Oh right, Grizzly Bear have a new record. Whatever you think of Veckatimest, and most of you seem to think a lot vis a vis this year’s record from that other set of collected animals, “Cheerleader” is an outright standout on an LP full of them. As mentioned on premature assessment, the track builds on nostalgic, Spector-era melodies and a lockstep groove in the vein of their live/Friend fave “He Hit Me” (itself a cover of the Spector-helmed 1962 Crystals gem). Queue the choral exeunt, the quick spikes of chiming psychedelics, the tom-vamp from Chris Bear (aka he who shines on this album). It’s a good listen and a nice shift from Yellow House. The other thing of note in that PE thread was the large number of people holding off for legal and/or high-quality listens, so here’s a start.
Veckatimest is out 5/26 via Warp.
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How amazing is this song?!?!
very very amazing. from a fucking stellar album
!!!
depends on how big of a douchebag you are.
Well this version sounds horrible, so I could understand how some people could be put off by it. But really, Fratboy, calling someone a douchebag on the internet is the equivalent of just throwing your arms up and admitting that you have no original thoughts.
thanks for the info, douchebag.
I’d like to agree with you, except that people always say what you just said.
Originality fail.
i lol’d
i am guessing by the name ‘fratboy’ you’ve cornered the douchebag market.
you’d think so.
someone please explain exactly what it is you like about the song.
Great melody, great vocals, great production and drums, great harmonies, great song. Is that enough for you ?
thanks. i was tired of all the “this is the best song ever!” comments without any reasons why. i appreciate the details you provided.
This is the best song ever! EVER!!!!!!!!
Not to mention the best use of a children’s choir in recent memory. I hear some vespertine influence in the way they used those kids on the album.
Vespertine didn’t use a kids choir, it used a woman’s choir.
But yeah, I like the comparison. Funny because Bjork and Grizzly Bear are my two favourite artists, so maybe you revealed the link there.
and grizzly bear said they used a teenage girl’s choir. so youre sort of wrong as well.
Good song, hope that the new album be this good.
Warning: don’t scroll much lower than here on comments. What follows is one of the more irritating back and forth discussions in recent memory on these pages.
this sounds way better than my crap-quality download.
looking forward to hearing it all in it’s grandiose hifi, and even more so to them touring this summer
Sounds exactly like the copy I downloaded earlier…seriously you guys, stop dumping on the leak, it’s obviously of decent quality and no one’s buying the “it’s crap, wait for the release date” stories…you can still pay for it then you know.
Eh, its really not that impressive.
boooorrring.
Zzzzzzzzz
i love the song. But i don’t think it is any sort of high quality version. There is this weird lofi buzz going on through it. And some strange clipping sound every now and then. Great song though.
I totally didn’t like this song in the first 3 seconds. If that buzz persists, and was deliberate….what the hell?
i did notice the clipping. it still sounds more full and clear than what i got.
uh, the quality of this is lower than the leaked track
maybe i just downloaded Horn Of Plenty again and that’s why it sounds so lofi. HURRR HURRRRRR
Great song but maybe just a bit too long. Also I think it starts off stronger than it finishes–the last half started to loose my attention.
Grizzly Boring.
Three part harmonies don’t mean anything if your album has no memorable melodies.
If all they had out was a 7 inch, they’d be worth the hype. These albums bore the shit out of me. The hype/backlash/fade to black is so played out with indie rock and Grizzly Bear is another case of here we go again…
Decent song. The album has WAY better tracks. But this one is still good, don’t get me wrong.
Give me a break. This is supposed to be a great band?? I just puked in my mouth a little bit. A bit boring.
You puked in your mouth out of boredom. Please, teach me.
One of my favorite tracks from the record. No lie. It is kind of long but it holds its own. Foreground is better, though.
This album is going to change your life. Believe it.
Also, I heard Veckatimest is so good, that it will swoop down from space like Superman and cure cancer AND aids in one fell swoop. And maybe even make girls like you/look at you.
I like Merriweather Post Pavillion more than this album. Veckatimest is more complex in a technical sense, but overall MPP’s tone, feel, and textures are far more satisfying and original.
