On the outset, Eliza and the Bear are a classic guitar band – one more indie quintet drowning in a sea of minimal, remix artists and hip hop and soul comebacks that make it so hard for guitar, bass and drums to make an impact in 2016. But while their self-titled debut is certainly a palatable, easy listen suited for the masses, it has a charm of determination to it – every song, scattered with brass, passionate vocals and dramatic drum beats, is capable of being a long-motorway-drive-anthem in a rom-com film or drama.
The album is roughly 40 minutes long – short but sweet, it’s just enough time to pack a punch with songs like the pain-strewn story of betrayal “Where Have You Been”, the tormented love song “Oxygen” and the piano-driven final eight-minute ballad, “I’m On Your Side”.
There’s clear similarities with the likes of mainstream bands such as Mumford and Sons and Imagine Dragons, which music snobs may turn their noses up at – but while Eliza and the Bear are not breaking into new genres with their debut, it’s an album that screams of hard work, injected with horns, lovely harmonies, delicate and powerful vocals and intricate guitar riffs. This band are a definite crowd-pleaser – but they execute pop indie with integrity and endurance, and with the ability to create a long string of powerful three-minute ditties that won’t leave the listener wanting to skip any tracks.
