10 Tuesday, May 26, 2009 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com WANT TO COVER THE ANN ARBOR ART FAIR ? SURE YOU DO. WRITE FOR DAILY ARTS. E-mail driva@umich.edu for an application. 'Veckatimest' roars By MIKE KUNTZ Daily Arts Writer The online leak of an album has become an event in itself. Growing legions of torrent-savvy listeners feverishlysearch- ing for download * links have made official release GrizzyBear dates little more than aftershocks. Veckatimest When Grizzly Warp Bear's Veckatim- est leaked in early March, almost three months prior to its official release date, principal songwriter Ed Droste expressed his discontent not with the failure to keep the album under wraps, but with the poor audio quality of the leaked copy. Considering the murky state of the industry, it's refreshing that record sales are not the primary concern. Droste's concern with the (internet) pub- lic's initial impression of the new album sums the situation up pretty well: If it's going to leak, it damn well better sound good. Bitrates and audiophilic gripes aside, Veckatimest does sound good. Really good. Upon the album's leak, Robin Pecknold of Fleet Foxes went so far as to con- gratulate Droste and the band (via Twitter) for making "the album of the decade." While this fawning compliment might be an exag- geration, Veckatimest is definitely the strongest collection from the Brooklyn quartet yet, offering twelve shimmering and decep- tively complex tracks that show- case a band in full collaborative swing. "Southern Point" starts the album at a frantic pace, with WAYANS From Page 9 ingJulliard. Instead of the moment ending in a heartfelt kiss, Thomas pulls away because he sees a group of black girls approaching. He pre- tends he doesn't even know Megan and proceeds to rattle off some random directions. "Every brother knows and has known the time where if you did (kiss a white woman) in front of (a black woman), you would feel the heat," explained Shawn about the possibility of the scene occurring frenzied handed songwr what never fi to you / immedi outsidec A c& kicks of best pop Aided 1 Beach F the thr zly Bear vocal ta ful lead fully pl chorus's what re astonish tious '61 Ar of] The r ditchesr ing and Chris B Chris T setto h and Drm Root' "Fine F sen's gu the son leader" choir,s various backgro packs a d acoustic guitar, deft left- cent of Sgt. Pepper's "Being for the piano lines and co-lead Benefit of Mr. Kite!" iter Dan Rossen's some- "While You Wait For the Oth- nysterious lyrics ("You'll ers" is a quick favorite and return nd me now / But I'll return to form, with a verse-chorus-verse 'When you return to me") repetition that, despite being ately placing the album familiar, does not undercut what of familiar territory. is Rossen's best songwriting to liming Rhodes keyboard date. f "Two Weeks," one of the The more atmospheric moments p songs in recent memory. of Yellow House, the band's 2006 by the narcotic howls of release, reappear in the beauti- House's Victoria Legrand, fully sparse "I Live With You," as ee other members of Griz- a chamberof cellos quickly evolves 'display their considerable into a cacophony of brass and lents behind Droste's soul- string instruments behind Bear's . Add Chris Bear's master- tastefully frenetic drumming. Eas- ayful drumming and the ily the album's climax, the chaos s sweeping keyboards and simmers into the humble opening sults is an endearing and piano strikes on the post-fallout hingly fresh take on infec- "Foreground" before the choir )s Motown pop. returns to close the album in gor- geous fashion. One of the most striking aspects of Grizzly Bear's sound are the nasterstr ke dense, often haunting vocal 1darrangements. There are very few popand folk moments on the album when fewer )ngvv'rit than two people are singing, lend- t ' ing ita sonic weight bested only by full choirs or symphonies. But Veckatimest is really a sym- niddle section of the album phony all its own, immersing the pop simplicity for enchant- listener in a comforting cocoon lush compositions, with of unfamiliar sounds. It's not sur- lear and bassist/producer prising, then, that the album's aylor lending ethereal fal- fitting title (named for an unin- armonies behind Rossen habited, city-block-sized island ste's soulful musings. off the coast of Cape Cod) adds ed in a jazzy 6/8 rhythm, to the feeling of being happily or Now" is filled with Ros- stranded. uitar flourishes that keep Desert-island puns aside, Veck- g sunlit. Dreamy "Cheer- atimest is a masterstroke of exper- is complete with a girls' imental folk and pop songwriting string arrangements and and production. Nearly three woodwinds coloring the months after it was first exposed 'und, while "Ready, Able" to the world, the album continues carnival churn reminis- to reward. in real life. "I think things have kind of calmed down." Damien Wayans agreed with the latter sentiment: "I say love is love. Obama's in office now." Although the similarities to the Wayans' earlier projects are abundant, a new face occupied the director's chair. Shawn's nephew Damien is making his directorial debut with "Dance Flick." "It was a new energy, a new experience ... but equally as fun," Shawn said. "Also, it was fun because ... we all wrote together without a bunch of other people - just me, my nephews and my brothers having a good time." Even in his first film, Damien sees the value in the Wayans' noto- rious family involvement. "It's one of those processes ... you wishyoucould have allthe time.And we had a blast doing it," he said. Their collaborative relationship, spanning across all facets of the movie-making process like writ- ing, directing, producing and act- ing, is unique in Hollywood. Shawn explained "We're family members but yet we're co-workers. There'sahierarchyinbothand (you have to) respect that and that's how we navigate ourselves throughout the project." "True dat," Damien added.