Veckatimest

Why does this sort of twee, folky, indie "rock" always have to overstay its welcome? This album was over 3 songs in but for some reason felt the need to punish me for a further 9 songs and 45min. Nothing but padded drums, banjos and meaningless waify vocals. If it had been around the 30min mark (and not 55) I might have even given it a 3 just for having some self-awareness. Also, why is the softest thing ever named after an animal renowned for ripping your fucking face off? Is that part of the gag? Thanks, hipsters. HAR HAR. 2/5.

“Veckatimest” by Grizzly Bear (2009) I’ve never listened to this album nor heard of this group. Marked by rhythmic intricacy, instrumental complexity, innovative chord structures, and elaborate vocal arrangements, this album is very well conceived, composed, and performed. It defies genre (one of the requisite elements of what makes a classic). Only time will tell. The sonic landscape is endlessly diverting. The genius here is in the ability to compose and effectively perform an extraordinary range of chords and instrumental sounds without sounding random. Bass player Chris Taylor consistently accomplishes two things in this album: First, he ties together the rhythms from the percussion to the rest of the composition. And second, he provides a steady tonal grounding so the listener doesn’t get lost in what could be chaotic chord development. These compositions are experimental without being arbitrary and aimless. The music is well integrated within each song. It would take several listens to assess whether this integration extends to the entire album. I think I’ll give a whirl. Guitar, keyboards, and percussion flourishes are all performed with precision, with controlled pitch and tone—not an easy feat with this elaborate compositional structure. These guys have real talent, both at the ‘drawing board’ and in the studio. The lyrics, however, are underwhelming. On this album, words mainly serve to convey a semblance of vague meaning to the music. But it’s not necessary. I’d like to hear a symphony composed by this group (followed up by an a cappella compilation, because their voices are that good). Vocally, they intuit the chords (some of which it sounds like they invented). These vocal arrangements are evocative of David Crosby. It’s probably a mistake to refer to “vocal arrangement” because the vocal sounds are not put together to support a lyric melody. They actually become an instrumental group within a symphonic orchestra. Lyrics stress themes of returning to a beloved locale, with reflections on settings space and time. Abstract, but never jarring, clunky or trite. Listen to the predominance of major seventh chords on “Southern Point”. This is like the best of progressive jazz. “Cheerleader” is compositionally spare, but rich in instrumental variety, with very effective use of the Brooklyn Youth Choir as background coloring. Bear on drums gives an entrancing performance here. The second track, “Two Weeks” settles back into a relatively standard chord structure, allowing the lister to better assess individual compositional contributions and performances, which are excellent. Vocally, they sound like a jazzy Beach Boys. Whatever they lack in individual vocal virtuosity, they more than make up with their ability to ‘hear’ with their voices. “I Live with You” has influences from David Bowie and Harry Nilsson. Another brilliant incorporation of the Brooklyn Youth Choir. Percussionist Chris Bear displays a superior ability to move from one rhythmic setting to another flawlessly, rising above the standard task of merely keeping a groove to the achievement of becoming an essential component of the compositional effort. I’ve listened to and rated 26 albums on this list. “Veckatimest” is the first one I’ve decided to buy. Grizzly Bear does for contemporary music what Arnold Schoenberg did for symphonic music. Many will hate this music. The rest of us want to stay young. 5/5

This is pleasant enough stuff. But I really don't know what it's doing on a list of the 1001 greatest albums of all time.

Why people hate hipsters.

It’s like a cool niche restaurant; scene, decor, theme, but food is just not my taste and now I just want Whataburger.

This is just the average of every indie rock album I've heard. Not bad, just didn't stand out. It was cool to hear the original song 'two weeks' since I've heard the sample so many times, but that's all.

