Calling this indie-pop quartet "a band with a firm grasp on pristine, precise production and immaculate vocal harmonies," NPR chose the group's Shields—their first album since 2009's Veckatimest—for its prestigious "First Listen" feature."With vocals that recall the choirboy-in-a-cavern anthemics of My Morning Jacket, 'Half Gate' and especially 'Yet Again' find a catchy, agreeable compromise between experimentation and soaring grace. In other spots, Shields gets spare and quiet — particularly in 'The Hunt' and 'What's Wrong,' both of which drift into airy, barely there minimalism. By the time it winds down, the album has found an effective way to fuse its gentle and majestically booming sides in the seven-minute knockout 'Sun in Your Eyes'."—Stephen Thompson, NPR
"Brimful of wonder."—Sunday Herald, Scotland
"The album's comfortable mood makes it an easy listen. Grizzly Bear has learned not to stress over its craft, and 'Shields' feels all the more fresh as a result. Essential: 'Sleeping Ute'."—Boston Globe
