Folks rolled up their sleeves ‘n’ split into camps for Feist’s made-for Late Night choir. OK, maybe those outfits were a bit much, but it’s gonna be difficult griping about this bouyant remake of “Alligator” from Grizzly Bear’s quiet-is-the-new-loud 2004 debut Horn Of Plenty (that’s right, they had the name before the National!). Increasing the original minute-and-a-half sliver into five minutes and change of stunning, cloud-lined harmonies, the Grizzly boys are joined by Zach Condon and Dirty Projectors, soaring through the roof. Sweet, epic beauty with an off-the-charts final crescendo and well-played anticlimax to brass swell and drifting exit. Sorry if we’re drooling — but it’s that good.
This bigger ‘n’ better “Alligator” comes from Friend, a new 10-track collection of new material, covers, collaborations, and “reworked & re-recorded” material. Trust us, we know it can be hard comparing/contrasting different versions of old/new tunes, so take a listen to both “Alligator”s. Start with the new…
Grizzly Bear (Feat. Dirty Projectors & Beirut) – “Alligator (Choir Version)”
And move to the old…
Grizzly Bear – “Alligator”
You remember Horn Of Plenty (The Remixes) from way back in 2005? Well, “Alligator” was the one song not repped, so how about tossing this newbie in there somewhere? Anyway, we’ll have to wait ’til Warp unleashes the Friend EP on 11/6 to dig more, but in the meantime check the intriguing parentheticals.
01 “Alligator (Choir Version)” (Feat. Dirty Projectors & Beirut)
02 “He Hit Me” (Crystals cover)
03 “Little Brother” (Electric)
04 “Shift” (Alternate Version)
05 “Plans” (Terrible vs. Nonhorse: Sounds Edit)
06 “Granny Diner”
07 “Knife” (as covered by CSS)
08 “Plans” (as covered by Band of Horses)
09 “Knife” (as covered by Atlas Sound)
10 “Deep Blue Sea” (Daniel Rossen Home Recording)
And, if all of that wasn’t dizzying enough, the Grizzlies are about to embark on one more jaunt of the states, ostensibly in support of their new Friend (but you know you’re gonna get some Yellow House love in there). Not to be missed; believe it or not, they’re getting better still.
09/14 ? Austin, TX @ Club Deville (Hot Freaks party)
09/15 ? San Francisco, CA @ Mezzanine
09/18 – Northampton, MA @ Pearl Street***
09/19 – Buffalo, NY @ Traif Music Hall***
09/20 – Toronto, Ontario @ The Mod Club***
09/21 – London, Ontario @ Lola Festival
09/22 – Ottawa, Ontario @ Christ Church Cathedral***
09/23 – Burlington, VT @ Higher Ground***
10/05 – Montreal, QC @ Pop Montreal/Ukrainian Foundation
10/08 – Grand Rapids, MI @ Ladies Literary Club***
10/09 – Milwaukee, WI @ Pabst Theater***
10/10 – Chicago, IL @ Park West***
10/11 – Columbus, OH @ Wexner Center at Ohio State***
10/12 – Pittsburgh, PA @ Andy Warhol Museum***
10/13 – Baltimore, MD @ 2640 Space at St. John’s Church***
10/14 – Philadelphia, PA @ First Unitarian Church Sanctuary***
10/18 – Reykjavik, Iceland @ Reykjavik Art Gallery
***w/ Beach House
^w/ Deerhunter
The Friendly cover…
Related Stories |
|
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post, reply to, or rate a comment.
are they going to reykjavik for iceland airwaves??? also…is pearl st age restricted?
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH …when are you gunna play in FLa Mofoz??!!!!<33
astouding. for a sec i was worried about them post-yellow house. (how could they reach those heights again, ya know) this gives me so much faith. it’s like a new song all together, yumms.
that was pretty rad. not at all what I was expecting.
OMG!!!!!! I saw them at the Wiltern and they were amazing. This song is absolutely beautiful.
yeah iceland airwaves is on, at least th ats’ what the iceland airwaves site says
I think Stereogum peeps romanticize the whole thing a bit
I am from Northampton, Pearl Street is not age restricted but if it’s in the ballroom it’s a pretty lousy venue. Not terrible, I guess.
consider me impressed with the new version.
this song is amazingly beautiful. easily one of my favorite things right now. completely continues my excitement for grizzly bear! when the choir swells up and the big brass band explodes it reminds me of some classic black and white movie. i. love. this. band.
Grizzly Bear, for me, is among the most important group of people making music right now. Seeing them at Musicfest NW for my eighth time this year only further sealed it. They are so unbelievably talented and inventive. They just work so well together. I. Love. This. Band.
The interesting thing about this band is that they really seem to consitently put out quality shit. Not stuff that knocks me over immediately , but songs that creep up into my head after weeks and I find myself discovering things that I love about it months later. I can tell this song is going to be just like that. Already really like it, but I know there’s so much more to take in that I didn’t really get this first few times of listening.
Correction on the Ottawa, Ontario tour date for Sept. 22nd: they’re playing the Carleton University Alumni Auditorium. I know, because I’m going. =)
> I think Stereogum peeps romanticize the
> whole thing a bit
Haa. Chryde, we love you and La Blogothèque
sounds like Big Star’s “Kanga-Roo” (and Jeff Buckley’s cover)
i actually drooled when that first swell of sweet noise came in….spaceeeeeeeeee
HO. LEE. HELL.
How can they ever top “yellow house”?
if they continue with the multi-part harmonies, throw in twists and turns (new keys), if they embellish chords, if they keep doing the dynamic things, if that short guy guitarist keeps on writing for the band (man, that guy is amazing. the day he stops writing, that’ll be day i’ll stop writing)… and them things will seperate themselves from the rest.
That song above is terrific by the way.
i’m abolutely in love.
grizzly bear can my alligator anytime.
ok, thank you ice and bryan!