For that matter, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix is better too.
mpp sux. it’s fun for about a week then starts to give you a headache
MPP is fine and all but there are no real instruments on that album, this one is chock full or them, which alone makes it better in my book. MPP is fun, but ultimately sounds like one sample desk and a shit load of compression. Not that impressive really. Plus a lot of Animal Collective songs are too long and noodle around and don’t do shit
i love both animal collective and grizzly bear, but ‘real instruments’ have no bearing on how original an album or band can be. that said, veckatimest is clearly going for a different thing then Merriweather, and so far I prefer Merriweather. Sure there is repetitiion in MPP, but if you would listen to music not made on this continent once in a while, that can be a good thing…this new gb song was good, but my jaw never made it to the floor. album is preordered though…
to misquote the song–
it shouldn’t even matterrrrrr
excited
Basically, 2009 should end with a wrestling match between Animal Collective and Grizzly Bear. The match will go back and forth equally, and end when a masked man hits the ring and smashes everyone with musical instruments. Then the mask man reveals himself as Sufjan and begins a performance of “You Are The [Fake] Blood” but the tag team champions of the world Kanye West and Miley Cyrus interrupt the song at the 4:30-minute mark of the song and start beating the hell out of Sufjan and his backing band. Just then another fight breaks out in the crowd as The Flaming Lips fight The Arcade Fire, but just as The Arcade Fire is about to get the upper hand (they have the numbers advantage, clearly), Justin Timberlake and The Edge come out. The Edge kills everyone in The Arcade Fire with kindness. Then the lights go out and the Undertaker’s theme music sounds and out comes, guess who, none other than Mr. Thom Yorke who slowly approaches the ring (with Ed O’Brien holding an urn and making spooky faces) and then, once he gets to the ring, Thom beats the shit out of Kanye and Miley ending with a vicious tombstone piledriver, to an enormous ovation from the crowd. Everyone in the crowd admits that 2009 was a great year in music but still not as good as 2007.
I lol’d.
A lot.
Bravo.
Ron, this was the MPP/Veckatimist of blog posts.
OFFICIAL BACKLASH HAS BEGUN
this song owns. Album of the year. MPP has shit on this
what’s the difference betwen “has shit” and “doesn’t have shit”?
does that mean the same thing?
i’m serious.
get a job
i do have a job. i’m more often than not at it when i post on stereogum. i don’t work very hard.
i’m sorry; i didn’t know.
For the remainder of the year, young people who loved the Animal Collective record will pollute the internet in an effort to derail enthusiasm for anything that might seem poised to take even the slightest bit of attention away from their pet band. It’s been incredibly annoying thusfar, and it’s going to persist.
This is perfectly pleasant music. If it’s not enough to hold a place in your short attention span, then just move on.
Well said. I feel like there are some dumb sabotage attempts going on, seems fishy. This is great! Live and let live, come on! Enjoy the tunes.
It’s ok. Pretty uninteresting ultimately though like others have said. I’ve listened to this album a handful of times now, and truthfully, it just isn’t that memorable. It is original, no doubt, but beyond that, the songs all start to run together. I feel the focus on this album is obviously on all the instruments, harmonies, and song structures, and not on writing good songs or melodies. There is only one half of the equation here in my opinion.
Sooooo OVERRATED. ZZZZZZZZZZ These guys don’t make good music. Are you guys deaf? Sheesh these guys get as much hype as Animal Cuntlective, Vivian Gags, and Crystal Faggots.
Crystal Castles, Crystal Antlers, Crystal Stilts, or Crystal Method?
crystal skulls as well
clever
woah silly backlash, easy there.
this song is incredible. the end harmonies make me melt every single time. and the chorus melody is blissful. love the drums and the subtle electronic hand claps and bass hits. it’s very direct yet with so many, so many layers and subtleties.
I just rode my bike in the breezy sunshine that we’re having today and listened to this and it was the definition of nice. Chill awesome beautiful summer time song in a way that only Grizzly Bear could do. Lush, harmonies washing over you. Can’t wait for the summer shows to hear it live again!
