Monday, February 1, 2010
Baton Rougeans might remember Kevin Hurstell best as one third of the now-defunct indie rock band Slobot. In the meantime, he’s been creating quite the blog buzz with his lo-fi band Frozen Bears.
On the band’s sophomore album, 2000, he and longtime friend Adam Waller chose not to go the big sound route. Instead, the album sounds much like its backstory. These guys set up shop in Waller’s small apartment and recorded “a love letter to their record collections” with the help of a four-track and various samples and loops.
For the majority of the 20-track record, Frozen Bears create some interesting distortion-tinged backdrops. The strength of the band lies in the songwriting and individual songs rather than the overall sound. Songs such as “American Way” and “Ship to Shore” are noteworthy for their immediate pop hooks—something Hurstell has never had a problem with.
Most of these songs barely reach past the two-minute mark. Annoying to some, especially with the large amount of tape hiss, but it’s a charming record that begs for repeated listens.
Essential tracks: “American Way,” “Ship to Shore,” “They Don’t Need You,” “One Eager Beaver.”
Recommended if you like: Times New Viking, early Sonic Youth, that buzz coming from the back of your fridge.
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