Are bear bands the new wolf bands? Sure you’ve got Wolf Eyes, Wolf Parade and Guitar Wolf, but now there’s Grizzly Bear, Grumpy Bear and Black Bear–all with excellent releases this yes. Black Bear appear to have come from nowhere with The Cinamon Phase, but it’s the pleasent kind of surprise that can only come from an indie release. This is strongly suggested for fans of The Unicorns, The Hidden Cameras or Grumpy Bear.

MP3: Black Bear – Black Bear
MP3: Black Bear – I Believe In Immediacy
I take a particular bit of glee in noting how the bare instrumentation contrasts with the sheer poetic quality of “Black Bear.” In it, Sam compares his own life with that of his band’s namesake, the black bear. It’s an age old question in our modern times, but who really has it better: the bear roaming free, or we in our advanced, paranoid society? Similarly, “I Believe in Immediacy” is a quick, quick song that matches well with the subject matter. It’s witty in the way that the Unicorns or Hidden Cameras were/are witty.

Black Bear on Myspace
Buy The Cinnamon Phase

Let me just say that Kiss Kiss Bang Bang is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a while. I knew it would be great when I saw the trailer, and I was right.