A full dozen contributors are listed in the credits of
Bear Colony
's debut album, but the heart of the collective is singer/songwriter
Vince Griffin
.
Griffin
's boy-next-door vocals and sweet-and-sour melodic sense are
's focal point: everyone else (members of various minor indie bands such as
Lovedrug
and
Decahedron
, plus singer/songwriter
Chase Pagan
) chips in with various instruments and vocals, but it's so much
's show that no matter what the lineup on any given track,
We Came Here to Die
is an appealingly consistent album in terms of arrangements and overall sound. A more pop-oriented version of
Broken Social Scene
comes to mind on several tracks, especially the kinetic
"I'm Not Brave,"
and a gently electronic sheen covers most of the album, blending easily with the predominantly acoustic guitars and the hints of violin and slide guitar that decorate the tunes.
(apparently mostly written during an extended health scare for
, since resolved) has a overall sense of quiet optimism in its generally upbeat, melodic tunes, with just enough angst to give the whole thing some weight. ~ Stewart Mason