“Breaking the Chain” might be the obvious opener, and indeed it has all the requisite punch and power that makes for a great first salvo, but it only hints at the deftness and dexterity to follow. Sure, it’s big, a neat blend of rock and indie, clever riffs and soaring crescendos, a song that anyone would be proud to put their name to, but it is what comes after it that really gets to the heart of what Bear Jr. is all about.
If that first taste showed us how great he is at pulling finger-picked finesse out of the guitar, it is “Someday” that really charms the pants off you. Blending ornate fretwork with cinematic sonics, it is intricate and impactful, a reflective memory told as much by the sonic emotion as the lyrical tale. Personal yet relatable.
“Awake” blends country-rock groove with anthemics and infectiousness, a brilliant ebb and flow of dynamics, subtle interludes and seering highs, “Quiet Doorway” takes the singer-songwriter sound into the modern pop-aware realm, and does so by drawing exquisite and beguiling sounds from the acoustic guitar and “When We Were Wild” is a nostalgic peice that gives even the most kick-ass rock bands a run for their money.
Rock music? Of course. But where most music made in that realm is happy to rely merely on volume and velocity, Bear Jr. does so via virtuosity too. The result is a collection of songs that is both big AND clever. And that is a combination that we don’t see enough of in today’s music.
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