I love it soooooo much. Easily one of my songs of the year. (I’ve had the album for a while. Also, yes there is a little clipping and unfortunate sound crap with this stream. Cant wait for people to finally hear it with full, professional production sound the way that it was intended)
i completely know exactly what you are talking about. riding your bike while listening to grizzly bear is the equivalent to………well, nothing! its a euphoric experience
People love to hate on great music. These melodies are far more exciting/interesting then most of the poop out there. Grizzly Bear are blowing up and all the bitter bitches are coming out in full force. Get over it. this is a fucking awesome album, some people like them more than Animal Collective. Agree with Andrew, anytime attention is draw away from that jumbled mess of an album MPP, Animal Collective fans start freaking the fuck out.
Totally agreed. Shame on others for trying to bring people down. It’s just music. And really well done music at that! What’s the use in flipping out? It can all exist and we can enjoy it all if we choose to. Seems to me that Panda Bear wouldn’t approve of this immature name calling
Hating on this band when there is SO MUCH SHIT music is just plain stupid. If it’s not your thing, deal…but it’s original , fresh and so much more interesting than 99 percent of the shit people listen to
This is probably the most boring song on an otherwise good album. Dory isn’t particularly good either.
you are stupid and wrong. Thank you for your time
“People love to hate on great music.”
I don’t know about you, but I love to like great music and this shit is boring.
Fuck Animal Collective, they’re boring too.
I want to hear some fucking songs!!!!!!! Spare me this pseudo prog intellectualized bullshit. Go buy cardigans and circle jerk with Vampire Weekend, pat yourselves on the back and masturbate to how incredibly “chill” and “blissfully complex” you are.
In the meantime, I wanna hear some fucking tunes. Of which there are maybe two in all of Grizzly Bear’s discography.
All the best to them, but it’s a free country and I’m just saying – shit is boring and ultimately forgettable.
As a music fan I’m tired of taking cues from a bunch of blogs dependent on there always being a next big thing. Spare me the feeding frenzy, it’s destructive to the musicians involved and Grizzly Bear are another band about to hit the most over exaggerated glass ceiling since Sarah Lewittin.
God Bless them…I hope they get the success they deserve and connect to the kids that will want to hear this as I’m sure there are some out there, nothing personal, just this whole “greatest album ever made” title given out every two weeks to every band who puts together 12 songs is exhausting and boring.
Blogs are undoing themselves with all of this.
What exactly is a fucking song to you? You sounds like a dreadfully lame person
just out of curiousity, what are you big on lately?
any suggestions to go with your rant?
yes!! Someone else who gets it. Throw other boring ass bands like Ponytail, Chairlift, Crystal Stilts, and Yeasayer into that group. If you really like prog, there are a bunch of bands 30-40 years ago that were a shit ton better at it then these bands.
Im no hipster indie douchebag baggin on Grizzly Bear for the sake of it, and frankly animal collective sounds like a bunch of dipshits too. Im old so I almost fell asleep listening to that shit. Im going to katmandu!!
your music sucks dick bobby.
Hahaha. I have made millions and your favorite band with boring music will struggle to put food in their mouths. Why?? Cause only a few people with tin ears can stand their music long enough not to be bored to death.
Hey I think Pitchfork loves Cymbals eats Guitars!! Maybe you should follow them now too. Or maybe not, cause their songs are actually interesting unlike this one from Grizzly Bear.
you tyrant
“…pseudo prog intellectualized bullshit…” HAHAHAHAHAHA PLEASE NO MORE HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!1!!11!
Yellow House >>> Veckatimest
MPP >>> Yellow House
therefore:
MPP >>>>>> Veckatimest
Transitive property, folks.
you have it completely backwards zach.
veckatimest >>>> Yellow House
Yellow House>>>> MPP
Thusly, Veckatimest is WAY >>>>>> MPP
get it right next time
You are both wrong.