What a surprise that Veckatimest showed up here! I would have never imagined that Grizzly Bear would appear, but I'm glad they did and I sure agree that this album deserves it. I learned about GB at my first Bonnaroo the year this album hit the scene, and have stayed close to them since. Their incomparable rhythms has been a breath of fresh air even for indie music. The depth of Veckatimest is rich with diverse, playful and haunting sounds and harmonies that really capture something unspoken,...an internal experience that includes feelings of sadness, anxiety and transition, but ultimately, for me, wraps around me like a warm blanket of affirmation, hope and love. Veckamist represents a day in my life, with all of the variations of heart rates, emotions, and thoughts. The balance of Droste's & Rossen's vocals touch different personal nerves, and the band's instrumentation truly is riveting. Seeing them live in a venue that can adequately reflect the beauty of their off tempo songs with the congruency of their light show, is something I'll never forget. Smooth and melodic, striking and penetrating, Veckamist as an LP is a strong reminder to the world that art follows no protocol and that it cannot be contained.

I listened to this when it came out 12 years ago, and forgot about it until today. That will probably happen again.

Not really grizzly bears more like a group of pretentious winnie the pooh voice bears singing intentionally awkward harmonies while playing their instruments half asleep. Way too many vocal overdubs and production sounds like a vat of goop that's been cooking on the stove for days.

It's going on 10 years since I listened to Grizzly Bear, so when Veckatimest showed up as AOTD, I felt immediately nostalgic for my early 20s law school days. Shields had come out during my last year of law school, and my roommate and I were fans of GB, so Veckatimest and Shields (and even Yellow House) were on heavy rotation at our place. Even the album cover really brings me back to simpler days of day drinking and playing Halo. That's all just window dressing, though--the things I felt before I actually listened to the album. I busted out my good headphones for this one, and I was genuinely excited for it. At this point, I'm 45 minutes in, and honestly, it sucks. Everything was set up for me to love it, and it fucking sucks. Songs I remember fondly--Two Weeks and Ready, Able--just sound like moaning and mandolins. I fucking hate this wussbag shit. So what changed? I've spent most of the back half thinking about the change in my views on this album and more broadly changes to people in general. Was there a point of inflection before which I liked GB and after which I didn't? Or is it more of a Ship of Theseus accretion of sensory experience where I gradually withdrew from this whining bullshit? Are the changes in us discrete or do we change with every breath we take? I don't think I know. Maybe they aren't mutually exclusive. Maybe it's different for everyone. What I do know, however, is that as the person I am today, this music is trash.

So much more than Two Weeks

Not great but better than stupid Lorde

Beautifully crafted pop album that is hard to categorize or describe. I listened a third time to fully appreciate the exquisite depth of the record. Excellent album!

I loved this album when I first heard it. Then my ear hooked onto something else, and I parked GB until Painted Ruins was released several years later. Painted Ruins was joyous and reminded me just how unique GB were and why I fell in love with them first time around. This is such a beautifully crafted record, with wonderful harmonisation, layering of instruments and voices, and surprising dynamic ranges. Blissful Best tracks: Southern Point Two Weeks Ready, Able

Grizzly Bear is a band that I already knew (slightly) through their album Shields that I listened to a few years back. I liked the album but it was part of a bunch of albums that I was in the middle of checking out and for some reason I never delved deeper into their music. I'm regretting that now. This album's instrumentation and the way that the songs were structured really blew me away, especially on the first track. They have a very unique sound that's all their own and I don't think there was a track on here that I didn't like.

I had never heard of this band and was delighted by their sonic landscapes and playful textures. Every moment was enjoyable.

Missed this when it came out, which surprises me now because it has the same dreaminess I enjoyed in Z from my morning jacket

Shocked that I haven't heard of this album, it is so good. Love the rhythms and the first two tracks are superb.

I didn’t give this a chance when it came out. But it’s incredible. Like a pop fleet foxes.

Southern Point is a 5 star song - the layered vocals, the guitar/bass interplay, and it's long enough for the song to totally change 3 minutes in. Two Weeks - I can see why it's popular, it's fun but not as good as Southern Point - is a 4 star song. A lot of the rest of the album felt a little banal, but Southern Point earns 4 stars for this album.

Cool chill wave music.

I fell in love with this album not too long after its release. Beautiful, haunting melodies and what complimentary vocals between the band members, leading to some great harmonies. Christopher Bear's percussion is tight, often propulsive, and alluring and Chris Taylor's bass is a great current, unifying these tracks. For me, this one's a classic.

