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I have a show around seven tonight, so I am spending some quality time writing this article for you. It's been a while since I wrote the last Lions, Tigers, and Bears article, this time we have enough to fulfill a few articles! Keep them coming.
To keep it interesting, these are just the "bears" bands. We'll get to Tigers and Lions next week.
PANDA BEAR
myspace.com/pandabear
You might know Noah Lennox, aka Panda Bear, as one of the founding member of Animal Collective. Animal Collective was the Pitchfork-type band of 2007, somehow they've just really exploded. Since the last Animal Collective album was released in 2009 (Merriweather Post Pavilion), fans are more than happy to get Panda Bear's Tomboy, which was released a few Tuesday ago, April 12th on Paw Tracks Records.
There are several things about Tomboy that makes it worth your while if you're into this sort of experimental layers of sound music. First of all the CD packaging is really cool, it's like a fold-out envelope. I don't know if it's a standard Paw Tracks package, but it's very cool nevertheless. Second, all formats, excluding digital, comes with a free download of the album, plus a live recording of Panda Bear's Live at Governor's Island. It's an extra bonus for fans, especially lazy fans that can't be bothered to rip their own CD.
I did get a chance to listen to the album, but not the live recording, and I thought "Slow Motion" and "Alsatian Darn" were the best of the eleven tracks, despite that they want you to like "Last Night At the Jetty". My least favorite is "Drone", which kind of goes on and on with one or two notes. You can argue that it's all about space and structure and the irony of the title "Drone", but at the end of the day, I still don't like it.
I have mentioned before that I'm not a fan of pots and pans bands, so I'm probably not the best person to review Panda Bear. It's pretty amazing that the whole album was made by basically one guy, and I'll bet he's equally amazing live.
GOLD-BEARS
myspace.com/thegoldbears
Gold-Bears are from Atlanta, Georgia, and they've just signed to one of our favorite record label, Slumberland Records.
Their debut LP is called Are You Falling In Love? and will be out on May 17th, but you can preview the tracks on Soundcloud.
I did quickly listen to "Record Store", which sounds very indiepop, very catchy and fun and happy. Makes you want to sing along to the "bah bah bah" and do handclaps.
Yep, they're doing some tour dates:
BEAR IN HEAVEN
www.bearinheaven.com
This band's name reminds me of Carebears and their home in the clouds, Care-a-lot.
Bear in Heaven recently premiered their track "Lovesick Teenagers" (Lindstrøm Remix) on Stereogum. The track comes from the Bear In Heaven/Lindstrøm split 12", released on April 16th, 2011, via Record Store Day. It's limited to 1,000 copies and comes in a full-color die-cut jacket featuring artwork by Snasen.
Also, Bear in Heaven, announced that they are pleased to be part of Benefit for the Recovery in Japan compilation album, featuring their track "The Days We Have". 100% of the proceed goes to the recovery and relief effort of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
More details and information on this project, head over to Civic Force and FB: Benefit for the Recovery in Japan
BOY & BEAR
myspace.com/boyandbearmusic
This band came to my attention when they announced that they were heading back to the US to play at SXSW. If you missed SXSW like I did, you can actually get a special iTunes Live EP. Hear the song on Nylon Magazine.
The band comes from Sally's town, Sydney, Australia, and I'm kind of surprise she hadn't written anything about them before. They are really good. In fact, they were just recently on Triple J's Hottest 100 acts of 2010 - and you could've easily won a copy of Volume 18 and hear their track "Fall At Your Feet".
I did listen to the streaming song and it's pretty catchy. Not a fan of the random audience "woot" and cheers, but then it wouldn't be a live track, now would it ?
If you're already on the Mumford & Sons bandwagon, you might as well ride with Boy & Bear.
To keep it interesting, these are just the "bears" bands. We'll get to Tigers and Lions next week.
