Willard's Wormholes

LIVE (2002)
Pop Go The Bears

The union of Cincinnati’s The Raisins and guitarist-to-the-stars Adrian Belew was a match made in pop heaven. They didn’t sell for shit but their first two, late-1980s LPs, The Bears & Rise And Shine, are lovingly coveted as prime examples of pure bred pop with all the right elements and intentions. But the eighties’ pre-Oasis disinterest in 60s pop would dictate The Bears’ fate, which was sadly short-lived. Belew gravitated back to King you-know-who and The Raisins went back to the bars. Interested parties were pleasantly surprised, however, by the group’s out of the blue new millennium re-emergence with Car Caught Fire, and this live follow-up recorded in early ’02. It’s not a blockbuster, but loyal fans should enjoy as The Bears offer up all the wide-eyed enthusiasm this style of music demands. The biggest surprise here is the decision to include a handful of stripped down (near acoustic) arrangements, delivering nuanced, spot-on harmonies in the process. The Bears returned in 2007 with their last album (so far), Eureka!. Hear their lighthearted groupie rebuff, “Honey Bee,” below. Amazon.

Honey Bee (3:27)
What’s The Good Of Knowing (2:55)
Dave (4:54)
Robobo’s Beef (3:43)
Mr. Bonaparte (4:39)
Under The Volcano (4:24)
Success (6:06)
Little Blue River (3:54)
As You Are (3:44)
Trust (4:15)
Complicated Potatoes (2:39)
Figure It Out (5:15)
Caveman (3:55)
Man Behind The Curtain (5:11)