Merriweather Post Pavilion

Albums like this make me think that the "before" in "1001 Albums to Listen Before You Die" in fact establishes a causal relationship, rather than a procedural one

helllllll yes dude i love this album!!!!! its like 1 of my favs. im like entirely unablle to write rn but this sxhit owbns. ethereal n gorgeoutd n psychedekiivc n shit. sorry thid is one handed im eating an apple rn. not my fav anco but top 5 4 sure

Appreciate the creativity here but I’m not sure it was animal collective’s intention for people to listen to this without access to shrooms

🐵🦍🐶🦄🐯🦓🐷🐃🦙🐏🐀🐿🦔🐰🐓🦘🐧🐸🐊🦚🐙🦋🐍

An album born from ambition and technical prowess, but the unfortunate result is an album that's impossible to love. Let me elaborate. I came here knowing nothing about Animal Collective (after university I travelled the world for a decade, so when this came out I had no real desire to strain myself with maintaining a working knowledge of contemporary American indie trends), so this was my first experience of the group. Afterwards, I feel no internal clamour to make Animal Collective part of my life. Firstly, their aesthetic is wilfully garish and saccharine, but a conscious use of the garish and saccharine, whether sincere or ironic, is still garish and saccharine, and it will annoy those who have a distaste for the garish and saccharine, just as metal's aggressiveness and indelicacy alienates plenty of people. Secondly, I mentioned at the start that the album is ambitious, which is of course a highly loaded term. For instance, the choral singing constantly used on the album is a clear nod to the Beach Boys, but such an homage reveals irresolution as much as taste: are they complimenting the Beach Boys, or are they grasping for the trendiest ideas? I honestly can't tell you. Developing this Beach Boys comparison further, I don't think the melodies on this album are that memorable. Yes, I know there's also an unmelodic, glitchy rave aspect to this, but I think the desired result was to be a synthesis, not the actual unsatisfying compromise. This lack of memorable melody is what deflates the album, and I can't help feeling that the album was conceived as an exercise in cleverness rather than heart. For such a supposedly outgoing, emotive, happy band, I heard the faint clang of calculation in the background. Finally, on Guys' Eyes, one of the noises sounds like a fart. There are moments that appeal, and I accept that further listenings may increase my fondness for this, but I don't know if I want to devote any more of my life to Animal Collective. I'll give it three stars for effort (like I said, ambition has positive aspects, as well as negative ones), but that is partly bcause I want to be generous.

I have quite the soft spot for the psychedelic pop that Animal Collective seems to energetically spew into the world. It's loud, bewildering, complex music with an energy that I can never quite put my finger on but personally cannot stop chasing. It's a thrilling album that continues to challenge 10 years later while never feeling overbearing. The groups masterpiece no doubt.

Forgive me for my bias, because Animal Collective is one of my favorite bands and their 2000s run is everything I like about experimental music, but yeah this is kind of a masterpiece. If you don't see some beauty in the chorus of My Girls, I don't know what to tell you. It's an interesting progression into maturity to hear this band go from screaming about growing up, playing tribal tunes, and complaining about college to crooning about their desire for a simple life with a house and a wife but it's unmistakably still the same writers. Amazing production, amazing sequencing, amazing emotion, recommended for edgier fans of Brian Wilson.