Very different from what I expected The first song immediately captured me with its rich sound and Pink-Floydesque production Some hints of post-rock, nice synth sound in "Fine for Now" Very interesting vocal sound on "Dory" "I Live with You" has another great intro

dude this is such a cool album the whole execution is perfect and every song is a 10/10 like after I finished the last song I sat for like a minute in silence waiting for the next banger of a song to come and it never did, shit was lowkey sad I restarted that album with no hesitation and it’s even better the second time yeah this album is just too good to rate, please listen to this i’m gonna go listen to the rest of their work now

Really enjoyed this album. I was going into it expecting indie pop like Two Weeks, but I was surprised by how complex it ended up being. It doesn't follow the typical indie trends, especially at the time of its release, and experiments with time signatures, dissonance, complex meters, harmonies, guitar phrasing and traditional song structure. Fine For Now had me nerding-out trying to follow all of the changes. It's still an indie rock album at it's core and not the most experimental thing I've ever heard, but I loved hearing the risks it took in this genre. Favourite Tracks: Two Weeks, Fine For Now, While You Wait for the Others

Гармонично сочетается полунизкий вокал исполнителя с более высокой аранжировкой. Расслабляющая музыка, но если ускорить в 1,5 раза звучит энергичнее. Альбом хорош для поездок. Отчего-то сюжетируется Fireman и как я там катаюсь на велосипеде в наушниках :)

Very surprised to see this on the list and to know how many years ago it was released.

Adding to the rotation, love!

Il est vrai que j'étais rapidement parti pour donner cinq étoiles à cet album. Ce qui m'a fait changer d'avis, c'est qu'à compter de la quatrième piste, le chanteur du groupe s'écrie après le deuxième refrain ♫ tu pourras nous mettre cinq étoiles demain stp ?♫. Même chose à la septième piste lorsqu'il déclare ♫ c'est bon tu vas mettre cinq étoiles demain ou pas ? ♫ La goutte d'eau étant l'outro quand il me menace de la façon suivante : ♫ t'as pas intérêt à mettre quatre étoiles toi ♫. Vraiment dommage.

I was so tempted to give it 2 stars after two thirds through as I really only liked Two Weeks up till then. A couple more were ok but the rest were pretty boring for me. It was mainly the slower ones that belong as part of a nice soundtrack to an indie film, but forgettable afterwards. The final three song stretch made this album worth listening for me and bumped it up a bit. It was because it was louder, darker and more intriguing than the rest. Its not for me as a whole, but do like some of its parts a lot.

It all kinda sounds the same but it was still enjoyable. Great for sleeping or background music.

A welcome challenge, having always avoided Grizzly Bear because being sick is funny but it's important not to overdo it. Turns out this isn't the assault on my digestive tract I feared; just a competent--nay, *perfectly* competent--Laurel Canyon folk-rock revival. Don't get me wrong, it's cutesy-poo all right--Dory is gross, and please spare yourself the horror of never being able to unsee their Spotify profile photos--but its eminent hummability, harmonic tricksiness and did I mention competence is undeniable.

omg, WHAT A CRAP

So much to love on this album by Grizzly Bear. It reminds me so much of college years.

Huge fan! Nothing more to say, was a great album to listen to. Bopped along happily all morning.

One of my faves of all time. The first album of the four I've reviewed that I was a big fan of prior to...such a rock solid album all the way through, really happy that it's on this list! Ready, Able is my favorite track.

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: Southern point, Two weeks, Fine for now, Ready,able,

Love this

Pretty good!

An all time classic album. Indie to the core and really instrumental

Really liked this album. Indie vibes and never heard of it/this band before. Great harmonies and rhythms.

indie tranqui

Perfect album

9/8/20. great album, love it. would listen again!

Really good album. I think when I first got into this, it took a few listens.

Really wanted this to be a four, and went back and forth throughout, but it errs just a bit on the side of cerebral and Radiohead-y. If it would just swing or rock a little more, I'd love it. Be weird, be loud, be atonal, be angular, but make it sound like something humans will enjoy listening to. Lots to like here, and with another listen or two it might be a four. I really want to like this band, though I'm not sure why.

