Warp

Grizzly Bear’s 2009 breakthrough, Veckatimest, was a masterpiece on caliber with an M.C. Escher painting – delicately intricate and mind-twistingly gorgeous. But it lacked the open spaces and subtle silences of the band’s previous record, 2006’s Yellow House. With Shields, the Brooklyn quartet strikes a quiet balance. Grizzly Bear isn’t afraid to let the music breathe here. The 10 tracks maintain the taut orchestral atmosphere of Veckatimest, just in simplified and stretched-out songs. “Shields” won’t slap you in the face like “Two Weeks” did, but there isn’t a shortage of beautiful, psychedelic folk to piece through. First single “Sleeping Ute” rocks like a boat in rough waters, with twirling acoustic guitars spiraling upward when the rhythm smoothes out. “The Hunt” and “A Simple Answer” waltz through dissonant piano territory beautifully. The haunted voices of Edward Droste and Daniel Rossen remain the musical centerpiece throughout. And yet, for all of its spacious, strummed beauty, Shields lacks the rollercoaster drama of its predecessor.