Grizzly Bear - Shields

It’s been a while since Grizzly Bear opened for Radiohead’s 2008 tour, and the release of the album that followed, “Veckatimest,” in 2009. But the time away seems to have paid off. “Shields,” released March 2012, is expansive and alluring; a continuation of novelty that once caught the attention of Wilco’s Jeff Tweedy who described Grizzly Bear’s sound as “really beautiful, evocative music.” 

If “Veckatimest” was Grizzly Bear’s coming of age, “Shields” is their proclamation of relevancy. Its ten songs somehow retains the mystery and downright weirdness of “Veckatimest” while refining the organization and flow of the music for increased appeal. The dissonant harmonies are still present, but so are ear-pleasing melodies. 

The opening track, “Sleeping Ute” opens with a bang, then quickly subsides to soft acoustic guitar finger- picking. Edward Droste’s vocals are strikingly “Veckatimest”-esque: clear and strong, with a high-pitched tone that manages to connect the diverse and ever-changing instrumentation below. The song’s up-beat and energizing rhythm is an assured “we’re here to stay” opening.

On first listen, Grizzly Bear can sound like a group of confused and sporadic songwriters, forcing jumbled pieces together that don’t fit. However, it’s their occasional craziness that’s fascinating. Like one of jazz legend John Coltrane’s improvisational solos, not everything’s supposed to be caught on first listen. Required is an additional, closer listening to reveal subtleties that could have been missed.

The album’s second single, “Yet Again,” is another example of deceptively melodic lines overlaying complicated, intricate guitar work. “Lately it’s about all I can take,” sings Droste in a tone of despair. He might be referring to his publicized discomfort with stage performance, which is not ideal for a band traversing the nation to get their music out.

The song careens toward a classic Grizzly bear chorus: wordless humming, harmonized through multiple singers. What could be an indie cliché is instead new and interesting, utilizing each member’s singing capability. 

While the album is definitely one of their best, the last half seems to be lacking. “Gun-shy” is overly pop-influenced and predictable. A constant, never changing ‘80s drum beat distracts from an otherwise engaging melody. 

“Half Gate” begins with a mesmerizing guitar and vocal pairing. What could have been the band’s strongest song to date comes up short, failing to expand beyond its initial creation. 

Songs like “Speak in Rounds,” or “A Simple Answer” are additional songs worth listening to. Even “Adelma,” which spans a mere minute and is purely instrumental is riveting in its own way. 

Differing from Delta Spirit, Grizzly Bear has followed an inspiring album with an equally strong sequel. “Shields” begs to be listened to again and again, and offers no disappointment to fans of “Veckatimest.” 

I’d have to give “Shields” an 8/10. It’s infused with interesting music, and makes me excited for their next release.