Yellow house > or = Veckatimest
And then in a completely separate arena because these bands are NOTHING THE FUCK ALIKE other than that they both make interesting, thought provoking music:
MPP > Strawberry Jam
Just because two bands coexist and have common fans does not mean you can compare them like apples to apples. One thing that is killing music is to have a huge umbrella term like “indie” over many good things that are COMPLETELY DIFFERENT and then comparing them like it’s all the same. Fuck that.
Honestly the backlash here, albeit mild is just stupid. People don’t like it when other people are successful or make something that is generally seen as “great” so they feel it their duty to “take everyone down a notch” . Why? Not sure, but it’s utterly pointless and in this case totally unsubstantiated
At least Grizzly Bear play instruments which is far more than I can say for Animal Collective
I think Animal Collective’s lack of musical knowledge is very attractive, especially considering how musical they are. It allows them to create music with a structure of their own. I couldn’t make music like animal collective’s because i probably know too much about musical structure.
And with Grizzly Bear, they obviously know something about music, and then consciously choose to push the structure further away, which is just as admirable to me.
everyone who claims to have ‘heard’ this record here is lying (except Amrit & Scott). why don’t you put some headphones on and listen to the non-shit 128k ripped version on CD or better yet vinyl when it comes out in May – then make your decision (as the band intended the music to be heard).
i call bullshit on that EW post, there’s no way dudes in gb want that crappy stream being heard by anyone. the song is great but that is a straight-up mess. that buzz, the tracking clicks, just awful. and if you think ed and dan hand-deliver a copy to scott and amrit, think again, they got it the same way i did. a little persistence, and it’s easy to get a 225kbps version. having said that, i still want a vinyl copy.
I stopped listening after 45 seconds. Oh man…
http://diggingfordays.blogspot.com
your blog sux.
Yeah, how is it that the quality on the single is worse than on the leak? Me no understand internets!
Color Me Bad harmonized like this too, except they knew better than to cover up the lack of melodies and hooks with delay pedals.
Am I the only one that finds it a ridiculous excuse to say that you can’t juge a song by the mp3 audio of it in the year 2009? If they didn’t want it to be heard as an mp3, why post it to EW.com?
So, I’ve gotta listen to something with headphones on, a fucking lava lamp and a mixing board to run from my record player in order to “get it”.
No dice, sorry pal – shit is boring.
The blonde dude in this band wears black sunglasses when he rides the L train.
The future must be to bright for him to bear.
can all of you just meet up in real life and fight?
going off one of y’all’s comments:
MPP > Yellow House
Yellow House > Veckatimest
and if…
fans of AC only and fans of GB only fighting in a random parking lot > MPP
this would mean…
fans of AC only and fans of GB only fighting in a random parking lot > the best music offerings of the Pitchforkian year (so far…Actor still has yet to hit da streetz)
but the real question….
fans of AC only and fans of GB only fighting in a random parking lot VS. fans of neither bands gathering in a McDonald’s PlayPlace ball pit to take a group picture only to hear a Girl Talk mashup of “Two Weeks” and “My Girls” on the overhead speakers, which results in a riot and a discontinuation of McRibs (again)
you are blowing my mind
I’m not sure if this song merits all the rave the new stuff is getting. I liked the department of eagles cd better. Maybe the rest of the tunes will change my mind.
I WILL KICK ALL OF YOUR ASSES. MEET ME AT THE CORNER OF4TH STREET AND D TONIGHT AT 7 PM. BRING YOU COPIES OF MPP. I WILL EAT THEM. THEN I WILL CRANE KICK YOUR ASSES BACK TO THE STONE AGE.
“Use something nearby as a model.”
I’m glad people are enjoying what I find to be one of the less-standout tracks from Veckatimest. Just wait until you hear it all. I played Southern Point today 5 times in a row because walking along in the newly-warm weather was just the perfect way to listen to it.
I personally don’t remember the last time I “backlashed” on an album. I think there’s lots of really talented artists out there and that if you don’t like something at one time, maybe you just aren’t listening in the right context?
But ultimately, I don’t give a fuck if you don’t like it, because it doesn’t change how much I can listen and love this.
So please, continue if you must! (cunts)
Doesn’t sound bad, doesn’t knock me out of my chair either. Gets an OK rating for now.
