Daniel Rossen’s Silent Hour/Golden Mile EP is as satisfying a listen as any release in the Grizzly Bear or Department of Eagles catalog. Rossen is the undeclared heart and soul of both of those bands and puts his stunning voice and guitar play front and center on his first solo release. His voice is nothing less than stunning on this release, and there’s even a piano ballad in “Saint Nothing.”
Still only 29, he’s already considered an indie rock God in many circles. Silent Hour/Golden Mile further solidifies his place. Each song would not miss a beat on Grizzly Bear’s Veckatimest, one of our favorite albums in recent memory. Standout “Silent Song” may be my favorite track of 2012 so far. From the opening twangy acoustic guitar, to the subtle but brilliant change at the one-minute mark, to the jaw-dropping breakdowns and flawless switches between layers of acoustic and electric, the track is an absolute gem. The EP is one of the best releases of 2012 not named Bloom.
Veckatimest solidifies Grizzly Bear as indie rock royalty and supports the argument that 2009 may already be the best year indie music has seen this decade. As one of the most anticipated releases this side of Merriweather Post Pavilion, Veckatimest exceeds all expectations and may just be the best album of the year. It’s difficult to describe a record that nears perfection, and Veckatimest deserves all accolades that come its way. The album leaked almost three months early, and less than adequate copies of this opus have been circulating for some time. Fortunately, the album officially releases next Tuesday (vinyl pre-orders have already shipped), and all of the intricate elements that make Grizzly Bear the best at their craft can be revealed.
“Ready, Able” may just be the best offering on Veckatimest. This song places Ed Droste in a category inhabited by few. His voice absolutely mesmerizes, and the additional vocal effects do not distract but add another dimension to the song’s composition not often seen in the band’s songwriting. About two minutes into the song, Droste brings us to the album’s highpoint, a repeating chorus that should never end. “They go we go, I want you to know, what I did I did,” confesses Droste over a crescendo of strings and guitar. Rossen continues the immaculate songwriting with the lovely “About Face” and “Hold Still.” “While You Wait For The Others” follows, and Veckatimest peaks once again. Rossen’s lyrics are especially strong, as he professes, “while you wait on the answers that I’ll pretend to find | keeping up with emotions still occupies our time.” The song features some very witty vocal deliveries, leading to harmonies that spellbind (the album is filled with them). “I Live With You” is another stamp of greatness and is as beautifully chaotic as the album gets. The album ends with the prettiest song that Grizzly Bear has conceived to date in “Foreground.” Ed Droste’s pop sensibilities shine through on this inspired piano ballad. The song and album end with an eerie choir of voices that slowly fade to silence.