Introduction: Animal Collective's 2009 album, "Merriweather Post Pavilion," stands as a seminal work in the realm of experimental and electronic music. Known for their boundary-pushing soundscapes and innovative approaches to songwriting, this album solidified their status as pioneers of the genre. In this detailed review and analysis, we will explore the lyrical content, musical elements, and the broader context of this album's impact on contemporary music. Track-by-Track Analysis: "In the Flowers" The album begins with a cascade of layered vocals and intricate electronic textures. Lyrically, it explores themes of growth, transformation, and self-discovery. The use of ethereal harmonies and reverberating percussion sets the tone for the album's dreamlike journey. "My Girls" "My Girls" is a standout track that blends elements of electronic and folk music. The lyrics reflect a longing for stability and security, a sentiment many can relate to. The pulsating rhythm and hypnotic vocal loops create a sense of euphoria that's impossible to resist. "Also Frightened" This track delves into the complexities of human emotions and the fear of the unknown. The intricate layering of vocal harmonies and evolving electronic textures mirrors the theme of uncertainty and personal exploration. "Summertime Clothes" With its infectious melodies and vivid lyrics, "Summertime Clothes" captures the essence of summer and youthful joy. The song's playful rhythm and use of samples contribute to its danceable nature, making it a fan favorite. "Daily Routine" "Daily Routine" is an introspective exploration of the mundane aspects of life. The repetitive, almost ritualistic percussion and the mantra-like vocals mirror the monotony of daily existence while simultaneously evoking a sense of transcendence. "Bluish" Here, Animal Collective delves into themes of love and vulnerability. The lyrics, delivered with heartfelt sincerity, are complemented by shimmering synths and a soft, pulsating beat. It's a moment of tenderness in the midst of the album's experimental landscape. "Guys Eyes" This track introduces a more stripped-down sound, focusing on acoustic guitar and percussion. Lyrically, it explores the complexities of human relationships and the search for connection. The simplicity of the instrumentation highlights the emotional depth of the lyrics. "Taste" "Taste" is a psychedelic journey that touches on themes of desire and longing. The intricate layering of sound, including choral vocals and electronic glitches, creates a surreal and hypnotic atmosphere. "Lion in a Coma" Here, Animal Collective embraces a more tribal and percussive sound. The lyrics allude to the struggle for self-identity and personal evolution. The repetitive rhythm and chanting vocals give the impression of a spiritual ritual. "No More Runnin" "No More Runnin" reflects on the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The gentle acoustic guitar and soft vocal harmonies convey a sense of nostalgia and resignation. "Brother Sport" The album concludes with "Brother Sport," an anthemic track that celebrates unity and brotherhood. The tribal percussion and uplifting lyrics provide a fitting climax to the album's journey of self-discovery and growth. Musical Elements: "Merriweather Post Pavilion" is a sonic masterpiece that blends elements of folk, electronic, and psychedelic music. Animal Collective's use of vocal harmonies is a defining feature, with the layered vocals creating a lush and ethereal soundscape. The album's electronic textures, ranging from intricate glitches to warm synths, add depth and complexity to the music. The percussion, often tribal and rhythmic, serves as the heartbeat of the album, driving the songs forward with infectious energy. The use of samples and loops adds an experimental edge, making each track a unique sonic adventure. Lyrical Content: The lyrics on this album are poetic and introspective, exploring themes of self-discovery, love, longing, and the human experience. While often abstract and open to interpretation, they resonate on a deeply emotional level. Animal Collective's lyrical approach is both personal and universal, allowing listeners to connect with the themes on a visceral level. Impact and Legacy: "Merriweather Post Pavilion" had a profound impact on the world of experimental and electronic music. It pushed boundaries and inspired countless artists to explore new sonic territories. Its influence can be heard in the work of many contemporary musicians, and it remains a landmark album in the genre. In conclusion, "Merriweather Post Pavilion" by Animal Collective is a sonic journey through the complexities of the human experience. Its intricate musical arrangements and introspective lyrics make it a timeless and essential album for anyone interested in innovative and emotionally resonant music. This album stands as a testament to Animal Collective's artistic vision and their ability to push the boundaries of what music can be.

Dull, repetitive, unimaginative, and muddled is pretty much this album… “Experimental Pop” my ass – what the hell is that??? If mindless whining of less-than-pedestrian and sterile lyrics, to repeating uninventive keyboard chords is your idea of “brilliant” – than this is your album… Saw a comment that this album only works IF you’re on ‘shrooms, and I call BS… I was on ½ gm of psilocybin yesterday while power-washing my deck – while unfortunately listening to this swill, and “Merriwether Post Pavilion” actually ruined my time out in nature to be honest… This is just shockingly bad on every level, and have no idea how this got on the list… Is the “1,001 Album” guy the brother of one of the dudes in this band??? Does that band have some compromising photos of the “1,001 Guy”??? Did somebody pay the “1,001 Guy” to please put this album on the list??? Who knows, but this is horrifically dreadful on an epic scale – and almost an hour long on top of that… Brutal – just brutal… Would give it a 0 in a heartbeat – and again, I really wonder what truly deserving and awesome album did NOT make this list due to this sludge, but I’ll have to settle for the lowest I can rate it… Man, the 2000’s have had some shitty music if this passes as decent…

