Upcoming...Grizzly Bear: Shields

    One of my favorite albums I discovered in the last few years since I've started this blog is Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest (2009). Also, the solo project of Grizzly Bear member, Daniel Rossen, Silent Hour/Golden Mile (EP, 2012), is equally fantastic. So, it's safe to say I'm now truly a Grizzly Bear fan. Their latest album, Shields, releases September 18th in the U.S. on Warp Records and I've been waiting diligently for a stream, now finally made available on NPR's First Listen (link at the bottom if you simply cannot wait, like me, and need to start listening before this post is even finished!). The cover for Shields was painted by Richard Diebenkorn, an American painter and printmaker from California. He lived from 1922-1993, composing over 700 oil paintings and 4,000 drawings, while some of his most famous works are from his 1981 "Clubs and Spades" series. The chosen cover work is an aquatint print called Blue Club. More about Richard Diebenkorn can be found at his posthumous website, here, or just check out a number of his works here (CAUTION: his works include semi-abstract nude drawings).
    If you know Veckatimest, you will likely hear many comparisons throughout Shields. Yet, the latter is more sublime in many ways. Grizzly Bear is definitely known for creating folk inspired psychedelic expansive music, which opens up and reaches moments of greatness. Shields is a little more tame, with some songs the perfect setting for a lounge or club--the smoking kind where every one sits seriously and listens intently, not the dance kind; you know, with plush chairs and couches and mood lighting. OK, not really been to one such club myself, but I can imagine. For sure, Grizzly Bear's music begs a second, third, fourth, listening. It is almost impossible to "get" their music until further listening. It needs time to settle. They are clearly not out to win fame and fortune, even though they likely have quite an indie following by now; they do not sell out their music to what usually has more commercial success.
    Let's take a close look at each track:
(1) "Sleeping Ute" - (May refer to an American Utah Indian?) Great hook in the guitar and subsequent rhythmic mixed meter pattern, which morphs into a really cool classical guitar rolled chord section towards the end as it fades out to the words "and I can't help myself".
(2) "Speak In Rounds" - Very cool drumming on this, with an intro that sort of hides the more driving rhythmic song that "Speak in Rounds" reveals itself as; with that typical Grizzly Bear formula that never grows old, so catchy at the chorus.
(3) "Adelma" - This is actually a brief one minute track of ethereal sounds and space noise, so to speak, which I believe is meant to fade out from "Speak In Rounds".
(4) "Yet Again" - Right back to what Grizzly Bear does best, fantastically original and echo filled baroque pop almost--the guitar I think is meant to sound semi like a harpsichord, and there is an organ-like synth too. The end of the song is reminiscent of The Flaming Lips with their Space Rock.
(5) "The Hunt" - The first of the slower tracks, muffled drums, and an eerie melody, pared down guitar, bass clarinet (adds a great color) and partly out of tune piano.
(6) "A Simple Answer" - Piano and drum driven, upbeat, with almost gleeful elements; sounds sort of idealistic, maybe sarcastically, as if to say the simple answer is not always the right answer.
(7) "What's Wrong" - Another mellow track, mysterious, with strings, bass clarinet and other winds/brass perhaps (later in the song); accordion or synth piano meant to sound like an old organ; and a jazzy lounge feeling. I love the sustains and shapes this song creates.
(8) "gun-shy" - This is sort of an odd song, with almost a funky honky beat, and 80s inspired, new wave-ish, but not brash like most modern new wave is; rather, subtle and thoughtful.
(9) "Half Gate" - Cello intro, before returning to a faster tempo, with lots of echo and moments of cacophony.
(10) "Sun In Your Eyes" - Has some really nice cool jazz elements, while maintaining the psychedelic pop genre, with that expansive moment right towards the end--excellent track start to finish.
    I hope you take time to examine Grizzly Bear's latest, Shields. I may not like it as much (yet?) as I do Veckatimest, but it has stretched my ears in a good way and my expectations as well. In my opinion, Grizzly Bear is becoming one of the great American bands of our time and should not be missed. Do check out NPR's First Listen, where you can hear the entire album streaming, here (EDIT: stream is no longer available). When I find a place to stream songs from, I will post links up over under (...I might have over described that) the 'Monthly Sample Tracks'.  Enjoy!