Two weeks is amazing, but after this song the album takes a turn and takes a more sedated approach (still good tho). I wish 'While You Wait for the Others' had the same energy as two weeks but what are you gonna drink about it.

Had heard Two Weeks before. Tidy, little bit easy listening.

It had some depth and I enjoyed it. would have liked to have first heard this when I was younger

6/10

Pretty decent, but outlives its welcome.

Boring.

Pitchfork fucking _loved_ Veckatimest when it came out: "Veckatimest ain't perfect; lord knows it tries. More than most any album in recent memory not named Chinese Democracy (please keep reading), it is compositionally and sonically airtight, every moment sounding tweaked, labored over. Perfection-- and the pursuit thereof-- has its price, and in less able hands (with all love to Axl), this obsessive attention to craft and execution could lead to something dull. What's perhaps the most remarkable thing about the truly remarkable Veckatimest, however, is how very exciting much of it is; no small feat for a painstaking chamber-pop record that never once veers above the middle tempo." Well, I disagree. This is not exciting. It _is_ a dull and over-worked album that was released in a slow year for exciting new music, was over-praised at the time, and is now (rightly) mostly forgotten. No surprise that this has been expunged from the most recent editions of 1001 Albums.

I was 99% sure I saw Grizzly Bear at the Pitchfork Music Festival in 2010, but it turns out i saw Panda Bear at that festival. Time, like the Pitchfork Music Festival, makes fools of us all. Anyway, Veckatimest, in addition to being one of the most unwieldy album titles ever, offers a take on The Beach Boys as filtered through the lens of late 2000’s Brooklyn hipsterdom. Barf. Its kind of like Animal Collective, but instead of sequencers, synths, and ecstasy, the songs are mostly acoustic chamber pop performed by dudes with handle bar moustaches, those flat top straw hats that barbershop quarters used to wear and maybe a shot or two of absinthe. It’s fine, but also…it’s not.

I don't think this is bad, however its incredibly boring. I have never heard of this band and I shall never seek them out again if this is what they have to offer. Complete waste of time.

When the music was uptempo, it sounded pretty good. The problem is it was only uptempo for about 20% of the album.

Strong start but too depressing

Most of us are familiar with the song "Two Weeks", which to me sounds like what you'd hear as soon as you step foot into Urban Outfitters. The rest of these songs, while nice, are pretty underwhelming. I can't get into it. I think it's just a bit too soft for my taste. I didn't hate it, though.

Man, I just did not like this album. I think I'm just not really a fan of indie rock in general. "Two Weeks" is solid. The rest of it? I think I could have died without hearing it. Glad I heard "Two Weeks" though.

A few bright spots in an otherwise long album. Each song really feels like it could've chopped at least a minute off of it, sometimes more. Very sleepy, sedate. Favorite tracks: "While You Wait for The Others", "Fine For Now"

Pretty okay, isn’t it? Lots of nice bits, lovely voices, pleasant instrumentation and melodies. A good example of its type. And therein lies the rub; its type can be a bit sort of fine unless it’s absolutely sublime (ie, Sufjan)

Started well but quickly descended into very average, non descript indie. Most tracks were overly long with nothing to hold the interest. A shame.

Well that was a waste of time.

One good ish song two weeks

I just don't get this kind of plodding, lowest common denominator stuff. No ambition, no real craft, just a few wonky instruments, fey warbling as a stand in for an emotional core and quite a few tracks that veer into stomp-clap-hey territory. I didn't buy it then, and I don't buy it now.

Gruffy

Första albumet som känns som 5/5. Bra vibes genom hela och nice musik overall

Reminds of a band I love from the nineties Beta Band, that laid back eclectic style, the music gives the impression that these would be a really nice set of guys to have a beer or a fat one with 😄😄

Cest bon

J'aime beaucoup la vibe. La première track me fait penser à Fleet Foxes. La voix du chanteur sur la seconde track me fait penser à Brian Wilson. Incroyable; Ready, Able c'est comme si j'étais dans l'album Shore de Fleet Foxes (que j'ai adoré). Aucune idée qu'ils avaient tout copié ici. Whitney semble aussi avoir puisé là-dedans

Veldig Morten Harket falsett. Spennende arrangement og gode melodier.

