In 2009, Brooklyn-based indie folk-rock band Grizzly Bear released Veckatimest, their third studio album and their most commercially successful one to date. The single “Two Weeks” was a masterful blend of pop piano and sing-a-long harmonies that eventually made it to a Volkswagen Superbowl commercial, catapulting the band into the national spotlight. Beside that track, however, songs like “Cheerleader” and “While You Wait For The Others” provided more evidence that maybe these guys were on to something. It really is possible for bands to combine such high-brow things like complex harmonies and chamber orchestration with something as simple as rock music! It really does help having everyone in the band perfectly capable of singing, as evidenced by stunning live performances and rich harmonies throughout their discography. From that point on, Grizzly Bear was really considered to be the gold standard in indie music. Not too long ago, on an episode of the Sound Opinions podcast, even listeners and Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot, host, noted “not everyone can be a Grizzly Bear.” Needless to say, Shields had a lot to live up to. I’m thrilled to say their fourth studio album is an even better collection of these intricately pieced [...]
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