Bear Hunter hail from Chico, California and play an eclectic brand of loosely based indie rock. Owing debts to bands like Pavement, Broken Social Scene and The Flaming Lips, Bear Hunter pull from numerous influences on You Will Be Heard!. Perhaps the band’s most recognizable is that of fellow California brethren, Grandaddy. You Will Be Heard! plays out quite similar to a Grandaddy record. The length is generous (50+ minutes) and the record seemingly moves at its own pace. Moods and tempos vary a great deal from song to song as Bear Hunter indulge in many different directions much like Grandaddy were prone to do. The band has been together since 2001 and it shows as You Will Be Heard! is certainly confident in its multi-lateral approach. Despite their noticeable influences, the band is still able to create their own version of a well-known sound. But, You Will Be Heard! simply tries to do too much within the band’s framework. Because of that, the album often comes off as lacking a much-needed focus at several points. There are some gems here that surely deserve to be heard though and Bear Hunter possess a good deal of promise for the future.
Genre: Indie/Rock
RIYL: Pavement, Grandaddy, The Flaming Lips
Label: Self-Released
The Lie
Thanks for the review Will!