This is one of those albums you have to experience everywhere. I've listened to this with headphones, on tiny speakers, and with large speakers and a bass system. I've listened to this while on a train, trying to sleep, working, high on edibles, even on shrooms. Just like mbv's Loveless, there's a lot of ways to experience the album and break down everything happening. It's a psychedelic pop masterpiece: Animal Collective's proudest and most accessible moment. The songs completely envelop you. It's immensely colorful and bright. The vocals are clear, and the lyrics are optimistic and engaging. The synths are used to advance their creativity in psychedelia, tools that had been developing for a decade following Flaming Lips's reinvention of the genre. Some tracks you can dance to, while at other things they serve a more artistic purpose, to wow the audience and glue the tracks together as part of a large continuous scheme. Track ordering is perfect. Starts off with the fan favorite "In The Flowers," setting the standard for the impressive weirdness you're in store for. The next four songs are the accessible pop hits to entice any newcomers to the wonderful world of psychedelic synthpop. The rest of the album has their own merits. They're dynamic, constantly evolving, and very fun to listen to while high. Pick and choose your favorites, but I love them all. I find them all super memorable. There are moments to groove along, and there are moments to just pause and appreciate what's happening. Reminds me of Bjork's work here and there, but mostly The Beatles and Beach Boys during their psychedelic phases. The album ends with the optimistic "Brother Sport." I adore the repetition in this album. Some may find it excessive, but I find it works really well, especially when it takes the focus while noises shift in the background. "Brother Sport" is based around this idea in each of its stages and it leaves with a satisfactory happy ending.

A masterpiece of folk psychedelica

There are some pretty off the wall ideas and sounds over here but at its core this is just a really exuberant and danceable pop album, this Aussie gives it five McFeasts from Macca's out of five

GOATED. One of the greatest indie rock albums ever and a pure 10/10.

You know those early days of meeting someone, where you're a bit scared but a bit giddy, and you're sharing all the things you like - music, food, random internet sites - and you're receptive to all the things this new, cool person is sharing with you, like beers you wouldn't typically drink, science fiction you wouldn't typically read, and weird, experimental bands you first tried to listen to back when all the music blogs were talking them up but you're pretty sure are a bit too avant garde for you. Only this time around, either through the lens of meeting this amazing person whose opinion you're rapidly finding yourself valuing, or because they ask you to listen to precisely the right gateway song (Summertime Clothes), you realize this weird experimental music is actually fun and exuberant and insanely creative. And maybe perfectly captures what it's like to walk around Capitol Hill on hot, humid nights, a bit giddy and a bit scared, but willing to give the whole love thing another try because how can you not?

Another of my all time favourites. Such a euphoric album. The harmonies. The beats. Brian Wilson pushed to his logical conclusion. I love the complexity of the songs though, it took me a while to really fall in love with this, at first I kinda hated it, after really liking (mainly) Feels and Strawberry Jam. But it unwraps itself on repeat listens. My Girls a personal theme of ours, particularly in our small family's early years and our search for a habitable home. No more runnin (says my mind) is a glorious paeon to just stopping and being. Shutting up all the nagging thoughts. Love it.

good shit, it’s like Oneohtrix Point Never meets MGMT meets LCD Soundsystem 10/10 album, I definitely need to look into more of their discography

Love this. Music like this makes me listen attentively, and really think about how the hell they made it. I associate this album with big phase of musical discovery and expansion of my taste, constant gig-going in London, saw them in Brixton just after this was released. frantic, visceral, live, immediate, expansive. Listening to this again makes me feel really happy. It's been a while. Brother Sport is genius, its like a chaotic psychedelic club tune, the tension builds in the noise and instead of the beat dropping, the cheerful melody does !

AC's best album and one of my all-time favorites. Here's a totally subjective track ranking: Brother Sport > My Girls > Bluish > Lion In a Coma > Summertime Clothes > Also Frightened > No More Runnin > Daily Routine > In the Flowers > Taste > Guys Eyes Also check out their Fall Be Kind EP for more of this style, especially What Would I Want? Sky and I Think I Can

It’s a good album. Chill and indie. The first time I actually heard a song from this album was when I was at this girls place I had a crush on in college.

really enjoyed the vibes from this album!!

