side four, which I often skip to, just so I can turn it up loud.)

Power Forward – “While You Wait For Others” - This song is workmanlike and steady, easy to miss if you’re not paying attention, but, if you’re a student of the game, a joy to hear.  There are things that a power forward does that might not get a bunch of highlight love or show up in statistical categories, things like taking charges, playing solid man defense, starting the break with good outlet passes and the like.  The same is true for “While You Wait For Others.”  It’s solid and sturdy, doing its job and letting the spotlight fall elsewhere.  It is inherently lovable for that.

Strong Forward – “Two Weeks” – This is the album’s superstar, Veckatimest’s LeBron.  This song has a mid-range jumper, a low post game, the ability to drive the lane and crazy court vision.  I posited to Kevin a couple of weeks ago that it’s the fourth or fifth best song recorded.  Ever.  It is achingly perfect in every way.  It’s hard to write about this song, because I don’t know that I have the juice to do it any justice.  On the cover of Helprin’s Winter Tale is this quote from the New York Times Book Review: “I find myself nervous, to a degree I don’t recall in the past as a reviewer, about failing the work, inadequately displaying its brilliance.”  That’s where I’m at with “Two Weeks.”  To circumvent the problem, I’m going to say nothing about it.  Listen to it.  Over and over.  Carefully.  That will do what needs to be done.

Shooting Guard -”Foreground” – This song doesn’t play any defense, right?  It shoots the lights out from beyond the arc, but it’s not getting its hands dirty on the other end of the floor.  It is a bit of a prima donna, knowing its worth, but a little delicate and little stand-offish, a little demanding.  The first couple of times I heard it, I thought the lyric was “there is a fulcrum,” which, for a minute I liked better.  It’s that kind of song: drifty, ethereal, maybe a touch eccentric.  The record probably doesn’t work without it though.  It closes the record on such a clean note, drifting into the ether, forcing you to start the whole record over again.  It’s a soaring three at the buzzer, skimming through the net, promising a victory.

Point Guard – “Southern Point” – The album opens here and establishes a lot of the sonic texture for the record as a whole.  The complex, swirling instrumentation, fearless and abrupt tempo shifts, deeply resonant harmonies, sterling musicianship and compelling songwriting that characterize much of Veckatimest are established strongly from the outset.  It’s the kind of first track that makes the listener sit up and pay attention.  That sneaky bass line and echo-laced percussion signal from the tip that something special is going on.  In much the same way that a good point guard initiates the offense, “Southern Point” initiates the record.  Think of Steve Nash working the ball around in the first quarter to get everybody into the action and you can see why “Southern Point” is at the one.

This record is so good that “Cheerleader” doesn’t even start.  It comes off the bench.  It is Vinnie “Microwave” Johnson.  The rest of the album is role-playing bench guys.  Kevin thinks there might be some filler there (I tend to disagree for the most part), but that is part of a basketball team.  You need a cagey veteran, ready for action only if “Two Weeks” blows out a knee or Veckatimest is destroying a weak opponent in the fourth quarter; “Hold Still” is fighting for playing time on a record this good, but it’s still better than anything on Styx II, right?

I’d argue that Veckatimest would compete for the NBA title this year.  If you’ve got issues with my lineup card, hit it in the comments.  Maybe you put “Two Weeks” at shooting guard to get the ball into its hands more.  Maybe you’d go small, move “While You Wait For Others” to the five and start”All We Ask” at the four.  Maybe you think another record could beat Veckatimest in a best of seven series.  You’d be wrong, but you’re more than welcome to your  (faulty) opinion.

Grizzly Bear – Cheerleader

As an added bonus, we’ve got two of these tracks live.  The most likely scenario is that you already own this record, but, if you don’t, these two tracks should force you to hit a record store immediately.  Enjoy.

Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks- Live, Boston, 2008

Grizzly Bear – While You Wait For Others – Live, Boston, 2008

If for some ungodly reason you haven’t bought this thing yet, get it here.