Grizzly Bear Takes Us Back To [Paul Simon's] Graceland

As the year comes to a close and we begin to evaluate and re-evaluate the bands and albums we fell in love with over 2006, Grizzly Bear‘s Yellow House has easily managed to stay in the forefront of my mind. YH is definitely one of the most elusive albums of the year… it sort of trails you along, and as you appreciate songs like “Knife” (probably the most instantly-likeable song on there) you’ll also grow to appreciate less accessible tracks like “Easier” and “Little Brother” — and I love when an album has that long-lasting quality. Check out our review here.

But on top of the album, GB’s been releasing great b-sides, alternate versions of their songs, live tracks on KEXP and other stations, and more… and they’re all great, they’ve all got something to recommend. Which is why I jumped when I heard that Grizzly Bear had covered Paul Simon’s “Graceland,” maybe one of the best songs of the eighties. Check it out:

[MP3] Grizzly Bear – Graceland (Paul Simon Cover) (Dan Rossen Solo)

GB’s Dan Rossen might just have one of the most interesting voices in indie rock. It’s not necessarily weird like Devendra or Joanna, it’s not stunning like Antony or Sufjan, but it’s got more than enough character to prod and it might be the most perfect voice for multi-tracking since Elliott Smith’s took its last breath. This is a pretty faithful cover but there’s something haunting about it, an eeriness that’s become sort of a cornerstone in most Grizzly Bear productions…and I totally dig it.

Bonus MP3s:

[MP3] Grizzly Bear – On A Neck, On A Spit – from Yellow House (2006)
[MP3] Grizzly Bear – Showcase – from Horn of Plenty (2005)
[MP3] Grizzly Bear – Reprise (Live Acoustic)
[MP3] Grizzly Bear – Shift (Live Acoustic)