Hunter and the Bear
Wildfire
Reviewed by: R Brian Roser
Many albums force you to ask certain questions, like ‘How did these idiots get a record deal?’ or ‘What the hell is an eggman?’ The one I asked myself while listening to Wildfire is ‘Why haven’t I heard of these guys before?’ The vocals are excellent: smooth, resonant and polished. Many singers can do either emotion or on stay on key. Hunter and the Bear is rare in that they can do both. The richness of their melodies and lyrics runs all the way through Wildfire. There is defiance in “Burn it Up,” soul-searching in “Shadow Man” and a bittersweet melancholy in “Blood Red Skies.” I felt like I was traveling down the highway at an intoxicating speed only to hit a brick wall because “Blood Red Skies” is it. There is no more. Wildfire is only an EP with a paltry five tunes on it.
Hunter and the Bear says their music is ‘melody-driven rock,’ which is apparently what you have to call call country rock when it’s played by a British band. They are relatively new, but seem to be gaining some steam, recently opening for Eric Clapton’s UK tour. I’m not the only one who hasn’t heard of them, because their facebook page reads — Record label: unsigned. It is unfathomable to me that nobody has gotten them under contract yet.
One band member once said of music “It’s all about computers. You can be really good at working a computer but you can’t play a guitar. We’re about working at our craft and I hope it shows.” Yes, it shows. I have no idea why it is these guys don’t have a full album out. If they are waiting for a written invitation, please consider this to be it it. Also, this efficient, compact EP thing may work in Europe, but this is America and when we hear awesome, we want the whole thing.
Rating: Bad-Ass
