Yellow House Turns 20

Consider it their debut. And then, when you’ve situated the album that way in your brain, marvel at a band that could come up with this on their first try.Technically Yellow House, released 20 years ago today in the UK and the following day in the US, is the second Grizzly Bear full-length. But 2004’s Horn Of Plenty was essentially an Ed Droste solo joint, and its lo-fi recordings might as well be demos compared to the sounds he and his bandmates conjured together. The splendor and sophistication of these tracks heralded a new era for indie music: rooted in classic pop, rock, and folk but tied to the avant-garde; hashed out in rock clubs but fit for conservatories; spacious and ghostly yet utterly visceral at times. It helped to define its moment, yet two decades later, Yellow House feels timeless. It is aging extremely well.The Grizzly Bear project expanded from its solo origins by necessity. Drummer Christopher Bear had assisted with Horn Of Plenty, but when it came time to promote the album with live shows, he and Droste needed reinforcements. Chris Taylor came first, mainly playing bass but also expanding the band’s boundaries via woodwinds and electronics, not to mention produ...