I remember being in an absolute haze watching Grizzly Bear at Outside Lands in 2013, the year after they went on tour supporting Shields, and being absolutely blown away by their live performance. This was a band who had found a way to tap into the more obscure side of Indie Rock, infused with peculiar chords and tumultuous transitions, but still retain the gravitational pull of classic late 60’s chamber pop that made everything sound familiar. It was as if I was watching a version of Simon & Garfunkel who had time traveled to the mid-2010’s, discovered electric guitars and marijuana, and decided to cut an album that combined all of those ingredients into one homogeneous dish.
Baroque pop is a hard thing to get right– it can be overwrought and a little too clever for its own good at times. But on Shields Grizzly Bear nailed the genre to a tee, producing an album that pays off the more listens you give it.
Standout Songs: “Sleeping Ute”, “Yet Again”, “A Simple Answer”, “Half Gate”
Matthew. 