I’m starting to feel I may need to scroll directly to “leave a comment” on anything that says Animal Collective or Grizzly Bear around here.
Please, if you don’t like a certain band why waste your time reading/typing stuff on news that are obviously about them? Not all music is for everyone. Just move on.
Why are people comparing Veck to MP? Their both great.
I think the backlash is kind of interesting, really. I would guess that most people have feelings like that ? anger at other people enjoying something they themselves don’t enjoy. I know I felt a little bit of that myself when the vampire weekend album came out. Not everyone broadcasts it (although blog comment sections make it more frequent). It seems weird to waste time getting angry about something so trivial, but it’s very frequent. It’s not just music ? people do it with movies, books, food, cars, clothes, etc. Some of it’s elitism and conceit, but then some of it seems to be in a different category of just visceral rage. I wonder if it’s not the same feeling people get that make them want to stop people from doing drugs, smoking, driving without a seat belt, believing/not believing in god, etc. As if “bad” music is physically harmful and you want to stop people from hurting themselves. Ok, sorry, too many words.
WHAT ABOUT DAN DEACON AND DAN AUERBACH?
‘you think it’s like this, but really it’s like this’ by mirah is better than the new animal collective and grizzly bear albums.
I really hate how much people care about other people’s enjoyment of music. I don’t yell at my mom for liking stuff I don’t like, so why do people care that a lot of people love Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective??? What is the point? I fucking hated Clap Your Hands Say Yeah but my girlfriend loved them I didn’t constantly tell her how shit they were or that she sucked. Blog comments suck.
On the subject of Veckatimest, it’s a really really wonderfully complex and amazing album. Reveals a lot on repeat listens. Easily my favorite release so far this year, but i’m hoping for even more!
Have any of you actually thought about how fantastic it is that we got BOTH MPP and this album this year? Lst year was not so good; this year is making up for it.
They upped a MUCH better sounding version. You can really hear the song better now. So fucking gorgeous.
The bestest year for music ever! (i’m only partially kidding but I agree with Dan makes 2008 look like turd)
If only the haters knew, that their relentless commenting only further perpetuates the Grizzly Bear hype. Lo and behold, yet another grizzly bear post on stereogum at #1 most commented. NIce one guys!
i will be a cheerleader for Grizzly Bear.
Not that anyone is reading my posts, but again, I like Grizzly Bear. I dig their style and music. I just don’t think they are as amazing as everyone else seems to. I think they’re a pretty cool band. I’ve seen them live, and I enjoyed it. They don’t blow my mind or get my heart racing though. I still think their stuff tends to run together and be a bit on the boring side.
I don’t really understand this competition thing between Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective. Why does it matter if some critics or fans declare one or the other the album of the year? Do you guys really put that much stock into that sort of thing? You can’t just listen to and enjoy/not enjoy the music without turning it into some kind of pissing match?
That melody is beautiful….drums sound like they are on a subway platform awesome. It reminds me a tiny bit of ‘All Tomorrows Parties’ but with boys singing and quite original….does anyone know what they recorded it on and where?
subtle, creative and patient……put on headphones and lay on your back. if you don’t “get it” it’s a shame.
uhhh, guys? you used ‘vis a vis’ incorrectly.
and nice album, but kind of boring.
awesome song…big fans of these guys where are they going to be next? ive heard some rumors but nothing.. alot better than previous albums….
I finally caved and listened (I’m holding out for my copy on vinyl) and this is gorgeous, perfect on headphones
21st Century Breakdown is going to blow this shit out of the water. 2 months ’til game over, bitches.
Why does anyone who says something negative about Grizzly Bear and their ilk get such a negative response? Are you such indie lemmings that you can’t accept the fact that some people don’t like your over-hyped overly-sensitive over-overdubbed over-layered baroque protools pop. Christ, somebody get these bands a distortion pedal.
