Steeped in layered vocals, gorgeous harmonies, sparse acoustic instrumentation and, above all, atmosphere, Grizzly Bear answers the question: What would the Beach Boys sound like if they were a minimalist indie-folk quartet from Brooklyn? The band’s 2004 debut, Horn of Plenty, was essentially a solo home-recording endeavor by singer-songwriter/guitarist Ed Droste, though guitarist Daniel Rossen, bassist and woodwind player Chris Taylor and drummer Christopher Bear were all in place soon after and the band is fully represented on 2006’s Yellow House. The 2007 EP Friend featured special guests like Band of Horses and CSS, holding over Grizzly Bear’s growing legion of hungry fans (including Radiohead, with whom the band toured last year) until the release of this summer’s Veckatimest.

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