 | Tracklist:
1. Catamaran
2. 5, 6 Kids
3. Six Bar Phrase Hey Hey
4. The Great Dinosaurs With Fifties Section
5. Baraga Embankment
6. Entrance Of The Elected
7. Seven Stop Hold Restart
8. What A Horrible Night For A Curse
9. Out Loud Hey hey
10. India Foot
11. Antwan
12. I F****d Your Dad
13. Heard Iron Bug, 'They're Coming To Town'
14. Song About Old Roller Coaster
15. Rich People Say Yeah Hey Hey
Release Date: 2005 | |
| | other reviews | David Driver (5)
Bear vs. Shark bid a fond farewell by offering, quite simply, one of the greatest albums of the post... |
On 10 Lists
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3 of 3 thought this review was well written
Bear Vs. Shark met a terrible fate a few months ago. The band decided to part after a few years and two albums. Their first was a new kind of sound, something that I considered revolutionary. Bear Vs. Shark had a way of combining indie-pop guitar riffs with lots of screaming thrown in the mix. It made the music sound harsh, yet poetic in the way it sounded happy and angry at the same time. The only way to decipher the meaning of the song would be to look at the lyrics (good luck listening to them). The sound isn’t all I find attractive though. The vocals satisfied my sweet tooth as well, the scruffy toned yells emitted from the music can make you shiver at times.
Terrorhawk is the band’s second, and last album. It captures some really heavy moments, and at times can be perceived as progressive. The funny thing, is that when the songs may be slow, the vocals are still delivered in a growly voice that completely contradicts the music. Compared to the band’s last record, this is a tad slower and more drawn-out. It also has some tracks on it where you can hear some light horns to occupy the flow of the song. Musically, the two cds are about the same. But the vocals department has had a major overhaul. There’s more screaming, and it’s as furious as ever. To quote Pitchfork Media, “Beneath Terrorhawk's ripped chords, frantic tempos and dudefaced vocals, there's a dewy-eyed indie rock record whimpering to be let out." I’d say that’s a great way to sum this paragraph up.
The song “Catamaran" would have to be my favorite here. The muted strings to begin the song carry it all the way to the final chorus. It just makes you want to dance. It has some great lyrics worth quoting, “Got your bones spread out on the dance floor, chomping bits on your way to the supermarket. Well respected, well received, the piano and the luggage own the reason that we all are faking it!" This would be one of the more post-hardcore oriented tracks on the record. But as mentioned before, there are better songs that are slower, and much more progressive. “Baraga Embankment" is definitely the best slower song on Terrorhawk. It begins with dreary piano and slow singing. Then the distorted chords kick in and the true magic happens. This is also one of the tracks with the horns in it, for a truly stunning effect. Is it me, or does this song give a mafia-esque tone? The screams are unforgiving, relentless and “just don’t give a damn". The song opens with “the kitty cats did scream oh how they howled behind the house – well, the big one laying in the frying pan". This is a great track that deserves a listen.
You can’t really review this album without looking at the big picture though. Many of the songs are forgettable, and there’s not much variation in them. The album is good while you’re listening, but then you soon realize that a lot of it is the same. Whether it’s the “AY AY!" you hear in many of the songs, after a big scream, or just the fact that the riffs never change tone. The first five tracks are freakin’ glorious. But the rest are just on the borderline of being good. If they could have kept the pace going the whole album, then this would be “five" material. But it just seems that much of it was filler.
In conclusion, this was a nice attempt, with somewhat of a good outcome. It’s a love it, or hate it relationship with this album. It may seem amazing at first, but it will let you down with later listens. But the first few tracks never get old, that is for sure.
Recommended Tracks
Catamaran
5, 6 Kids
Baraga Embankment
Seven Stop Hold Restart
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
This was a really good review just because it was packed with detail and it was very brief. I have yet to hear this, and after reading the review it sounds like it has some great tracks that I shall download ASAP.
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The first two lines completely contradict each other, but other than that great job. Damn, this is another band that's been left on my to-do list too long.
Digging: Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
one of my favorite bands right now, haven't heard all of Right Now, Your in the Best of Hands. i think both are classics though. id give this album a 4.5
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This did disappoint me after their stunning debut. Goodjob beyond.
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From what I've downloaded it didn't sound that bad, but I definately take RNYITBOH over this.
| | | Album Rating: 3
This is a neat album but not as good as their debut. The only problem I have with it is that there's a section of "Dinosaurs..." that sounds exactly like Weezer. Not that I don't like Weezer, but why such a blatant homage/ripoff? It's a bit confusing but not completely a bad idea in the end.
One of my favorite songs is the short "Out Loud Hey Hey" because it really captures that frantic At The Drive-In sound which this band reminds me of so much.
| | | Album Rating: 3
Thanks for the positive feedback Spat Out, Jom, Zebra, and Santi3hg.
To Zesty, I somewhat prefer the debut over this, but I would think of them on about the same level.
| | | Album Rating: 3
This album starts off really promisingly and then falls off the table. They have great songwriting in a few songs and fail on a lot of tracks in the second half of the CD.
Digging: Brother/Ghost - Black Ice | | | Album Rating: 3
DFelon speaks the trooth.
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great review man, ill definitelyt check this out
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my bad lolbr>This Message Edited On 04.16.06This Message Edited On 04.16.06
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Yeah when Catamaran first popped into my ear as the first track, I was anxious to see if they pulled it off in the sophmore effort. It just progressively became boring. Sadness.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Near the end the album really started to pick up the pace, IMO. Especially the last two songs, "Song About Old Rollercoaster" and "Rich People Say Fuck Yeah Hey Hey". Those and "Catamaran" are the highlights of the album for me.
It's too bad BVS ended on more of a low note, though, as this flails in comparison to "Right Now..."
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Would anyone else love to see a bear actually fight a shark. That would be pretty kick assThis Message Edited On 04.23.06
| | | Album Rating: 3
I wonder which of the two would win?
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It would depend on the environment. In water the shark would win. On land the bear would win. Actually in shallow water the bear might still win.
| | | Album Rating: 4
You would need enough water for the shark and the bear to comfortably move in. I think the shark would win.
| | | Album Rating: 3
You would need enough water for the shark and the bear to comfortably move in. I think the shark would win.
A 5-foot deep pool could stand as the arena.
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10 sputnik dollars on the bear. Lets get the bets rolling people.
= D
Either way I think the band won a fight between a bear and shark to win the name. Therefore they reign supreme.
| | | Album Rating: 3
BvS have always been s'preme
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