Artist of the day: Grizzly Bear

Grizzly Bear has managed to do something not many bands can. After a solo album by Ed Droste called Horn of Plenty got a couple great reviews in 2004, he recruited three of his college friends (Daniel Rossen, Chris Taylor and Christopher Bear) to make Yellow House, their first album as a quartet in 2006. With that album, the band gained hype and the attention of a couple big names like Radiohead and Paul Simon. Both Pitchfork Media and The New York Times ranked Yellow House as one of the top albums of 2006. And then all the hype surrounding Grizzly Bear virtually disappeared. Other than a little talked about EP released in 2007 and a tour stint as the opening band for Radiohead, the band seemed to be stuck in a very stagnant period for about three years. And then 2009 came around and the hype started to build all over again. With the release of their new album Veckatimest in May, Grizzly Bear has burst back onto the scene, bigger and better than ever, creating the buzz of a brand new band just starting up. Grizzly Bear has managed to disappear for a few years and come back with the hype and feel not of an old band trying to reinvent themselves, but of an interesting new band with a great sound. Veckatimest has hit #8 on the Billboard Album Charts and is making fans out of almost everyone who listens to it. With all four members of the band sharing the duty of vocals, the album is full of Beach Boy-esque harmonies complemented by complex arrangements, creating nothing short of an incredibly dynamic sound. Veckatimest is sure to keep its momentum up for a while, but when and if it does die down, I hope it won’t be another three years before we hear from these guys again.

Who's Who: Ed Droste (songwriting, guitar, vocals, keyboards), Daniel Rossen (songwriting, guitar, vocals keyboards), Chris Taylor (bass, woodwinds, electronics, vocals), Christopher Bear (drums, vocals)
Formed: 2004, Brooklyn, New York
Latest Release: Veckatimest, May 2009
Label: Warp Records
Website: http://www.grizzly-bear.net/

-Laurie Moot
Currently listening to: "While You Wait For The Others," by Grizzly Bear

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