Grizzly Bear

Along with Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavilion, Grizzly Bear's Veckatimest has been one of the most anticipated albums of the year. And like Animal Collective, Grizzly Bear's new album has an esoteric title. While Merriweather Post Pavilion takes its name from the Maryland amphitheater where I see Wilco in the summertime, Veckatimest is a small uninhabited island off the coast of Massachusetts.

Grizzly Bear's music is minimalist but intricate, and characterized by gorgeous, sometimes haunting chamber harmonies. On some songs the vocals really soar, and their unaffected, almost old-fashioned singing style makes them stand out from other groups.

In the following clip, the band performs standout track "Knife" from their album Yellow House. The song has a retro feel with a dark underlying harmony that can get stuck in your head all day. It sounds like post-apocalyptic doo-wop. And you have to appreciate how they're having fun performing with their best Super Mario mustaches.


Here are some tracks from the new album:
"Two Weeks", an upbeat song that shows off the group's brighter side


"While You Wait For The Others"


Grizzly Bear's new album Veckatimest comes out May 26.

Grizzly Bear- Live on KEXP, featuring a beautiful, nearly a cappella version of "Knife"