Fantastic

имба, сохранил.

On dirait si les Beatles et Arcade Fire avaient fondé un groupe à la fin des années 2000. J’ai beaucoup aimé l’ambiance et la recherche

Nebeniusstraße!

Really nostalgic album for me, takes me back to Columbus Ohio 2009 Era where i had just graduated college and was working and having fun. Great times.

Truly amazing. A breathtaking piece of work that stands alone. Beautiful.

One of my favorite albums, and one of my most listened to. I haven’t heard it in a while so this was a pleasure to revisit. All of Grizzly Bear’s albums are excellent but this one has a special place in my heart. “Two Weeks” was a ‘play on repeat for an hour straight’ song at one time for me. The songs on this album can go from campfire folk to arena-sized indie rock, and somehow the progression feels completely natural and organic. A few tracks are gently psychedelic, and the string-accompanied tracks have the scope and drama of a classic Hollywood score. The drums are a big part of what makes this album feel organic. At certain points, they flow like water over rocks. They actually swing on a few songs. Drummer Christopher Bear (amazing that that’s his real name) is incredibly talented, but he sounds relaxed too. And the vocals are wonderful. I love that there are two lead singers. Ed Droste has an angelic voice, while Daniel Rossen’s voice has a mysterious quality. The whole-band harmonies are gorgeous too and one of the defining features of the group. And I just learned that the bassist Chris Taylor produced this album, and that he’s produced all of their albums. That’s amazing. The production is incredible. It keeps all these instruments and complex arrangements in balance. Just stunning work. Check out the music video for “While You Wait For the Others.” It’s one of my favorite music videos. Great song too.

Some great post rock. Its dreamy yet focused - not that easily achieved.

Perfect album. Not too much to say, everything was perfect.

February 22, 2025 Not first listen; I’m bending the rules a little bit, and listening to tomorrow’s album tonight. No shade to Mr Costello but I already have a soft spot for Grizzly Bear. 🐻 I think I got into them around Covid Time, and between this and Yellow House (their previous album to Veckatimest), I’d say I’m a modest fan. “Two Weeks” is perfect indie pop to me, but the rest of the album doesn’t really share that flair for ear candy; the ethereal, drowsy “Cheerleader” is more indicativest of Veckatimest Much like Fleet Foxes, it seems a shame I can’t enjoy this in the mountains at dawn, but in this case it’s no less alluring in a frozen prairie at night. The cinematic instrumentation and plentiful reverb are dreamy enough to be pre-bedtime, however. HL: “Two Weeks”, “All We Ask”, “Dory”, “Ready, Able”, “While You Wait For the Others”, “I Live With You”

Hearing this album was outstanding. This was right up my alley! Going down the list I was adding every single song to my liked playlist. That hasn’t happened before since I joined this project. Chefs kiss 🤌 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I cannot believe it took me 16 years to hear this. It's that first winter's day; the gall of the curtain to replace one canvas with another mid-stroke. Velvety void that somehow shades the gradient of a lifetime's labors to dandruff lingering amongst the trees.

• Revisar más albumes de la banda. Entretenido de escuchar Buena instrumental 10/10

Grizzly Bear - Veckatimest Never thought that I ever expected to be amazed at an album on this list sooner, but here we are. This might genuinely be one of my favorites albums, ever. Almost every song in here is either amazing or perfect, and also "Fine for Now" and "I Live With You" are easy contenders for greatest songs to had ever existed in my point of view. This is everything that I ever wanted for rock and classical. Just like the album cover, this is a piece of art, I really enjoyed my first listen, makes me want to forget that I listened to this album just to listen to it again for the first time, that's how good this is. This is perfect. 1.- Southern Point = 10/10 2.- Two Weeks = 10/10 3.- All We Ask = 9/10 4.- Fine for Now = 10/10 5.- Cheerleader = 9/10 6.- Dory = 8/10 7.- Ready, Able = 9/10 8.- About Face = 9/10 9.- Hold Still = 8/10 10.- While You Wait for the Others = 10/10 11.- I Live With You = 10/10 12.- Foreground = 10/10 FINAL SCORE = 9.3/10

Amazing production, infinitely interesting songs, lights out performances.

