It’s not for the cock, it’s for album of the decade #6

The latest album of the decade is one released this year and one which has deservedly featured on presumably all the best of 2009 lists you could possibly want to strain your bloodshot eyes at. It is the third studio album by Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest, and is written about here by Sam Travis:

Grizzly Bear- Vekatimest

Maybe it isn’t my favourite album of the past decade, but it has got me listening to it enough recently that I’ve had a tough time remembering what is (In fact a lot of music seems to have drifted away in a folky, grizzly haze). Perfect melodies and harmonies (Two Weeks, Cheerleader) are nicely offset with random eruptions of swirling noise (Southern point, Ready, able). The tight swagger of the rhythm section keeps things ticking along; the moments of melody never sound clichéd, the “left turns” to which the band are prone never sound self-indulgent. Long story short, its just stunning, walking-with-headphones-on-cold-clear-autumn/winter’s-day music. Oh and “Foreground” is as good a closer as anything else I’ve heard, resigned and melancholy, yet strangely uplifting (maybe uplifting is a stretch). Seems like a fitting end to the decade to me.

P.S. Here’s hoping that the jangly piano bit in Southern Point was really supposed to sound like Still D.R.E