Un album sympathique mais très froid, un peu comme l'air qui soufflait dans mes cheveux tout au long de la promenade durant laquelle j'ai écouté celui-ci. J'ai d'ailleurs croisé plusieurs animaux parmi lesquels des chiens et des chevaux. Vous avez probablement eu connaissance du scandale auquel j'ai pris part et qui a été dénoncé par mon compagnon d'écoute et rival elpouletbasquaise. Voici ma version des faits. Vous savez comme moi que la dernière édition du grimoire de Robert contient désormais l'album Kiwanuka de Michael Kimanuka, projet que j'avais d'ailleurs déjà écouté avant qu'il ne soit introduit. Vous savez tout aussi bien que, pour pouvoir prétendre aux 1001 vierges promises par Robert au terme de la liste, il est interdit à quiconque d'écouter la moindre chanson issue de celle-ci. Et justement. Il y a quelques jours, la mère de ma famille d'accueil me demanda si je connaissais un certain Michael Kiwanuka. Je lui répondis que je le connaissais évidemment, tout au contraire d'elpouletbasquaise qui, soit dit en passant, est un odieux personnage. Prenant ma réponse affirmative pour une invitation à faire entendre l'un de ses morceaux, celle-ci lança l'un d'eux, à savoir Love & Hate. Je vérifiai comme à l'habitude que la chanson n'apparaissait pas dans son album générable, et une fois ceci fait, appréciai alors la musique l'esprit léger. Un rapide coup d'œil en direction de l'écran de téléphone duquel sortait le son me fit entrevoir la pochette de l'album interdit. Cette apparition totalement injustifiée me fit croire à une transgression des règles du générateur, j'appelai donc Robert pour implorer son pardon, sans savoir que j'étais dans mon droit. Robert me l'accorda mais promut elpouletbasquaise au rang de bras droit. Revenons maintenant à ma promenade. À mon retour, au moment d'insérer la clé dans la serrure, je m'aperçus qu'elle avait été forcée. J'entrai donc à mon domicile et rejoignis le salon. Quelle ne fut ma surprise de découvrir la mère de ma famille d'accueil ligotée sur le sol. Au niveau de sa tempe était dirigé un pistolet silencieux appartenant à l'inquiétant Norbert Episode (l'espion apparu dans ma critique de Destroyer de Kiss). Celui-ci rangea son arme, s'avança vers moi puis chuchota à mon oreille les mots suivants: « Revirements dentaires ». J'allai aussitôt me coucher en ressassant ce qu'il venait de me dire : « Revirements dentaires, revirements dentaires... Mais bien sûr ! "Revirements dentaires" était une anagramme de "Dernier avertissement"... » J'avais été menacé.

Je n'ai aucun souvenir de cet album, et pour cause, un événement tragique a eu lieu ce week end. Replongeons nous dans le contexte. Vous n'êtes pas sans savoir que mon camarade d'écoute, robsepulturière, a récemment pris un grand tournant dans sa vie. En effet, dans la continuité de l'emergence de ses idéaux musicaux extrêmes, il décidé d'emmenager en Allemagne pour se rapprocher de Kraftwerk et NEU75. Il faut savoir que rob, s'étant récemment fait virer de son cabinet d'avocats suite à ses prises de paroles musicales intempestives, est en grande difficulté financière. C'est pour cela que rob a choisi de vivre en famille d'accueil en Allemagne. C'est là, au sein de cette famille, que l'impesable va se produire. Alors que rob ouvrait la porte menant à l'intérieur du domicile de sa famille, il fut directement intercepté par la mère, horrifiée. En effet, cette dernière avait retrouvé un CD des Crusarders caché entre les chaussettes de rob. Pour "purifieren" rob selon ses termes, elle se décida à lui jouer une chanson de Michael Kiwanuka. Or, Michael Kiwanuka vien tde faire son entrer dans la liste des 1001 albums du générateur. Rob a donc brisé le serment générateurien, en écoutant une chanson n'ayant pas encore été générée... Mais ce n'est la que le début des rebondissements, la suite dans le prochain review.

Okay I guess, but this is the kind of album that you listen to and immediately forget about afterwards.

There certainly is creativity here, it just fails to reach me

This was a pretty easy listen. Other than the ethereal aspects of the production, there really isn't anything that stuck out enough for me to want to listen to again.

This album grew on me as I listened to it, as my intial thoughts were more along of the lines of "they experimented so much they forgot to make an actual song". That being said, still don't think it's anything crazy. Every song is reverb effect, repeat a line for three minutes, add jungle noises. Like, I like some stuff, but even those often didn't turn into something I liked until too late, such as Bluish. Not to say the songs all sound the same, because they don't, but they do all have the same general formula that gets repetitive in one sitting. I do like how each how each song goes into the next, I'm a sucker for that stuff, but most of the songs don't stand on their own when needed.

