Search - Grizzly Bear :: Yellow House

My house may not be yellow, but grizzly bear has found a hom

Scot McGinn | Brookeville, MD | 02/27/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I normally don't do reviews on Amazon, in large part to the fact that most people reading them have already formed their opinion on the item in question. Grizzly Bear's Yellow House is a prime example of this unfortunate pattern. The chance of an "average" reader wandering into this area without some appreciation for the genre will be rare. However, I was such a reader, so I figured I would give it a shot.



In my opinion, I have not heard anything that comes as close to audio art as Yellow House. It is very clear that the band spent an enormous amount of time and effort polishing each indvidual song, which alone is impressive, but also blended the entire album catalog so the sounds were cohesive, flowing, almost like a long poem. They use a tremendous amount of instruments, fading and editing, and room space to create a haunting and magical atmosphere.



At first listen, what might be mistaken as mild chaos at times will later showcase a tremendous amount of control and management of sound. No doubt layering techniques are used on some tracks, but it's hard to tell what effects are natural (like playing an instrument far away from the sound stage) versus fabricated at a sound board. Plus, the band is able to reproduce a lot of their sound live; a must for any artist who wishes to be taken seriously.



All pretention aside, I am really glad I found Yellow House. I can enjoy it on so many levels, from playing it in the background of a party, or just mellowing out with the old lady and a good book. If you're considering buying it or on the fence in your decision, you won't regret your purchase. This one is going to last you a long time and has a timeless, breathtaking sound.



"

Welcome Home

Mark Eremite | Seoul, South Korea | 05/11/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The lo-fi neo-psychedelia freak-folk of "Yellow House" is not so easily described. Hence the rather amorphous appellates "lo-fi" and "neo-psychedelia" and "freak-folk." Listening to the album (over and over again), a lot of descriptions came to mind...



The Beach Boys, minus the beach ("Knife").



A moon-powered TV on the Radio ("On A Neck, On A Spit").



A tamed-n-trained Animal Collective ("Easier").



Hot Chip on ice ("Little Brother").



If none of that makes any sense to you (and who can blame you?), let it be enough to say that Grizzly Bear's sophomore LP is as warm and silky as sudsy bathwater. The quartet utilizes banjos, laptops, and flutes (among other, more traditional instruments) to create something so atmospheric, so emotional, so good that at times it's just plain heart-wrenching.



Named after one of the band members' mother's home, where the album was recorded, the album is just as inviting as a return to the loamy roots of nostalgia. The apogee of cool soul sonics, "Yellow House" is big enough to live in, but as cozy as a warm embrace."

Yes get it and see them live

Jessica | New York | 10/01/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"a song excerpt may help you get the genre, but to really get IT you should hear the whole album, go for the whole ride, and listen to how the delicately balanced songs progress with geometric precision, then are broken with magnificent grizzly guitar tantrums and textural spasms that manage to be both futuristic and timeless. dont write them off as a freakfolk experiment. grizzly bear is a really great band. you must see them live too."