Album Review
- Album title
- Shields
- Artist
- Grizzly Bear
- Label
- Warp
- Release date
- 17 Sep
More info
Playing Glasgow Barrowlands on 20 Oct www.grizzly-bear.net
Grizzly Bear – Shields
It’d be a tough ask for Grizzly Bear’s latest to match the meticulous, swooning highs of 2009’sVeckatimest, but it certainly has its moments. Though it lacks the initial stand-out singles of their previous record, album number four is perhaps a more consistent cursory listening experience, whilst eking out new highlights with each subsequent spin.
Though the Brooklyn-based quartet only occasionally break out of a mid-tempo pace, Shields is certainly marked as a more propulsive listen whilst feeling a little looser and rawer in production. Highlights such as Yet Again and Half Gate embody this well, whilst the more languid moments, reminiscent of breakthrough Yellow House, are kept in check; an end coda here, a short, droning instrumental there.
Shields might not quite leave the mark you may have been expecting once the dust settles, but unlike their previous albums’ predilection with time and place, it’s the journey rather than the destination that matters.
Comments (7)
Add a comment »Grizzly bear hold the torch for the evolution in avan garde sound. Behold to greatness!
Posted by | Tuesday 04 September 2012 @ 19:23
Report to moderatorI can't agree with the reviewer. For me this album takes the best bits from Yellow House & Veckatimest and refines them. The album feels like the natural evolution from both previous efforts. It's just sublime from start to finish.
Posted by | Wednesday 05 September 2012 @ 08:51
Report to moderatorThis album is a bit of a let down. Yawn
Posted by | Wednesday 05 September 2012 @ 12:06
Report to moderatorWhat a poor review... At least could you salute their insatiable search for new sounds, original progressions, amazing arrangements, concise songwriting. I'm glad they moved on, away from the now cliché ultra-reverbed songwriting that was typical from 2009.
Posted by | Saturday 08 September 2012 @ 17:24
Report to moderatorI totally disagree, this album is brilliantly perfect.
Posted by | Sunday 09 September 2012 @ 06:24
Report to moderatorI may have been a bit overly-critical here, now that I'm re-listening to the album post-review.
Posted by | Monday 17 September 2012 @ 15:56
Report to moderatorI also cannot agree with this review. The best qualities of Grizzly Bear - meticulous arrangements, multi-layered sound, poetic lyrics - are all here and as downright gorgeous as they were on Vecktimest. But the inclusion of the big, brash guitars and propulsive, dynamic percussion just makes this album kill. And because there isn't as much lo-fi static or reverb as there was on the 3rd album, the sublime quality of the vocals from every band member stands out that much more. Amazing stuff.
Posted by | Monday 17 September 2012 @ 22:08
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