The Bears (album)

Last updated
The Bears
Studio album by
Released1987
Recorded1987
StudioRoyal Recording Studios, Lake Geneva WI
Genre Power Pop, Rock
Label Primitive Man Recording Company, I.R.S. [1]
Producer Adrian Belew [1]
The Bears chronology
The Bears
(1987)
Rise and Shine
(1988)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [2]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [3]

The Bears is the debut studio album by the rock band The Bears, released in 1987. [4] [5] [6]

Contents

The cover art was created by Mort Drucker. [7]

Critical reception

AllMusic wrote that "the tunes are tight, smart pop gems, distinguished from so many other bands by the wild antics of Belew's guitar." [2] The Washington Post called the album "a little too precious and labored ever to attain the unforced grace of good old rock 'n' roll." [1]

Trouser Press wrote: "Challenging, muscular, tuneful, idiosyncratic and accessible, The Bears ... is a superlative record." [8] The Encyclopedia of Popular Music remarked that the album "invoked comparisons with Squeeze and XTC, and for good reason." [3]

Track listing

  1. "None of the Above" (Adrian Belew, Bob Nyswonger, Chris Arduser, Rob Fetters)
  2. "Fear Is Never Boring" (Fetters)
  3. "Honey Bee" (Belew)
  4. "Man Behind the Curtain" (Belew, Nyswonger, Fetters)
  5. "Wavelength" (Belew)
  6. "Trust" (Nyswonger)
  7. "Raining" (Belew, Nyswonger, Fetters)
  8. "Superboy" (Belew, Fetters)
  9. "Meet Me in the Dark" (Belew)
  10. "Figure It Out" (Belew, Nyswonger, Arduser, Fetters)

Personnel

The Bears

Related Research Articles

Adrian Belew American musician, songwriter, and record producer

Adrian Belew is an American musician, singer-songwriter and record producer. A multi-instrumentalist primarily known as a guitarist and singer, Belew is noted for his unusual and impressionistic approach to his guitar tones.

<i>Beat</i> (King Crimson album) 1982 studio album by King Crimson

Beat is the ninth studio album by the British rock band King Crimson, released in 1982 by record label E.G. This is the second King Crimson album to feature the band's line-up of co-founder Robert Fripp, Adrian Belew, Tony Levin and Bill Bruford. It is the first release in King Crimson’s discography to feature the same lineup as the previous studio album.

<i>Discipline</i> (King Crimson album) 1981 studio album by King Crimson

Discipline is the eighth studio album by English progressive rock band King Crimson, released on September 22, 1981 by E.G. Records in the United Kingdom and by Warner Bros. Records in the United States. This album was King Crimson's first album following a seven-year hiatus. Only band co-founder and guitarist Robert Fripp and drummer Bill Bruford remained from the previous incarnation. They were joined by two American musicians: guitarist, vocalist and lyricist Adrian Belew and bassist and backing vocalist Tony Levin. The album featured a more streamlined, new wave influenced sound.

<i>Ribbed</i> 1991 studio album by NOFX

Ribbed is the third studio album by the American punk rock band NOFX, released in 1991 through Epitaph Records. It was their last album to feature Steve Kidwiller on guitar; he was replaced by El Hefe. Ribbed is also the last NOFX album produced by Brett Gurewitz, who also produced their first two Epitaph albums. The album sold 8,000 copies upon its release.

<i>Even If and Especially When</i> 1987 studio album by Screaming Trees

Even If and Especially When is the second studio album by the Seattle band Screaming Trees, released in 1987. It was their first album released on SST.

<i>El Silencio</i> (album) 1992 studio album by Caifanes

El Silencio is a studio album by Mexican rock band Caifanes, released in 1992. It was produced by Adrian Belew. It is the last Caifanes album to feature bassist Sabo Romo and keyboardist/saxophonist Diego Herrera.

The Bears are an American power pop band formed in 1985 in Cincinnati, Ohio. It features the distinctive avant-garde guitar playing of Adrian Belew, the band's most prominent member.

