Regardless of your opinion about Grizzly Bear’s latest effort, you have to give the band credit for trying. Love it or hate it, you can’t say the band didn’t give it their best shot. That’s because Veckatimest sounds like one of the most labored over and carefully composed albums in recent memory. Likely a response to the anticipation surrounding this album in the wake of the critical success of Yellow House, there isn’t a note on Veckatimest that sounds less than carefully considered.

Fortunately, this results in a great album that seems only to benefit from the obvious care that went into its creation. The album’s weaker tracks (and there are a few) suffer from a lack of both good ideas and strong melodies, rather than an overwrought lack of spontaneity and dullness that can plague songs that have spent too much time in the oven.

It’s true those expecting Grizzly Bear to deliver twelve unadulterated classics with this release are going to be a bit disappointed. The quality varies a bit over the course of the album, but some smart sequencing and the fact that the majority of the songs are quite good ensures that the album is a success.

Veckatimest starts really well with “Southern Point” which plays it’s slow, quiet verses and loud, rollicking choruses off of one another well. The result is a pretty and interesting opener that does a great job of commanding attention right away. “Two Weeks” takes things to another level with a simple but addictive melody and beautiful vocals that combine to create arguably the band’s best song to date. Ed Droste turns in a strong vocal performance over a basic but memorable, bouncing piano line while the rest of the band’s “whoa-oh-oh’s” and the angelic harmonizing of Beach House singer Victoria Legrand swirl all around. The track is a triumph of simple pop melody and gorgeous vocals that ranks easily among the best songs of the year.

The excellent “All We Ask” follows, starting slowly with Daniel Rossen singing quietly. Soon drums kick in and the track builds momentum and explodes with a mighty and bombastic (for Grizzly Bear that is) chorus. The last minute is a surprising treat as the tempo shifts gears and handclaps get added in as the song hits a groove and rides it out until the conclusion.

Unfortunately the winning streak doesn’t last as the album goes on. The middle portion of Veckatimest is inarguably the album’s weakest section, featuring the most forgettable tracks on the record. Nothing here offends too much and at worst the material is simply boring, with “About Face” and “Hold Still” being particularly flat. “Dory” as well doesn’t manage to keep pace with the stronger stuff, but it, and the other weaker tracks are all at least pretty songs that have their moments, which prevents them from being total losses. It doesn’t help at all that these tracks are surrounded by such brilliant stuff, making them seem all the weaker by comparison. Helpful though is the placement of “Cheerleader” with its strong plodding melody, and the stunningly gorgeous “Ready, Able,” in the middle of the album, as these winners help keep the album’s second movement from becoming a chore.

Just as it began, the album ends on three really strong notes. “While You Wait For the Others,” “I Live With You,” and “Forground” are all beautiful examples of Grizzly Bear at it’s best, that make the wait through the weaker middle section well worth the journey while making a great final impression. Sure, it’s not a top to bottom masterpiece that fans might have been hoping for, and as a result it can’t go toe to toe with it’s predecessor in terms of pure quality, but Grizzly Bear have created a masterful record that has more than enough brilliant moments to overwhelm it’s weaknesses.

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Catch Grizzly Bear Sunday, September 27, and Monday September 28 at The Metro! Tickets are on sale now for the Sept. 27 show at etix.com as well as tickets for the Sept. 28 show.
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