Cooooooool!

AH! Some very unexpected but very welcome accoustic atmospherics. (for a change). A welcome change and it might just be the perfect mood music for a cosy night in. But what do you call this? Starts like jazz, then gentle early 2000's Keen-ish Fleetish Foxish, and after that it edges int arty KImbra anmd then I dont have much of a reference. Its going its own way, and I like it building /as the album does a kind of progression. and its sounds on the edge of a half dozen of my favourite new bands. Song 3 and I had my finger on a rating of #5 already. Stunning finish. And all that I like. Even the cover art. And it album #572 its so enjoyable to find the unexpected novelty to delight me like this. And it ends on fun beat. A "yes" from me.

Pretty good

This album makes me want to put on a slouchy beanie, grab an oat milk dirty chai, and hit up my local thrift store while complaining about how I liked Portugal. The Man before “Feel It Still” got big. In other words, this shit is chicken soup for my aging hipster soul and I love it.

Just great indie Music

First time listening to Grizzly Bear. Their name implies heavier music in my mind. But I enjoy this type of music. It took about 4 listens before I started comprehending it. It's very different but it's obvious each musician is way above average. I wonder how I would've felt about this album when it was new. I wonder if much younger me would've dug this.

fantastically creepy

I really just have no words to describe how magnificent and beautiful this album is, what with its' superb production and how awe-inspiring the vocals are. Was not expecting much, but this is a very, Very, VERY easy 5 for me to give.

A perfect album from cover to cover. I actually found this album years ago in the 1001 Albums book

"Veckatimist" is the third studio album by American rock band Grizzly Bear. There are a lot of genres describing this album including psychedelic folk, indie folk, chamber pop, indie rock, pyschedelic pop and baroque. Wow! The album was produced by bassist and multi-instrumentalist Chris Taylor. The other bandmembers are Daniel Rossen (vocals, guitar, keyboards and string arrangements), Ed Droste (vocals, guitar, keyboards) and Christopher Bear (drums). The album had wide-spread critical acclaim for the band's large lead forward and its "genre blending, musical complexity and experimentation." Commercially, the album did very well reaching #8 in the US and #24 in the UK. By the way, the album was named after a small island in Dukes County, Massachusetts. A strumming anxious guitar, creeping bass and gentle drums open "Southern Point." The pace picks up with swirling keys, synth and tambourine. Strings eventually added. Very dramatic. Rossen singing almost in a whisper. Droste counterpoints in backing vocals. He's still loving someone who broke it off with him. Loud piano keys and the "Ohh-Ohh-Ohh" chorus begin the first single "Two Weeks." Droste in lead vocals. The backing chorus carries this song. He's wanting a partner to commit. A deep bass and echoing drums and we're off with "Cheerleader." Droste whispering and singing in falsetto. Great backing vocals again. Putting rules on a relationship. A beautiful song. "Ready, Able" changes things up with a fast rolling anxious beat. Distorted key strokes. Some swirling keys. Droste with subdued vocals wanting tell someone he's cheating on them. The other single is "While You Wait for the Others." A slow beginning with bass drums and guitar slashes. The song builds and slows down. Multiple harmonies...very Beach Boys-esque. This is a beautiful sounding album. It's very detailed with the choral and instrumental arrangements. I'd say the tremendous lead and backing vocals carry the songs but the placement of the instruments is so vital to the overall sound. The music is slow, dramatic, dreamy, stark and sparse. The strings add emotion. Nothing is out of place here. This album demands repeated listens which are very rewarding. A high recommendation.

Already one I listen to a lot, great album

It's a great album by a band I've never heard of before. Please, more of this instead of average music from well-known bands! Excellent.

every time a song started to make me think "4 stars," something would happen that changed my mind ☺️

Great album , loved it especially the sitar .