<i>Ragin, Full-On</i> 1986 studio album by fIREHOSE

Ragin', Full-On is the first album by American alternative rock band fIREHOSE. It was released after the breakup of the influential punk rock band Minutemen due to the death of the guitarist D. Boon. Like all fIREHOSE albums, Ragin', Full-On is dedicated to Boon.

<i>Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock</i> 1992 compilation album by Sebadoh

Smash Your Head on the Punk Rock is a compilation album by the American indie rock band Sebadoh. It was released in 1992, and marked the band's debut on Sub Pop.

<i>Laugh? I Nearly Bought One!</i> 1992 compilation album by Killing Joke

Laugh? I Nearly Bought One! is the first major compilation album by English post-punk band Killing Joke, released in September 1992 by Caroline Records in the U.S. and in October by Virgin Records in the U.K. and Europe.

<i>Lust</i> (Ambitious Lovers album) 1991 studio album by Ambitious Lovers

Lust is the third album by Ambitious Lovers. It was released in 1991 through Elektra Records. It was the band's final album.

<i>Desire Caught by the Tail</i> (album) 1986 studio album by Adrian Belew

Desire Caught by the Tail is the third solo album by Adrian Belew, released in 1986. It is an instrumental record that was written, arranged and performed by Belew alone.

<i>Desire of the Rhino King</i> 1991 compilation album by Adrian Belew

Desire of the Rhino King is a compilation album released in 1991 by experimental rock musician and guitarist Adrian Belew. It includes songs from Belew's first three solo albums for Island Records: Lone Rhino (1982), Twang Bar King (1983), and Desire Caught By the Tail (1986).

<i>Twang Bar King</i> 1983 studio album by Adrian Belew

Twang Bar King is the second solo album by American musician Adrian Belew. It was released in 1983 on Island Records.

<i>Adventure Time</i> (album) 1985 studio album by The Elvis Brothers

Adventure Time is the second album by the rock/pop trio The Elvis Brothers. The album was released in 1985 on Portrait Records. The basic tracks and first mixes were recorded at Fifth Floor Recorders in Cincinnati, OH, with producer Adrian Belew. The redubbing and remixing were done by George Tutko and John Boylan at Cherokee Studios in Los Angeles.

<i>The Band That Would Be King</i> 1989 album by Half Japanese

The Band That Would Be King is an album released by the Maryland rock group Half Japanese. It was also their third and last studio album released on their label, 50 Skidillion Watts.

Escape Artist is an album by Garland Jeffreys, released in 1981 by Epic Records. The album originally included the EP Escapades. The cover photography is by Anton Corbijn.

Rise and Shine is a studio album by the rock band The Bears, released in 1988.

<i>The Problem with Me</i> 1993 studio album by Seam

The Problem with Me is the second album by American indie rock band Seam. It was released in 1993 through Touch and Go Records.

Rob Fetters is an American musician, songwriter, and commercial music composer. He has performed as a guitarist and singer for power pop bands The Raisins, The Bears, psychodots, and has also released solo albums.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Jenkins, Mark (June 24, 1987). "GETTING THEIR NEW ACTS TOGETHER" via www.washingtonpost.com.
  2. 1 2 "The Bears - The Bears | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" via www.allmusic.com.
  3. 1 2 Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. p. 516.
  4. "RECORD LABEL PRESIDENT A MAVERICK IN INDUSTRY". Los Angeles Times. May 22, 1987.
  5. "Cincinnati Magazine". Emmis Communications. June 30, 1996 via Google Books.
  6. Prown, Pete; Newquist, H. P. (February 1, 1997). Legends of Rock Guitar. Hal Leonard. ISBN   9781476850931 via Google Books.
  7. "Cincinnati Band The Bears Remembers Mort Drucker, 'Mad' Magazine Caricature Master and Album Illustrator". CityBeat Cincinnati.
  8. "Adrian Belew". Trouser Press. Retrieved 30 July 2020.