Album Review: Bear Hands – Fake Tunes

Bear Hands
Fake Tunes
Spensive Sounds
★★★

On their fourth release, Bear Hands are caught between a rock and a hard place. Too young to slow down but too adult to be reckless, that is the underlying presence within the songwriting of Fake Tunes.

Bear Hands have always been an intriguing fixture in the indie rock world, spanning a neutral gaze of eclectic authorship. They have always stood out in my mind. Yet Fake Tunes is a crossroads. This is the first album lead vocalist Rau has returned to writing everything himself after guitarist Ted Feldman left the band. Rau also recovered from substance abuse issues so there are some demons to clean out of the closet.

Bear Hands – Reptilians

“Ignoring the Truth” is set at face value. The song blooms as Rau burns through the song like a hitmaker creating that summer jam. You can predict this song to be thrown in a playlist between Post Malone and Beck. “Ignoring the Truth” is about him and new directions. We as listeners can appreciate his perspective. And it’s a new side of the band we have not witnessed in this capacity.

In its angularity, “Mr. Radioactive” is Bear Hands at their best. The way the music swarms around Rau’s words is liberating. The beat that lies within is almost New Wave in nature while the song flows freely. It’s a great jam.

A song like “Pill Hill” and “Blame” does not deny the personal problems that have arisen. Yet, the songs come to grips at a new lifestyle change that relies on continued understand from within. “Blame” is sincere like a ballad that flies to the stars. The beauty lies in the way the group works together to create something incredibly solid.

Fake Tunes is not just a way for Rau and the band to grow, it’s an album for all of us to grow with them.

<h4>Bear Hands on Tour</h4>

May 12 /// Vancouver, BC /// Rogers Arena*
May 14 /// Calgary, AB /// Scotiabank Saddledome*
May 15 /// Edmonton, AB /// Rogers Place*
May 17/// Winnipeg, MB /// Bell MTS Place*
May 19 /// Chicago, IL /// Beat Kitchen
May 20 /// London, ON /// Budweiser Gardens*
May 21 /// Ottawa, ON /// Canadian Tire Centre*
May 22 /// Montreal, QC /// Bell Centre*
May 24 /// Allston, MA /// Boston Calling Music Festival^
May 26 /// Albany, NY /// The Hollow
May 28 /// Toronto, ON /// Scotiabank Arena*
May 29 /// Toronto, ON /// Scotiabank Arena*
May 31 /// Grand Rapids, MI /// The Van Andel Arena*
June 1 /// Buffalo, NY /// KeyBank Center*
June 3 /// New York, NY /// Mercury Lounge
June 4 /// Brooklyn, NY /// Barclays Center*
June 5 /// Newark, NJ /// Prudential Center*
June 7 /// Pittsburgh, PA /// PPG Paints Arena*
June 8 /// Atlantic City, NJ /// Boardwalk Hall*
June 9 /// Charlottesville, VA /// John Paul Jones Arena*
June 11 /// Raleigh, NC /// PNC Arena*
June 12 /// Charlotte, NC /// Spectrum Center*
June 14 /// Jacksonville, FL /// Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena*
June 15 /// Miami, FL /// American Airlines Arena*
June 16 /// Orlando, FL /// Amway Center*
June 18 /// Birmingham, AL /// Legacy Arena at the BJCC*
June 19 /// New Orleans, LA /// Smoothie King Center*
June 21 /// Houston, TX /// Toyota Center*
June 22 /// San Antonio, TX /// AT&T Center*
June 23 /// Austin, TX /// Frank Erwin Center*
June 25 /// Oklahoma City, OK /// Chesapeake Energy Arena*
June 26 /// Memphis, TN /// FedEx Forum*
June 28 /// Indianapolis, IN /// Bankers Life Fieldhouse*
June 29 /// Columbus, OH /// Nationwide Arena*
June 30 /// Columbus, OH /// Nationwide Arena*

^Festival Date
*w/ twenty one pilots