Grizzly Bear "Veckatimest" I got this album this week, and it's my first exposure to the band Grizzly Bear. I like it okay, but it's disconcerting how much they sound like other bands. →[More:]

Everybody and their brother has noted how much the first single, "Two Weeks" (I love this video, and yes it's why I bought the album) sounds like the Beach Boys, but there are a lot of other influences going on in this album.

Many, MANY times while listening to this album the vocals have reminded me of the band Low (if they used totally different arrangements), and many other times, of the band America (ugh).

There are a few places where they remind me of their contemporaries, like the Arcade Fire (but not as anthemic). There's a couple of Belle & Sebastian moments. Once or twice I was reminded of the Moody Blues.

For the most part these aren't bad bands to sound like (except for America- bleah), but I'm disappointed because I've heard so much about Grizzly Bear for several years now. They have some great moments, but overall they sound like a pastiche of other bands, with no real defining sound of their own.