Pop? Upbeat? Fast Tempo? Yes, this is Animal Collective (Indie music superstars), and I'm sure you're going to be asking quite a few questions when you hear their newest outing Merriweather Post Pavillion, from Domino Records. This is album is a bit more like Strawberry Jam, and really different from anything from the likes of Feels, People, Water Curses, or Sung Tongs. Listening to this album, you will see that Animal Collective really can perfect any style they want to do. If you are not a big fan, or have never even heard of this trio well get ready to meet them. This is easily Avey Tare, Panda Bear, and the Geologist's (These are obviously just nicknames) most accessible album to date. Merrriweather is well Animal Collective's first real pop album. Oh and just to get this out of the way, the cover is illusion art by Akiyoshi Kitaoka.
Now if you're a person who has really followed AC over their music careers, this album should really be no surprise to you whatsoever. Just hearing Strawberry Jam, you knew that they were becoming a little bit more upbeat and poppy. Is this a bad thing? No, it really isn't, I really see no problem with becoming more pop, but that's only if the music doesn't suffer. Another surprising thing is, none of the albums have suffered from many of the members doing their own side projects, for example Person Pitch from Panda Bear, or Avey Tare working with his wife on Pullhair Rubeye. These guys really have their shit together, and love to keep putting out original music for all the hipsters, (Now everyone I guess? It is fucking pop) there really is a reason they have been a sensation in the music world. Classify them how you want freak folk, pop, even trance, whatever but they really have one of the more unique sounds today in the music world. One thing with Merriweather though, is that it only boasts one slower song. The songs, are obviously very catchy (can be good or bad), and it would be bad for this trend to continue I believe. I'm scared that are falling into a trap other bands have gotten themselves into, that of selling out. They are a completely different sounding band from their first albums, Song Tongs or Spirit They've Gone Spirity They've Vanished. The only thing that is similar really, is that of Avey Tare's voice, his yelling and screaming has really been a constant for Animal Collective, and this is key to the band's odd music making success. Though something nice,and unexpected from this album is, you will hear Panda Bear Singing more (No Geologist does not sing too many loops to worry about).
Now to start to speak about Merriweather, get ready honestly for more synth than ever. These guys have really become masters of looping, which is a sample of music that is being constantly repeated. You will hear a lot of different loops, many crazy sound effects, and Avey Tare and Panda Bear shouting out the vocals. One nice thing this album does keep is really the odd noises made by the singers, which has been with every album, and thankfully has not gone away. Random yelling of nonsense, or humming suprisingly is one of the things that make them who they are. Nonsense is one of the big things with Animal Collective, from the yellings, all the way to their lyrics. You migth be thinking that their nonsense lyrics are something you will hate, but while a lot of it is nonsense, it does work for how odd the music sounds. Don't worry though many of lyrics are very thoughtful, and when you're reading the song reviews you will see what their all about.
Now the album will start off by fooling you with the opener In the Flowers, it really starts off as a throwback to older AC. It creeps up on you, opening with a very catching slow beat, and Avey's quiet but powerful voice. It speaks of a dancer Avey finds high in a field that catches his attention, and after about 2 minutes the song just explodes musically. The beats start pumping with a jolting synth, and crazy singing. Next you get to hear really what the album is all about, pop, with the song My Girls. While this song is really catchy speaking of things like My Girls as the title suggests the lyrics get oh so sensitive, such as "Is it much that I feel I need" "A solid soul and the blood I bleed". Avey also speaks of outlooks on life when yelling over major beats "I don't mean to seem like a I care about material things or my social status", and then letting us know what really is important to him "I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls". Here you start to see some nonsense like adobe slabs, really an undefinable term but it just seems to fit, for no reason. Just listen to the track and you'll get it. The third track Also Frightened asks all of us a simple question "Are you also frightened?", and repeats it many times, just like the other question int he song "Will it be just like I'm dreamin". The song touches on much more trippy lyrics, such as "Excited and screaming their voices go wild, and raise with the birds mating up in the clouds". Another highlight track is Bluish the fifth tack on album. It also opens up slowly, but really stays slow for everything but the catchy chorus. The song is more trippy including lyrics "Pulling me into another dream, a lucid dream", but the chorus really sells this one. The chorus opens with piano going up in key, more upbeat love like lyrics, and well matching synth. Most of the songs are extremely upbeat, or a combination of the two. A rare chill song for this album, No More Running, really goes back to their folk roots. The song includes odd lyrics lyrics, "I locked my bones and trapped my feet, I told them I found em a place to be" ,or, "No more runnin, says my mind". The chorus belts in harmonization between Panda and Avey "It's what I hope for", with for being elongated. The rest of the songs really are very poppy, even if they tend to open up slowly. The last song really speaks for the album as a whole this being Brothersport, including crazy lyrics, nutsy noises, and it is oh so catchy. The whole song, is just pop, loud beats, and awesome loops.
In total this album comes in around 55 minutes making Merriweather, Animal Collective's longest album they have ever released. I can only hope that if they keep their pop sound, that they wont end up losing their originility (selling out). For now, it is actually somewhat of a nice change of pace, even though I think everyone still really loves older Animal Collective. This is as was previously said their poppiest album to date, but that does not make it bad. It is honestly one of the best albums that will be released in 2009, and it was released in early January, which makes it somewhat of a great New Year's gift. If Animal Collective is going pop well I guess I am on board, with this release, they make me believe they can perfect anything they put their minds to. So the trio makes another amazing release, enjoy it and wait for an ep in a few months, so we can see what direction their going in then. I get a feeling they may change their pop ways, since these guys touch anything and it turns to gold. So go out buy this eleven track jamming album, and have fun. Until then Ill keep on runnin to get more music (godawful joke).
My Girls from Merriweather Post Pavilion
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