You may have caught me on a bad day, animal collective, but I am offended by how mediocre and boring this is. I am a 2010s indie darling and this stuck me as the worst of the worst, middling, repetitive, and never ever building or leading toward a progression of a song. I remember hearing “my girls” because everyone did and it reminded me of why I never got into you back then - that’s it. That’s all there is. I imagine somehow these dorks said “we are avant garde beach boys” as they somehow took the worst of the beach boys and made it even more unpleasant by slapping some awful loops on top of endless echoing singing. How does every single song sound the same? I cannot imagine a single person on this earth identifying a single song and saying “that’s my favourite song of all time”. For me, there’s no heart, no soul. Just bland.

Gosh, I'm having a nice slew of some of the keystone albums of my youth lately. I absolutely love Animal Collective, this album is just incredible. In the Flowers is one of my all time favorite songs. I'll never forget the first time I heard it. When that climax hit, I swear I went to outer space. So many undulating layers in this song that just make you feel like you're floating in water, then you get that masterfully crafted climax. I've heard this song so many damn times but it still gives me chills every time I hear it. The way the synth and percussion play together in this bit just gets me every time. Then it just kind of trickles away and transitions into the immaculate layering of vocals and synths in My Girls (which has an amazing music video that I always seem to play it in my mind when I hear the song). And then it just continues on this way for the rest of the album, it just onto the next and the next like water and it's all wonderful. Also I'd be remiss if I didn't mention the absolutely perfect album art. Such a special album that will always make me think of my freshman year of college. From beginning to end, this album is such an incredibly fun journey. Still on my bucket list to see these guys live, the stars just haven't aligned for me in that regard. Gotta hold out hope for that 20 year MPP anniversary which will be here before we know it. And my brain just wobbled after typing that, how has it already been 15 years since this came out, what on earth??

It’s funny to put this one along with the numerous other indie-psych-pop-whathaveyou records inexplicably included in this list, consider this is one I’ve been listening to since middle school! I was thinking that maybe my opinion on it has become milder, but nah, I still love every song on this! Great production, creative ways to connect the experimental side of AnCo to this more poppy sound. I am very biased with this one, but this is a megabanger

My partner had this album on his list a couple of months ago. He described it as "torture". I think this is where our neuros diverge, because listening to this album was like a spa day for my ears and brain. Love it!

Really good album, not a bad song in it. I especially like In The Flower and My Girls.

Lush Beach Boys harmonies and wild electronic experiments? I’M IN! This was fantastic fun! So interesting and engaging. Brother Sport was the perfect finale!

One of my all time favorites

One of the great albums.From the get go...the build up and the drums at 02:31 of 'In the flowers' and we are off!!inventive,hypnotic a new discovery every listen...great stuff altogether

Very interesting alternative album. Psycho, choir, classic synths - great

What is there to say about this album that hasn't already been said? It's one of the most inventive pop albums of all time and it has some of my favorite synth riffs and arpeggios of all time. The lyrics and general vibe create such a beautiful everlasting summertime vibe. There isn't a time where I would decline listening to Merriweather Post Pavilion in its entirety. Highlights: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.

Nope

I loved this, Animal collective is so weird and cool. This album reminds me of Age of Adz in a lot of ways. The second half is what really sold me on this, the first part up until Daily Routine was good felt a bit monotonous. 9/10

So good and groovy! Would love a relisten. 9

I’m the flowers was a really strong way to start the album and I loved the spacey electronic sound it was going for. I really loved summertime clothes and the album finished well with brother sport. Overall very epic

I’m gonna term this as electroniprog. It’s all a bit wacky and the time signatures do whatever they want. It’s quite a nice sound - I like prog rock and I’ve tended to love some sides of the world of electronica. This makes for a fun trippy synthscape. The vocals are pleasant and the frequent call and return between members kept me engaged. This didn’t knock my teeth out, but I did enjoy it.

Glimmering and strikingly different, but also choppy and severely lacking in flow, though it does seem warm-hearted and joyous enough. It gets better (and easier on the ears and brain) the more it goes along. One finds it gets better on repeated listens ... which says one's not sure what about its overall quality. This album's influence has been considerable, apparently, but not necessarily to all positive effect. A begrudging 4 primarily for the ecstatic/orgiastic closing track.

Never really gave Animal collective much of a listen before this. This album really ticks a lot of boxes for me in terms of style its experimental nature and psychedelic influences. Really enjoyed it and one I’ll come back to more frequently.

It's a pretty hectic album. I liked it but it made me feel funny and I needed to sit down for a while after listening to it.

This was something new, and different...or was it...because it sounded like the same thing over and over... I liked it, but maybe that is because "i'm on vacation" and it is a chemically-induced experience. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge....

