For all the building anticipation about Grizzly Bear’s long awaited Yellow House followup, we haven’t had much raw data to go on (unless it came in MP3 or .mov form). Thanks then to Drowned In Sound for extracting cold hard facts about the nearly completed LP from Grizzly Droste. Over the course of a chipper email interview, Ed shares notes on the album’s aesthetic; comparison to Yellow House; state of completion; personnel; and usage of children’s choir. All those things. Some highlights:
- Ed tells DiS Grizzly Bear are “nearing the last 20 percent” of tracking, to be completed in early December. Then it’s on to mixing and mastering.
- Yes, there’s gonna be a children’s choir, appearing on three or four songs (that’s the last of the tracking to be done, this December).
- On sound and songwriting credits: “I can’t tell you how excited we all are about it. It’s definitely got more variety, higher highs and lower lows. [It's] much more dynamic and [has more] breadth in sound, not to mention a much more collaborative approach to the songwriting. With Yellow House, most of the songs were individually written by either Daniel [Rossen, guitarist] or myself beforehand and then brought to the table, whereas a lot of these were written as a band or brought in at very primitive levels and then fleshed out together, which means more shared lead vocals and back and forth interplay between everyone.”
- If you prefer Grizzly Bear live, you and all of Ed’s friends both. So this time they’re “trying to be a bit faithful to our live sound, whilst still keeping the texture and layers we enjoy.” My favorite part of that answer, aside from the being faithful to the live thing bit, is that this was an email interview so Ed definitely said “Whilst.”
- Good news for fans of Chris Bear’s playing (i.e. everyone that wants the band to be faithful to the live sound): “The drums will also be showcased more on this album, as they were sort of hidden last time around.”
- Chris Taylor takes a production credit.
- Nico Muhly will contribute orchestral arrangements for the band’s show with the Brooklyn Philharmonic at BAM this February, and those arrangements will likely make their way onto the record.
- Aside from a backing vocal on “Two Weeks” from Beach House’s Victoria LeGrand and that Nico score, this is a Grizzly-only LP (i.e. no Friends).
- The album’s on track for an April or May 2009 release.
Saying all the right things, Ed. Read the unadulterated version at DiS. While you’re in the mood for Droste Q&As, check this one with Democratic Party political strategist Howard Wolfson at Democratic Party political strategist Howard Wolson’s indie rock and politics blog. Fun words to hyperlink, those.
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LeGrand + Grizzly Bear = awesomeness my ears might not be able to comprehend
this alone will make the album a winner for me
fuck yes. good news to erase prop 8 blues
I don’t think I’ve ever been more excited for an album than this one.
PROBABLY GONNA BE ALBUM OF THE CENTURY
cant wait for more details and the time to draw closer. i need this in my life. so excited.
Even if that Department of Eagles album was going to be the last GB-related thing I had heard for a while, I would have been happy. But now I’m really looking forward to ’09.
Real bears are far more exciting than Grizzly Bear. Actually, I take that back…anything is.
my god thats not the way
fuck yes. good news to erase those obama win blues.
you do realize they played an Obama benefit right?
Or can you separate music from politics?
good new to erase the other good news that wasn’t as good as this good news, blues
ACE always rears his ugly head to shit on grizzly bear anytime Stereogum writes about them
Good to know we have a reliable troll on Sgum
Hey, I do what I can. Keepin’ things real.
the knives are back!
i cannot wait, i call front row when theyre in philadelphia
This record and Animal Collective’s new one will make 09 a great year for music.
ok pitchfork freak.
look out guys! Grizzly bear is coming!
ed must be a cheap drunk, only the neck of the bottle is gone and he looks wasted
maybe it’s his and zach’s second one?
can’t freaking wait.
what they need to eventually do is record studio versions of live songs from yellow house and horn of plenty. namely lullabye.
can’t wait! sounds like they’ll be setting up nicely for a spring “snow has just melted” tour, so i won’t freeze to death waiting outside a venue to make sure i get a front row spot.
sxsw?!
THE GREATEST ALBUM OF ALL TIME BY A MILE
Let’s hope so!
I sincerely hope the fourth song they were playing on the Radiohead tour – I’ve heard it referred to as “2 Hud” – also makes the cut. My, that was a gorgeous song with some pretty great vocal lines. It took me by surprise at the concert, and was actually my favorite of the new ones.
Also, I’m really really glad Chris’ drumwork is getting more attention this time.
I’m in love with that song as well! In LOVE. So excited.
Does anyone else think that guy creeping in the back looks like Zach Condon? Maybe iI missed the part that says “this is zach condon” but…
it is zach condon, we just don’t care
I mean we do, but, ultimately we don’t
does that make sense?