Icelandic Seabear Soars
Seabear
We Built a Fire
Released on Feb 23, 2010
Noticing a trend with band names having animal references (Seawolf, Peanut Butter Wolf, The Mountain Goats, Deerhunter, Animal Collective, etc…), I chose “Seabear,” to see how they could stand out from the animal kingdom of music. When I started the album with a track titled “Lion Face Boy,” my preconceived notions about the whole animal name matter disappeared. I was reminded that it really is just about the music, and names are merely just labels.
“Lion Face Boy” was a well-picked track to start the album with. I found it to be a good introduction on what to expect from “Seabear.” The music is quite subdued, but not simple. Sindri Mar Sigfusson’s vocals provide a poignant element, making the music hard to compare with anything else. The elements are all there to make the album appear indie folk-ish, but that would be an unfair generalization.
One of my personal favorite tracks from the album is “Cold Summer.” Here, the name of the track corresponds to the emotions felt by listening to it. The vocals are very low and soft with a constant piano in the background. It just feels nothing other than beautiful. I became wrapped up in the picture that was being slowly painted, which is what music should do.
The middle of the album was a little slower than I would have preferred, but I thought of it as sort of an intermission. The song “Wooden Teeth,” felt like it could have belonged on a country/bluegrass album in some parts. However, I still managed to find enjoyable elements of this track. The vocals still didn’t fail to impress me.
Another track to note from this album is “Warm Blood.” It’s surprising since it contains rock-music elements, while not being a rock song. An impressive balance was achieved in a very tasteful manner. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this album. Iceland never fails to disappoint when it comes to music.
High Point
The album holds true to being of the experimental genre without being too “out there.” Everything fits together nicely, making for an excellent representation of the bands capabilities.
Low Point
The overuse of animal names in bands is out of control. Although, since they are from Iceland, “Seabear” does make some sense.
Posted by Jacob McPherson on Feb 23, 2010 @ 6:00 am