PANDA BEAR
myspace.com/pandabear
You might know Noah Lennox, aka Panda Bear, as one of the founding member of Animal Collective. Animal Collective was the Pitchfork-type band of 2007, somehow they've just really exploded. Since the last Animal Collective album was released in 2009 (Merriweather Post Pavilion), fans are more than happy to get Panda Bear's Tomboy, which was released a few Tuesday ago, April 12th on Paw Tracks Records.
There are several things about Tomboy that makes it worth your while if you're into this sort of experimental layers of sound music. First of all the CD packaging is really cool, it's like a fold-out envelope. I don't know if it's a standard Paw Tracks package, but it's very cool nevertheless. Second, all formats, excluding digital, comes with a free download of the album, plus a live recording of Panda Bear's Live at Governor's Island. It's an extra bonus for fans, especially lazy fans that can't be bothered to rip their own CD.
I did get a chance to listen to the album, but not the live recording, and I thought "Slow Motion" and "Alsatian Darn" were the best of the eleven tracks, despite that they want you to like "Last Night At the Jetty". My least favorite is "Drone", which kind of goes on and on with one or two notes. You can argue that it's all about space and structure and the irony of the title "Drone", but at the end of the day, I still don't like it.
I have mentioned before that I'm not a fan of pots and pans bands, so I'm probably not the best person to review Panda Bear. It's pretty amazing that the whole album was made by basically one guy, and I'll bet he's equally amazing live.
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myspace.com/thegoldbears
Gold-Bears are from Atlanta, Georgia, and they've just signed to one of our favorite record label, Slumberland Records.
Their debut LP is called Are You Falling In Love? and will be out on May 17th, but you can preview the tracks on Soundcloud.
I did quickly listen to "Record Store", which sounds very indiepop, very catchy and fun and happy. Makes you want to sing along to the "bah bah bah" and do handclaps.
Yep, they're doing some tour dates:
05/14 Atlanta, GA 529
05/15 Durham, NC The Layabout
05/16 Washington, DC Velvet Lounge
05/17 Brooklyn, NY Fireproof
05/18 Somerville, MA PA's Lounge
05/19 New York, NY Cake Shop / NYC Pop Fest
05/20 Philadelphia, PA TBA
05/21 Richmond, VA Steady Sounds In-Store
05/15 Durham, NC The Layabout
05/16 Washington, DC Velvet Lounge
05/17 Brooklyn, NY Fireproof
05/18 Somerville, MA PA's Lounge
05/19 New York, NY Cake Shop / NYC Pop Fest
05/20 Philadelphia, PA TBA
05/21 Richmond, VA Steady Sounds In-Store
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www.bearinheaven.com
This band's name reminds me of Carebears and their home in the clouds, Care-a-lot.
Bear in Heaven recently premiered their track "Lovesick Teenagers" (Lindstrøm Remix) on Stereogum. The track comes from the Bear In Heaven/Lindstrøm split 12", released on April 16th, 2011, via Record Store Day. It's limited to 1,000 copies and comes in a full-color die-cut jacket featuring artwork by Snasen.
Also, Bear in Heaven, announced that they are pleased to be part of Benefit for the Recovery in Japan compilation album, featuring their track "The Days We Have". 100% of the proceed goes to the recovery and relief effort of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
More details and information on this project, head over to Civic Force and FB: Benefit for the Recovery in Japan
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myspace.com/boyandbearmusic
This band came to my attention when they announced that they were heading back to the US to play at SXSW. If you missed SXSW like I did, you can actually get a special iTunes Live EP. Hear the song on Nylon Magazine.
The band comes from Sally's town, Sydney, Australia, and I'm kind of surprise she hadn't written anything about them before. They are really good. In fact, they were just recently on Triple J's Hottest 100 acts of 2010 - and you could've easily won a copy of Volume 18 and hear their track "Fall At Your Feet".
I did listen to the streaming song and it's pretty catchy. Not a fan of the random audience "woot" and cheers, but then it wouldn't be a live track, now would it ?
If you're already on the Mumford & Sons bandwagon, you might as well ride with Boy & Bear.
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