Solid Second Effort
4
By Ghost Soldier
Mellowdrone has always been one of my favorite bands. "Box" was, and still is, one of my favorite albums of all time.
"Angry Bear" showcases another 12 tracks of solid Mellowdrone music, with a clear progression from their days of "Box." The music is still dark and brooding, but is a lot more guitar based and doesn't seem as sultry or modern. There's less synth work and barely any of the synthetic beats that gave "Box" such a defining pulse. Needless to say, these arrangements work just as well, and fans of Mellowdrone's trademark vocal harmonies will find much to enjoy in this album. As well, the production is immaculate.
I think I still like "Box" more... to me, that album defined a perfect style of dark, yet playful Alternative Rock. However, those whose enjoy older, more guitar based rock music will probably prefer "Angry Bear." And despite "Box" being a slightly more enjoyable album, in "Angry Bear" I hear a new level of technical prowess and musicianship that simply didn't exist in "Box."
To put it simply, Mellowdrone, have gotten better. The album is a bit more subtle, a bit less catchy, and a bit more mature than "Box." There's a lesser number of immediate Mellowdrone classics, but "Where Ever You May Go," "Big Winner," "Lady In Her Underwear," and "Logged Hours" are all in the upper echelon of Mellowdrone tracks, up there with "Oh My," "F**k It Man," "Beautiful Day," and "Amazing."
As well, the album's closer, "DMT," is, in my opinion, the best song Mellowdrone have ever made, and one of the best tracks I've heard all year (if not the absolute best).
To sum everything up, "Angry Bear" is a solid album. Buy it all. I guarantee you'll find something to like in it, whether you're a new listener or a long time fan. Do I like it as much as "Box"? No. But I still like it quite a lot, and I bet you will too.
