Album Review: Bear Hands - Distraction

Bear Hands’ smart little name might draw to comparisons to Animal Collective, and that wouldn’t be too far off the mark. Dillon Rau’s drawn-out drawl compares well to Panda Bear, but Bear Hands take a much more earnest lean on Distraction. It’s smart, edgy and eclectic, and is even more of a medal on their chests due to its DIY creation, major label support coming only after. Single Giants fuses hooky guitar leads with electro synth while songs like Violet Iowa pack MGMT-level electro-psych into three-minute gems. A balance of powerful pop tracks and mellow, guitar-driven moments work smoothly.