Shields

1. myxo101

   Sep 28, 2012

   10

   This album is really a milestone for Grizzly Bear. After listening, you can tell how much detail they went into the composing of all theThis album is really a milestone for Grizzly Bear. After listening, you can tell how much detail they went into the composing of all the instruments, as well as the production which makes this what it is, with probably the 2 most powerful songs which end up such a brilliant album.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
2. musicman97

   Oct 14, 2012

   10

   Great album, one of the best this year so far. Very clean cut, smooth vibe to it, loved this album. Would definitely recommend it to anyoneGreat album, one of the best this year so far. Very clean cut, smooth vibe to it, loved this album. Would definitely recommend it to anyone with a good taste in music.… Expand

   • 1 of 1 users found this helpful
4. BENNEB

   Dec 31, 2012

   10

   Grizzly Bear's great effort has come. First hearing this, it felt a bit different, but with elements from their previous album, theirGrizzly Bear's great effort has come. First hearing this, it felt a bit different, but with elements from their previous album, their previous album, this is a superb 10-track album worth buying. Tracks to listen to: Yet Again, Sun In Your Eyes and Gun-Shy.… Collapse

   • 4 of 4 users found this helpful
5. kof-drop

   Sep 24, 2012

   9

   Shields is Grizzly Bear's fourth studio album and follow-up to their critically-acclaimed Veckatimest, which is among my top ten favoriteShields is Grizzly Bear's fourth studio album and follow-up to their critically-acclaimed Veckatimest, which is among my top ten favorite albums and holds a score of 85/100 here on Metacritic.
   
   This album is much more raw and exposed, less perfect (intentionally) than Veckatimest. I would be stoked, therefore, to see it performed live. Shields brims with grit and energy, much unlike its careful, thought-provoking predecessor. This is Physical Graffiti after Houses of the Holy.
   
   Shields feels much more collaborative than any of the previous albums. Whereas on other albums, it is clear which songs were written by Daniel Rossen and which by Ed Droste, it is not so distinct this time around. While each track's vocalist probably gives it away, there is a stylistic molding that makes Grizzly Bear feel more like a cohesive band. Ed sings tracks full of Daniel's broken rhythms, and Dan seems to have taken a slightly more melodic approach to songwriting. These guys are rubbing off on one another, which is a pleasure to hear.
   
   The album opens with "Sleeping Ute," a slightly aggressive, largely guitar-driven track, clearly written by Dan Rossen. It reminds me a ton of "Southern Point," the opener on Veckatimest. And it's an important song, because it sets the tone for the album. Rossen sounds utterly confused, hesitant to hold on to something he loves out of an arbitrary desire for independence. These feelings are amplified by the juxtaposition of his tentative vocal over an ever-exploding backdrop of bass and drums. "And I live to see your face, And I hate to see you go, But I know no other way, Than straight on out the door. And I can't help myself."
   
   "Speaking Rounds" follows the mellow close of "Ute" with a low-key but powerful opening. It then builds rather quickly to a surprising burst of energy, keeping this album moving forward rather than slowing it down. They bring in all the players here: plenty of background vocals, a horn section and a choir, bass fills and percussive jangle. It really starts to pop with authority, until the timer on the microwave is up and the pops start to dwindle. That's "Adelma": purely transitional, but entirely necessary to bridge the gap between "Rounds" and "Yet Again." It sets us back down from the high of "Rounds" so that we can appreciate the explosion of the album's masterpiece.
   
   Possibly my favorite Grizzly Bear track to date, "Yet Again" features Droste's most impressive and emotional vocal, better even than "Ready, Able," my favorite song off Veckatimest. But what is so great about this track is that, while beautiful and contemplative, it is driven ever forward by Chris Bear's percussive work. The orchestration is full, and the rhythms intertwine with a complexity that we have not yet seen from the band. The track comes to an epic close while Grizzly grooves on a heavy, disgruntled mess resembling the song's earlier motivations. I'm in disbelief.
   
   The next stretch of the album most closely resembles Veckatimest. A slow burner called "The Hunt" precedes "A Simple Answer," which is aptly named. And "What's Wrong" sounds like it could be a bonus track on the previous album.
   
   The next song, "gun-shy," is one of the catchiest on the album, which I didn't notice until I started singing it to myself on the streets and wondered, "what song is this?" It wasn't until then that I took the album for a second listen (this number has now neared fifteen, no joke) and realized that "gun-shy" is a masterwork of serenity. It's almost bubbly, a satirical introspective on the game of love. "Half Gate" is a powerhouse. It's the hesitant uplifter, the bridge reaching toward a conclusion that may or may not be on the other side.
   
   As the title suggests, "Sun in Your Eyes" is sort of that conclusion. Shields is an album about the complications of personal relationships. It's about the barriers we put between ourselves and other people, or between ourselves and our desires. We don't enjoy putting up walls; we wish we didn't have to, but we just do it, for reasons we can't really explain. We know we want something different, but we don't know what it is; it always seems to be whatever we don't currently have. "Sun in Your Eyes" is a complicated way of moving on. There's an uncertainty involved in moving toward the sun. The other side could be different, or it might be the same. You'll never know because the damn sun hurts your eyes. "So bright, so long, I'm never coming back."
   
   For more reviews on movies, TV, and music, see my blog at kofdrops.blogspot.com.… Expand

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6. Ricko

   Aug 14, 2018

   8

   Arguably a career highlight alongside "Yellow House". "Shields" is an extremely satisfying listen from start to finish and is a record of bothArguably a career highlight alongside "Yellow House". "Shields" is an extremely satisfying listen from start to finish and is a record of both density and depth. It contains much of what was great on the band's previous efforts but with a different take, specifically the vocals and rhythm sections are given more emphasis. "Shields" is the best type of weird record. While I like the whole album, for me it takes off completely for the last quarter with the band sounding truly inspired. A band brimming with confidence, aiming to push and create rather than please or produce. Gently captivating.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
7. LetzTalkMoveez

   Oct 21, 2012

   8

   It's a much more structured album than Veckatimist, with more experimentation, less pop hooks, and a lot more layering in vocals and inIt's a much more structured album than Veckatimist, with more experimentation, less pop hooks, and a lot more layering in vocals and in instrumentation. It's one of the better albums of the year.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful
8. Mattydigs

   Aug 27, 2013

   5

   This is FAR from being as good as Veckatimest. It starts and ends strong but the entire middle (half the album or more) is a giant slump. IThis is FAR from being as good as Veckatimest. It starts and ends strong but the entire middle (half the album or more) is a giant slump. I don't know what people are thinking these days. I could name hit after hit off of Veck. This one has 1 or 2.… Expand

   • 0 of 0 users found this helpful

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