Review:

on 2011-10-03 CharlesMartel Said:

I have often pondered on the inescapability of death. I suppose it is a feature of growing old, you get morbid after a while. I once believed I would die before I was fifty, but when that milestone passed, I guessed that my time had not come. At about this time, I first listened to "Merriweather Post Pavilion". Maybe I should have gone at fifty after all.

Now I often get called out amongst my friends for deliberately liking what they regard as left field when it comes to music. Yet there are times when I feel they don't know the half of it. For when I listen to Animal Collective I get another attack of the Emperor's New Clothes. I mean, seriously, why do people like this? Am I getting old? Or is there, out there in music land, a wave of artists who have managed to con people into believing that the coolest thing in indie is some up your own arse hipster shit?

Having experienced the ultimate (as far as we Brits go) in this sort of clever, self back-patting any time I read the NME, I am now convinced that Animal Collective don't actually exist. They are a creation of a bunch of self-satisfied music critics at the NME who have been perpetrating the biggest in-joke on the self-obsessed hipster crowd in having them all believe that such a band exists, and "Merriweather Post Pavilion" is their latest masterpiece.

Sorry, but this is pretty much unlistenable. It might be original, but then sampling a cat in labour and mixing over it a gangsta rapper might also be original. But in neither case does the pleasantry of listening to it feature. Cheap and tinny synthesisers rush headlong into jarring vocals uttering meaningless lyrics, set on a background of sound effects. There is no pattern to this, there is no joy and no life. I am not sure if you are supposed to be on drugs to listen to this, but the only drug I want to be on when I next have to listen to this is Temazepam.

I might be old-fashioned, or just plain old, but I enjoy a melody: I appreciate a rhythm. A seemingly random collection of sounds mixed together with poor production as if it were a drunken teenage science project is really not my thing. And meanwhile. Back at NME central, the hacks are all having a damn good belly laugh.
Rating: 3/10

Review:

on 2010-04-06 Jonathan_Kroening Said:

It took eight albums for Animal Collective to break the Billboard 200's top 20. Yet critics have been praising the Baltimore band for years. The difference this time around in the runaway best album of 2009, Merriweather Post Pavilion, is the immediacy. While many will find that it still takes a number of repeat listens to grasp all that is going on, Animal Collective delivers more melody and dance accessibility this go around, as a summation of all they've achieved so far.

Merriweather Post Pavilion is hardly a pop album, however the light poppy flavors are what bring the experimental rock into conversations with albums like Radiohead's Kid A as some of the best music made in our time. A clear cut favorite as soon as it was released in January 2009, MPP lived up to expectations all year. Yet it must be noted that this is precisely the type of album that critics are prone to acclaim. Animal Collective has a distinctly artsy and indie sound but floats above the masses with music that imbues a soulful optimism. It's emotional and human. It's exactly what we ought to praise in music, a transcendental yet connective tissue of tones.

As I mentioned earlier this album will take multiple listens to fully appreciate. The songs are covered with so much ambient noise and sound effects that it can be difficult to sift through. The melodies are more readily available than the rhythms and time signatures, which are often secondary to the atmospheric texture. These odd meter beats and abstract melodies are what simultaneously reduce MPPs pop sensibility while deepening its time-release aesthetic.

The lyrics throughout the album maintain a consistent storyteller perspective. It's apparent that all four members of the band are in their 30s as well because the content maintains a rather adult voice with the most obvious example found in "My Girls", a song about a wife and daughter and "a proper house [with] four walls and adobe slats." This style of lyricism lends itself to heavy imagery but at the same time is less universal and may be more difficult for listeners to connect with on an emotional level. "Taste" is also notable lyrically with its philosophical query, "am I really all the things that are outside of me?"

"Lion In A Coma" is an inventive jam in 9/8 time. The melody line of the verses is a bit rushed and instead of being a natural extension of the odd meter feels more like its trying to catch up the entire time. However, the chorus repetition of the phrase "lion in a coma" is quite good and complements the 9/8 time signature well.

