HOTLINE: Close second

ALBUM: Shields.
GROUP: Grizzy Bear.

Grizzly Bear’s new album, Shields, is the equivalent to Arcade Fire’s Neon Bible, a brilliant follow up to a better album. It has many pop hooks and catchy choruses, but there is also a deep folk side to the tracks. The instrumentation is lushly layered and the lyrics are stronger than ever. This is the album that Grizzly Bear fans have been waiting three years for. Though it may not be Veckatimest, it was still worth the wait.