I have been suffering from a very severe case of wanderlust. So, to temporarily relieve the travel bug, I drove from Columbus to Nashville and Memphis, Tennessee this past weekend. It just so happened that Bear in Heaven,Doldrums, and Blouse were performing in both cities, so I was thrilled to meet up with them again!
Doldrums played a lot of new tracks at the show at Hi-Tone in Memphis on Sunday. Check out my new fave, EGYPT, below, off of their upcoming 12” release. It’s fantastically funky and fresh! Pre-order through Souterrain Transmission before it drops on June 4 here!
The picture above is of Airrick Woodhead (Doldrums) and I outside of the Hi-Tone Cafe just after we danced our faces off, hence the huge smiles and glowing skin.
GPOY: Post Jury Room lunch photo with Bear in Heaven before they head out to Bloomington, IN tonight and then come back to Columbus tomorrow (3/30) for their show at The Basement!
It’s been three years since Brooklyn’s Bear in Heaven graced our ears with a full length album. In 2009, Beast Rest Forth Mouth was met with a flurry of critical acclaim from some of today’s most respected music blogs and magazines. Now, after a lengthy period of non-stop touring, they are set to release their highly anticipated third album, I Love You, It’s Cool, on April 3.
I received an advanced copy of I Love You, It’s Cool approximately two weeks ago. Honestly, I have not been able stop myself from playing it everyday at a rib rattling volume. Nor can I stifle the smile that creeps across my face as soon as the first coolly cavernous synth strain of Idle Heart hits my ears.
I Love You, It’s Cool has a much stronger pop punch than their 2009 release, yet is still expertly embroidered with flourishes of psychedelic, electro, and krautrock the trio is known for. In this album, synths take a more prevalent role. They create varied layered shapes and temperatures from a boiling staccato, to a balmy swirl, to a downright wintery drone. Philpot’s vocals are clearer and don’t get muddled with the rest of the mix as they occasionally do in Beast Rest Forth Mouth which caused some pretty silly lyric misunderstandings. Adam Wills’ notes of deep, resounding bass and guitar gracefully weave or walk in step with the precise and utterly commanding drive of Joseph Stickney’s pro drumming.
Bear in Heaven has held on to the subtle strain of creepiness I find so delightful. Simultaneously seductive and disturbing, the fifth track Cool Light stirs up vivid imagery of lead singer Jon Philpot “shimmering in the moonlight” like a stalking vampire-ish character, “watching you.” The anthem Sinful Nature sympathizes with and encourages those who feel misunderstood to let their freak flag fly. Other stand out tracks include The Reflection of You and Kiss Me Crazy, which perfectly articulates the frustration of playing the role of the rodent in a cat-and-mouse relationship. Each track serves as a facet to a familiar story of a consuming, infuriating and inspiring love.
I Love You, It’s Cool drops on April 3 via Dead Oceans. Pre-order your copy today by clicking here. Bear in Heaven is currently on tour! Check out a full list of dates by visiting their website at BearinHeaven.com
[Ohio can catch BIH on March 30 in Columbus, March 31 in Cincinatti]
We’re giving away a pair of tickets on our Facebook page this Friday to see Bear in Heaven in Columbus at The Basement on March 30! Like us to stay up-to-date on JackinthePocket.com news and events!
