Kurt Reifler — The Bear
((Not on label) no#, 2019, CD)
by Jon Davis,
Published 2021-08-21

Here we have the second half of a project Kurt Reifler started with
Year Of a while ago. Together I guess you could regard it as a full-length album called
Year Of/The Bear. This set of five tracks gets off to a great start with “Welcome,” an energetic rock tune with outstanding bass playing. There’s a funky edge to the rhythm, and Reifler’s voice shines, having similarities with both Corey Glover and Lenny Kravitz. His lyrics have a conversational style that’s engaging, though many of the tracks focus on the standard topics of relationships, sometimes with a humorous twist: “Your dad, he’s been around the block, now / He asked me had I ever seen a shotgun collection as extensive as his / I had not” (from “Grandpa’s Apple Tree”).
The Bear is a lot of fun, with well-written songs that are very catchy. When you’re hankering for some clever rock, give Kurt Reifler a listen, his music is worth seeking out.
Filed under: New releases, 2019 releases
Related artist(s): Kurt Reifler