Wow, you must be really “punk rock” wish I could hang with you
The melody is overly derivative of 60s and 70s soft rock like Simon and Garfunkel, Steely Dan, etc. Lacking an interesting tempo, the tune drags by like a piece of cold ramen. The unnecessarily numerous use of vocal harmonies draw too much attention to themselves, rendering the song self conscious and pretentious. Much of the background negative spaces are not fully explored enough, leaving the listener wondering Just how much better could this have been?
Josh Tesh farting > Grizzly Bear
PSUE-PSEU-PSEUdio intellectual
This is totally a bitter dude in a band. Your comment is so off point is totally isn’t even mildly legit in your crit. Get a life.
Of course I meant John Tesh. I
Wow. You are all dorks.
OK, I just listened to the song. Ummm, where’s the good part?
you have cloth in your ears. Take it out dumb ass
You’re an asshole with bad taste.
Why doesn’t Stereogum just make the complete top 10 threads all about Grizzly Bear? Just go ahead and get it over with guys. “Grizzly Bear Goes to Sbarro for Lunch, Orders Slice of Cheese Pizza, Enjoys It.”
First of all, anyone who talks shit about this band is ignorant, narrow-minded and has the attention span of a fucking gnat. Sure you don’t like it, but these guys have talent and they’re using it to create something for people to enjoy. Its Grizzly Bear, they’re masters of keeping it simple, but they won’t just whip their dicks out on the table for you to see either… you gotta find that shit. And if you don’t enjoy it, well, then go listen to The Flaming Lips or something.
Second of all, Ed’s voice slays my soul; and the guitar tone is richer than velvet cake. Did I discredit myself just now? Fuck you.
Such a gorgeous song!!!
think what hes saying is possibly you dont always have to be ‘big’ on something to enjoy music. if ‘great’ music isnt around, its not around. dont try and force that mantle onto ‘good’ music ie gb/ac. be patient. patronize over.
I fucking hate all you assholes who come onto this website and post comments. You’re all a bunch of dumb pricks.
O’DOYLE RULES!
I hate all you assholes and slobber the dicks of Grizzly Bear then slam on those of us who won’t join you in the suckfest.
This suuuuuuuuuuuucks
Best new band making music. Absolutely floored by Veckatimest, wasnt that big on them before now I’m sold 10x over
Ive never been that crazy about Grizzly Bear, but this song is incredible.
THIS HAS TO BE ONE OF THE BEST SONGS OF THE LAST 25 YEARS, NO QUESTION.
I don’t get it. Grizzly Bear are not that great… Wait– am I just not indie enough?
Yes, it’s an indie thing you wouldn’t understand…
chris cornell’s “Scream”> grizzly bear, by far.
oooh what a diss yo
you aren’t even funny
this band isn’t indie rock, it’s an indie castration. they should go away.
go listen to the black lips and shut the fuck up. These guys aren’t going anywhere
95% of the comments on this page are from uninformed morons.
All the members of Grizzly Bear are INSANELY tallented (maybe not ED…quite as much as the others).
Such a special band.
Rossens solo work (Department of Eagles) is amazing as well.
Reality is, most people aren’t smart enough to realize this.
Do Grizzly Bear fans go out of their way to talk shit about Animal Collective online? Probably not, we try to stay away from sounds that are loud and repetitive. (BURN! though I like AC)
This thread is just confusing to a non-blogger.
How many REASONED opinions have been voiced here?
This is just a slagging match between two groups of painfully subjective “fans” all overly dependent on a connection with their respective pet band. I could understand a certain rivalry between local followers of two bands, both based in brooklyn, that have been as relentlessly compared (rightfully or otherwise).
IN MY OPINION:
Both “Veckatimest” and “MPP” have been hyped to the point where fanatic advocates of either or both bands’ music, have felt the need to get vocal or defensive, even before the release of the records themselves. I personally like both records and (in my opinion) they are the most accomplished pieces of work produced by these two bands to date. They are certainly the least comparable (that is an assertion not an opinion). As for which is best, that’s for you to form your own judgement.
Interestingly no mention of DPs’ “Bitte Orca” here, which is arguably (yes, I said arguably) as good as either album being praised or slated above. Oh well, it seems music itself doesn’t hold as much evidence of it’s quality as the hype surrounding it.