The album comes to a close with "Brother Sport" which, quite frankly, rocks. The last stanza is golden, sealing the album with these hopeful words: "Until you're fully grown you've got a real good shot. Won't help to hold inside. Give a real, give a real shout out!" The vocal harmonies and counterpoint found here, and on numerous other tracks (see "Guys Eyes"), are reminiscent of Brian Wilson's work with the 1960s-era Beach Boys.

In reaction to Merriweather Post Pavilion receiving undisputed accolades as the best album of 2009, I can understand the commendation simply because there is nothing quite like it. I must admit however that had it not been for the critical acclamation I likely would have overlooked this release. For those of us who listen to a wide array of music, from TV On The Radio to Radiohead to radioplay (read as Justin Timberlake), Animal Collective will at first appear messy and hard to digest. However after soaking in the tunes for a few weeks the better word to describe Merriweather Post Pavilion is "hidden". It will be difficult to understand but if you chose to invest in the sounds it will continue to give back gem after gem much longer than your standard pop LP does.

4 / 5 stars

- Jonathan Kroening
http://www.itsjustmusic.net
Rating: 8/10

on 2009-03-15 kev_stev Said:

It doesn't sound like the most absurd way to enjoy their music...
Not Rated

on 2009-03-12 SolitaryMan Said:

I recommend laughing at that last comment.
Rating: 8/10

on 2009-03-12 This Music Sucks Said:

You are correct, in this mainstream nastiness we call music these days, Animal Collective stand out from the crowd. I recommend you chill on the acid while listening to this album though!
Rating: 5/10

on 2009-01-31 X_NaStY Said:

Just picked up this album and starting to listen to it. I think it's gonna take a few listens for me to get into it. So far I've found that "My Girls" is the first song that's really catchy to me. At any rate, to add to the discussion about whether or not this band/album will catch on and be heard by the masses.. I'd almost rather it not. It seems that any band I've ever had the pleasure of "discovering" before they become popular, I've lost interest in after they have. I think it's because once a band becomes popular you get force fed the singles over and over again, on tv/radio.. The songs get played out. Then there's the pressure to put out a new album to stay in the limelight so to speak. I'd much rather just listen to them of my own accord. I do realize however, that for most bands the main goal is to be heard by "the masses" which in turn will earn them more money/recognition. I don't know maybe I'm just being selfish in wanting to keep undiscovered bands to myself.
Not Rated

on 2009-01-29 kev_stev Said:

I originally had it as 5 stars, but I think that the hype, the unanimously favorable reviews from critics, and the overwhelming approval from fans make this almost definitely a classic. Animal Collective really have honed their unique brand of music/sound... They're definitely one of this generation's best bands, and this record will be marked as one of their best.

It's so funny because in the indie scene they're the most talked about band that both absolutely doesn't need and absolutely does need a good publicist; indie fans were gonna listen to this album no matter what was said, but AC may need more hype to reach the masses--though i'm not gonna fool myself and say this'll ever happen.

This album does need to be heard, though! It'll change people's mind about today's music... or at least make them feel too old to comprehend modern music, ha
Not Rated

on 2009-01-29 SolitaryMan Said:

Great review, I actually waited until my first listen to read it simultaneously. An instant classic? As Dennis said, time will tell, which may or may not negate the "instant" part. I am enthralled by the album, and the increased usage of electronic elements feel perfectly natural in evolutionary terms. Between "In The Flowers" and "Bluish" are some of the most enjoyable musical minutes I've experienced in some time. At this moment I am still going to say "Feels" is my favorite AC album, but I cannot deny MPP is in a league by itself.
Rating: 8/10

on 2009-01-29 dscanland Said:

Ha, an instant classic? Isn't that next to impossible? Time will tell.
Rating: 7/10

on 2009-01-28 kev_stev Said:

sorry for turning this into an essay, i just thought it was worth really expanding just because its a very important release for this year/decade haha
Not Rated

on 2009-01-19 dscanland Said:

Not one opinion on Merriweather Post Pavilion? People are calling this the album of the year already!
Rating: 7/10