Finally! Finally, one of my favorite modern bands has returned with a new album. I came late to the Grizzly Bear bandwagon, not discovering them until their 2012 LP, Shields, but once I dove into that project they really got their hooks into me. It quickly became one of my favorite albums to come out in this past decade and it’s a project I’ve played into the ground long ago. So Painted Ruins couldn’t have gotten here soon enough; I’ve been itching to hear what they’ve been cooking up.
“Try giving me a chance to get out
I want it
There ain’t nothing wrong
Every time I got it homeYou can take one look at the things that we started
But you know that I lost that key that promised home”
The word that immediately came to mind after giving it it’s first listen was, gorgeous! It’s an absolutely beautiful sounding album and they continue to have some of the richest and deeply layered compositions I’ve heard from a band, and each member is sublime in their craft. The compostions are so intricate and dense that there’s know way you’ll catch every nuance; I’ve listened to it a number of times now and each time I do, I discover something new. It’s a moody album that has an ambiance like a soft haze and while it’s much more synth driven than their last outing, they still retain that folky charm I loved so much the first time I heard them. I have yet to skip a single track, so do yourselves a favor and check this one out ASAP.
Have you heard Painted Ruins? What’d you think about it? Was it well worth the five year wait? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to leave your own ratings and reactions for the album.