Reminds me a bit of Bitte Orca by Dirty Projectors that we heard very early on in this project. It's got elements of pop and elements of electronica but goes in unexpected directions. I had it mostly in the background today, which was fine. Not much really caught my attention. I liked it but don't see it becoming a favorite. I laughed hard at the title Guys Eyes, which I assume is a reference to my favorite line from Rosemary's Baby.

7. Might need to relisten since I did this across multiple stints of driving and navigating, but it seemed pretty good but nothing stood out

Part Polyphinic Spree, part Arcade Fire.

Changes between good and... Noise

The Bleach Boys

This record is intelligent, well-executed, and after two or three playthroughs has left barely a biscuit crumb in my head. Applying electronic oddness to baroque, Brel, Piaf or Walker-type chanteur pieces is a neat idea, albeit one Bowie perhaps perfected earlier. This washed passed me on repeat so politely that I had to concentrate to notice individual songs. Maybe the songs aren’t strong enough, but I think this is more a problem of vibes: the singing and melodies belong to a noughties trend towards whimsy and songs that hover in the background with ordering-a-café-latte vocals. For a contrast, go back a couple of decades and see how those young geeks in Slint used their frail voices to dramatic effect.

I enjoyed listening to this today, but it wasn't able to grab much of my attention (repetitive electronica tends to seep out of my consciousness if I try to do anything else, like drive or make dinner). But maybe this sort of music is supposed to seep into our subconscious, so on that metric, it succeeded splendidly and pleasantly.

Didn't hate it but most songs just fell flat for me.

Have you ever spat cum onto the floor of a Travel Lodge? I'm going to bite your genitals off. About as arousing as a cot death.

Merriweather Post Pavilion I don’t think I’ve ever consciously listened to Animal Collective. I’ve heard My Girls on the radio or on TV before and I like it, but I haven't ever really felt the urge to explore their music. It’s strange because I feel like this is the kind of music I normally get into; semi-experimental, lots of droning soundscapes and textures and layered synths, but I did find it difficult to connect with. Sometimes this kind of music washes over you in an engaging way, and as you listen more it starts to unfurl itself and get under your skin. And sometimes it just washes over you leaving little memory or trace. Unfortunately the majority of this seems to fall in the latter category, feeling like it’s neither experimentally odd enough nor atmospherically immersive enough to be genuinely interesting. My Girls and Bluish are really good though, the vocal melodies on both tracks deviate from what seems to be ACs standard pattern and they pull the music along with them, making a great blend of droning indie folky arty pop. No More Runnin’ I like too, and I like the ravey noises on Brother Sport, bringing a bit of vitality and vigor. Overall I can’t quite shake a slight sense of falseness to much of it, that they are deliberately making music to appeal to Pitchfork, music that seems complex, dense and psychedelically experimental and original, but is in truth is only superficially those things, underneath it all is a rather pedestrian and safely weird collection of music dressed in calculatedly elaborate robes. Obviously I can’t know AC’s intentions, and there’s plenty of music I like you could make the same accusations against, but this did leave me slightly bored. I don’t think it’s terrible though, even if it does have some insincerity to it there is of course skill to it as well as some good songs and it passes an hour easily enough. It's on the cusp of 2 and 3. On balance I’m unlikely to listen again, as there are other places I’d go for this type of thing, which rather unfortunately puts it at 2 on my scale. 🐒🦍 Playlist: Bluish

Couldn't make it through this trash. I don't have time for this kind of shit. I could be listening to literally anything else. After having read a lot of the reviews by professional critics, I'm left wondering what "pop" music is, since this was considered some transformational experimental pop album. Zero catchy melodies, droning overstuffed instrumentation, and virtually monotone singing...this is pop? It's more appropriately described as semi-coherent noise; barely recognizable as music Fuck this album. 1.5

Weird, not in a good way

The Beatles if every song was written in the style of strawberry fields.

I started out hating this but it grew on me over time, up to a point. A lot of it feels like disorganized cacophony. Some of the 'songs' that are decent go on for too long or degenerate into repetitive noise. Every song on the album is about 90 seconds too long. Indulgent, smell your own farts songwriting.

I am this album's biggest hater. Wannabe weird bullshit. Putting seven trillion reverb plugins on your lame pop songs doesn't make them psychedelic. Weak lyrics, horribly overproduced, painfully long, plastic, fake. One of indie pop's largest artistic sins. I'm a massive fan of this genre and "weird bullshit" music in general, but I will never understand why this album is considered one of the great ones. Some please rescue the singer from the bottom of a well. Two albums remain.

