Merriweather Post Pavilion was released today as a vinyl.
Animal Collective's 9th studio album entitled "Merriweather Post Pavilion" [the name of a venue in Maryland built by Frank Gehry] is introduced to us with the familiar sounds of avant-garde digital noise that we're used to when we listen to them. It brings this tension with it which fits the mood perfectly since we've all been waiting to listen to it for a while. It's tedious and quiet and pokes at our patience. Just as we're about to lose it, it's as if they read our minds. At the 2:30 mark, they release. Release isn't the right word. Neither is explode. Maybe nuclear destroy? We are raised up high and we are dancing. At the end of 'In The Flowers', we are ready for the rest of the adventure.
The album continues on a high point for a few songs. One of my favorites 'My Girls' is sure to be a 2009 blog favorite with the proud husband's admittance that all he wants is for his girls to have a proper house. Avey Tare (David Portner) and Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) harmonize with each other beautifully. "I don't mean to seem like I care about material things like a social status/I just want four walls and adobe slabs/for my girls."
Other stand out tracks like 'Summertime Clothes', 'Guys Eyes', 'Lion In A Coma' and 'Brothersport' are full of body-throbbing beats covered with ambient Beatles-esque vocals courtesy of Noah Lennox [aka Panda Bear.] I'd say the latter would be more reminiscent of Rhythm Of The Saints era Paul Simon, but not in a Vampire Weekend kind of way. However, comparing them to anyone else other than themselves is kind of silly.
A lot of the album is very toned down as compared to their earlier 2007 effort "Strawberry Jam" and they have certainly matured since "Feels." With this release, Animal Collective have shown us that they can make an incredible, boundary-pushing album while still being [more or less] accessible.
Overall, there is really not one song on 'Merriweather Post Pavilion' that I do not enjoy and it will be on heavy rotation over the year. Well done.
[for the record - I'm calling that this album will be at the top of many lists towards the end of the year]
Stand out tracks:
MP3: Animal Collective - In The Flowers
MP3: Animal Collective - My Girls
MP3: Animal Collective - Guys Eyes
MP3: Animal Collective - Brothersport
[buy @ Insound]
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