One of the most original and acclaimed bands of the indie rock music scene, Grizzly Bear is a band that has a strange yet unconventional blend of folk, experimental rock, and psychedelia. Consisting of vocalists/guitarist/keyboardists Daniel Rossen and Ed Droste plus bassist/electronics specialist/woodwinds performer Chris Taylor and drummer Christopher Bear. The Brooklyn-based band since 2004 released two acclaimed records and two EPs plus a remix record that's garnered massive acclaim. In 2009, the band released their third full-length album that shapes their sound to new heights and territories entitled Veckatimest.

Written and performed by Grizzly Bear with production by bassist Chris Taylor, Veckatimest is a record that has the band delve into a folky yet more experimental sound. Featuring contributions from Nico Muhly for arrangements, the band delves into the world of chamber pop. With various themes in its lyrical content, it's a record that is both rich and strange in its presentation while reaching towards the world of pop in ways that is truly indefinable. The result is one of 2009's most daring and original albums of the year.

The album opener Southern Point arrives with a washy, acoustic presentation with Daniel Rossen serene vocals and a crisp, enchanting production that is followed by Christopher Bear's pounding drums and flourishing acoustics with layers of pianos and other percussive instruments. With its folky, esoteric lyrics, it's a song that revels in a gorgeous sound with Ed Droste joining along in the vocal department with swirling sounds that play through in Chris Taylor's electronic accompaniments. Two Weeks arrives with a striking piano-like melody with rollicking beats from Bear's drums and Taylor's wobbly bass line. With Droste's gorgeous, dreamier vocal filled with mesmerizing lyrics, it's supported by amazing arrangements that includes a simmering chorus that is accompanied by synthesizers and various keyboards. It's a track is rich in its presentation and Taylor's layered, wall-to-wall production.

All We Ask opens with driving, ringing guitar melodies that is supported by soft, bass-drum pounding from Bear. Then it becomes a full-fledge acoustic ballad that is carried by Droste's haunting vocals and echo-laden drum fills. With a horn section blaring, it's a song that is supported by its layered arrangements with breaks for members to sing all together in a clapping section. Fine For Now features layers of dreamy vocal harmonies and washy, arpeggio guitar melodies that is supported by smooth, rumbling percussions and both Rossen and Droste sing the song. With Rossen singing a section with despairing lyrics, it is accompanied by a bouncy though smooth presentation as it's accompanied by shimmering xylophone tracks by Bear as well as some driving guitars from Droste and Rossen. Cheerleader is a wobbly, mid-tempo track led by a twangy guitar melody and scratchy riffs as Bear's slow yet hollow-pounding drums. With Droste singing in a gorgeous, falsetto vocals with Rossen accompanying him on vocals, it's a simple song with melancholic lyrics as it's supported by Taylor's swooning production.

Dory is filled with layers of choir-like vocals that swirl around that opens the mostly, folk-driven song with simple, melodic acoustics and gorgeous vocals led by Droste's somber yet ethereal vocals with Rossen accompanying him. With a soft bass-drum pound in the background, the track includes some strange, esoteric lyrics with a hollow production in its acoustic settings with drums, bass, and other percussive instruments. Ready, Able opens with a chugging guitar with hollow bass drums and Droste's calm, soothing vocals with swooning harmonies and dreamy lyrics. With a scratchy guitar and melodic keyboard flourish, it's a song that is dreamy yet with a sound that is a bit chaotic with its instrumentation. About Face is an upbeat, acoustic-driven track with spurting electric guitar riffs as Rossen and Droste sing the song with its dark, eerie lyrics. With drums and bass emerging later, it's a simple song that has a nice creepiness but also a somber, elegant presentation. Hold Still is a swooning track led by Rossen's serene yet haunting vocals with a twangy acoustic guitar melody, soft bass, and a smooth production that makes the song atmospheric which includes some dark lyrics that is very haunting.

While You Wait For The Others is a mid-tempo song with a chugging guitar track with Rossen singing in a calm, nasally vocal with Bear's steady drums and Taylor's wobbly bass accompaniment along with Droste's guitar. With its chorus filled with additional vocal accompaniment from the band, it's imagery-laden lyrics and simple production help shape the song into one of its finest cuts of the record. I Live With You opens with a brief flute performance from Chris Taylor as it turns into a dreamy, ballad led by Rossen's vocals with a huge, wandering string arrangement. With its hard-hitting drums taking the song's momentum to new heights with driving guitar riffs for a quiet section of the song as it moves back and forth with its desperate lyrics and a shimmering keyboard solo for the raucous part of the song. The album closer Foreground opens with a somber piano melody through a keyboard as Droste sings in his melancholic vocal track. With a pounding bass drum and droning guitar, it's Droste's piano and vocals that shine with its sad lyrics that includes a dreamy choir in the song's coda.

Veckatimest is an amazing, rich, and enchanting record from Grizzly Bear. Fans of the band will no doubt be amazed in what they achieved as it is supported by amazing production that ranges from layered and crisp to something more atmospheric in the same manner of the some of the legendary recordings by the Beach Boys. Audiences of indie rock, folk, and chamber pop will no doubt see this as an album that is truly amazing where it ranges to the very weird to also with songs that are accessible. It's not an easy record to at first listen but once it becomes familiar. It truly becomes a worthwhile experience. In the end, Veckatimest is a brilliant, intoxicating album from Grizzly Bear.

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Driving