There are no songs on here that I want to ever hear again. 1 star or F.

The absolute worst of late 2000s whinge pop

Jesus, when the first song kicks in... grimace. This is way too much. I fully expected this to be released in like 2020 something, as it feels like the kind of music I'm too old and out of touch to understand. I mean, I definitely am too old, the album cover alone is giving me a headache. But the music just doesn't make sense to me. I don't think it's clever to have random noises and time-signatures that make it feel completely disjointed. I don't understand it. I just don't understand! I want to round this up to 2 just so I don't have to look at this stupid album cover again on my user summary page, but I'm just too much of a professional dammit.

I don’t get it.

I managed to listen to it all the way through, but that's about the best I can say about it.

I think I could’ve died without listening to this album

Very repetitive

Hipster garbage. I couldn't wait for it to be over.

Listened to the first few songs... this is just not for me. Not much going on here.

I appreciate this album from a creative perspective, but it's not for me. At any single point it sounds like at least two different millennial "indie-pop" songs with random electronic beeps and sounds trying to come together, but repeatedly fails. For me, the mess is too distracting and I have hard time not being annoyed. But hey, whatever frosts your cookie.

Was happy to get this - I have two (unheard) Animal Collective albums in my collection (not this), and remember MPP being highly praised during a period I didn't listen to much new music. First impression: yeah, you want to establish that electronica Beach Boys production vibe (we all know what I think about the Beach Boys, of course), wrong audience sorry!; later: sounds like Vampire Weekend and Matt and Kim (Christ!) fighting in a broom cupboard; finally: this is annoying as hell, turn it the fuck off! At the least, I regained some hard drive space. Cruel, but deserves the 1* PS - I quite like the Panda Bear/Sonic Boom collaboration, although it does basically follow the same listening experience outlined above

More psychedelia... unlike Country Joe & The Fish, there was no blues evident at all - just sound effects. I found this unlistenable.

0/10 did not enjoy

Couldn’t finish it. It was discordant cacophony that set my teeth on edge. Musical fingernails on a blackboard.

Never heard of Animal Collective before. This music is classed as "experimental pop". These guys should experiment with shutting the fuck up. These idiots must love recording in caves. The reverb on the music is fucking crazy. It muddles everything together, and renders it all just noisy garbage. They also have reverb turned way up on the vocals, which makes you feel like you're in a crowded store with hundreds of people talking at the same time: It's hard to isolate one conversation. In the same way, I can't understand what he's saying. What a fucking awful album. I was going to say that this is the worst album to date, but Robert Wyatt takes that cake. This is a close second though. I'd take that screaming German band (Einsturzende Neubauten) over this horseshit any day. This was just noise for the purposes of making noise. No musical talent found. Just three asshats who can push buttons on computers and synths. Fuck this album, and whoever thought this should grace a list like this should have their head examined. Artsy, hipster shit. No redeeming qualities. Really dumb album cover. I'm not on enough psychadelics for this album. Favourite song: Summertime Clothes? It's all utter garbage, but that may be the most tolerable? To be honest it all ran together into one big dumpster fire. Least favourite songs: this whole piece of shit album. 1/5

It is me Kanye West - my intrusive thoughts are getting the best of me and on the 12th of May 2023 the beast will be released, album was shit btw 1/5 stars

I just felt like it was too much going on, didnt really like the mesh of instruments. Though it was an interesting listen, not my style.

Innovative beautiful sound, perfect mixture of chill and chaos

10/10

-Some of the greatest experimental music of that era -No skips on the entire album -None of the album feels the same -Best Songs: In The Flowers, My Girls, Bluish, Lion In A Coma, Brother Sport -Worst Songs: None of them -Overall Rating: 9.8

i just love these kind of music.

This is a great album and it being ranked lower than THREE KINGS OF LEON ALBUMS IS DISGUSTING. KOL shouldn't be on this list at all and AC could easily have 2 other albums on here. This is a unique piece of music. Sorry it's not the most formulaic thing out there and actually has ideas.

Makes you frantically search if you accidentally have something else playing in the background, but it somehow works? Interesting ideas and a genuine experience.

