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album: Yellow House
artist: Grizzly Bear
label: Warp Records / 2006
score: 89
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by Tim Mathiesen
February 2007
Grizzly Bear's sophomore release, Yellow House opens with "Easier," a gorgeous track that begins with subtle, quiet woodwinds and piano, soon joined by acoustic guitar and harmonized humming as if a group of friends are relaxing together. The beauty of "Easier" continues throughout the album with continued harmonized ooh's and aah's that are hardly noticeable since they blend in so well with the surrounding music. There are very little lyrics on most of the songs, yet enough not to be an issue (The only issue being that the songs are written to have lyrics).
The lead single, "Knife" is an amazing blend of folk and modern alternative which packs in creativity while still keeping it the simplest song on the album. Simple taps of the drum sticks, slow chord progression on the piano, while a beat slowly grows in the background. "On a Neck, On a Spit" is built on a simple rhythm, starting with acoustic guitar, that grows and reveals itself as the song goes on. The album's success is in complexity disguised as simplicity. On the surface these songs are beautifully sparse, yet a closer listen will reveal majestic arrangements and deep emotions.
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