4Play: Grizzly Bear, Pete Yorn, Black Mountain, Silversun Pickups

Sept. 13, 2009

4Play: Grizzly Bear, Pete Yorn, Black Mountain, Silversun Pickups
Kristi Kates 9/14/09

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest - Warp
Brooklyn’s Grizzly Bear’s second set for Warp have crafted a nifty blend of indie rock and folk for themselves, highlighted by such quirky elements as out-of-kilter pianos, spinning organs, and retro-affected guitars, all of which have earned them coveted spots on late-night talk shows as the musical guest. The two tracks they’ve been performing on such shows the most often are “Two Weeks,” with its carnival piano and radio-friendly melody, and “While You Wait For the Others,” with its more modern feel and agreeable arrangement; elsewhere, the harmonies on both “Two Weeks” and “Foreground” ensure that they stand out as well.



Pete Yorn - Back and Fourth - Sony
Yorn is well-known for being a one-man band of sorts, tracking several instruments and vocals and taking on a DIY attitude for his first trio of albums. This time, he decamped to Omaha, Nebraska, and brought along Beck’s drummer, Joey Waronker, plus several other skillful musicians to serve as his recording band. This approach makes for a more live, slightly more off-the-cuff sound than his previous efforts, whether on a song like “Thinking of You,” on which he teamed up with Bright Eyes’ pianist Nate Wolcott; the convertible-ready listenability of “Last Summer” and “Paradise Cove”; or the snappy lead single, “Don’t Wanna Cry.”


Black Mountain - In the Future - Jagjaguwar
Vancouver band Black Mountain are definitely a band that’s determined to live out a past musical era - namely, that of ‘70s rock of the heaviest and most psychedelic kind. It’s not for everyone, but if you’re already a fan of that music style, you might dig this today-version of the genre, complete with Black Mountain’s use of vintage filtered organs, hammer-on/tapped speed guitar riffs, and retro-bombastic drums, all of which make perhaps their most dedicated appearances in the 17-minute-long tune “Bright Lights,” an homage of sorts to the old-fashioned, flamboyant ‘70s epic tracks that Hendrix and Queen would be proud of.



Silversun Pickups - Swoon - Dangerbird
Silversun Pickups’ second set is several steps above their debut set, Carnavas, which was a step above their EP release, Pikul, so it’s great the band is showing growth - although it’s not for nothing that their initials, SP, are the same as another band that obviously influences them (ahem - Smashing Pumpkins.) That said, their brand of alt-rock is a little more psychedelic than the Billy Corgan outfit, with the appropriately hectic pace of “Panic Switch,” the ‘70s city-punk of “Substitution,” and the nicely melodic “Catch and Release,” on which the vocals finally get a spotlight.