This website baffles me. For a site/activity centred around discovering new music and expanding horizons, so many of the users here seem to be unwilling to try and expand their pallets or try and meet artists and albums on their terms. There’s no attempt in so many reviews to understand the appeal and I think that’s a real sad way to approach it. There’s a real lack of curiosity, especially when it comes to albums released post-2000 (is this website just boomer bait??) MPP is simultaneously creative, imaginative, absurd, and incredibly accessible. These are pop songs through and through. This is nothing more insane and noisy than anything The Beatles were doing, so why act like this is just ‘noise’? Are you deaf to the hooks on this album?? Summertime Clothes, Bluish, My Girls all have some of the greatest hooks of the 2000s. Pure hook heaven. Would love to see how this site would handle Sung Tongs, Feels, Spirit They’ve Vanished, or Strawberry Jam. If they think this is inaccessible, hoo boy.

I don’t think it’s a perfect record, but the nostalgia I have for this album and period of my life is immense. If you listen to this album and don’t feel anything, re-evaluate your relationship with pop music.

I had no idea what I was missing. The chanting, the mix of ambient noise and synth and guitar... it strikes me like a comforting blend of pain and pleasure. Yeah, this is what I'm missing from my life. 4.5/5

ok this rocks 5/5 electronic, pop, experimental, melancholy, psychadelic beats

Animal Collective are mainly known for their experimental and psychedelic style and MPP nicely mixes this with slightly more poppy melodies. The singles My Girls, Summertime Clothes and Brother Sport in particular are fantastic songs. This album has a really big sound.. probably like Pet Sounds would've come out like if it was made in the 00s. Loved this when it came out and loved it again on a re-listen

Brilliant.

Really cool experience.

LITERALLY TRANSCENDED Omfg this is the best thing I’ve listened to in a while

I was expecting some twee bullshit, and I certainly got it, but it's the sort of twee bullshit that's really resonating with me this morning. This sort of thing is anti-anxiety music for me. The layers hold the key. Lots of stuff for my idle brain to latch on to and discover resting in all the nooks and crannies.

I've seen this album cover a million times, had the CD, but looking at it on the screen here was the first time I actually realise it's a visual illusion. Great album, aged better than I expected. I used to be addicted to My Girls and its still one of my favourite songs, but there are many good tracks on here and the flow of the album is very strong. The psychedelic, futuristic but also animalist vibes are entrancing. Fave Tracks: In the Flowers, My Girls, Also Frightened, Summertime Clothes, Brother Sport 4.7/5

5.5/5 it gets an extra .5 for the album cover

the sun listens to this to get motivated to rise on a cloudy day

I listened to this album constantly in highschool sitting on the side of the maths building alone. I didn't have anyone to talk to so i'd text my friends on the steam app and eventually telegram about whatever we were listening to. I would listen to /mu/core and they would listen to FELT or Deco 27. I would always eat the samething at lunch, the chicken sandwich with a ton of pickled jalapenos, a little salad, and a 250mL water bottle. It was the only thing my school sold offered that didn't taste bad so I defaulted. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- I was worried that the only reason I liked the music i did for a while was because it was critically acclaimed. It gave me a bit of a complex and that I could only for my opinions based on the taste makers i knew nothing about. I listened to this because of such acclaim but literally nothing anyone said about the album is what connected to me. I just thought it was cool and had no words for it besides "the way people describe this is wrong." It made me feel more sure of myself. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- This is the only Animal Collective album on this website so I need to state my love for this band. They have been a part of my life since I was 13 and their music has impacted me so heavy I once again have no words. Strawberry Jam and Spirits they shited spirits they farded continue to have songs that play key moments in my life. In The Flowers and Brothersport have been placemarkers for multiple life events. I think that songs from this album will play in other key moments in my life. I feel I cannot escape this band because i love them so much. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- Didn't like lion in a coma until this listen tho

This was mind blowing when I was in college, now i find it endearing, vulnerable and absolutely beautiful.

LOVE THIS ALBUM. I was introduced to this band by a former coworker during a secret Santa gift exchange. I played this album on repeat for several weeks after that. This is not a word I use to describe music very often, but this album is truly hypnotizing. It definitely works best in the background while you’re working on something cause it can be super super repetitive if you’re paying too much attention, but it’s infectious. Like it grows on you and gets better and better with every listen. Definitely check this album out, it’s my personal favorite of their whole catalog.

A have a soft spot for this album (and “My Girls”) because of how I discovered them (a fave podcast at the time) and that time of my life. I still love the album, though, and I think it actually is a good representation of indie pop in the almost 2010s.

Loved this when it first came out, still sounds amazing!!