Merriweather Post Pavilion

Minner litt om tame impala Lonerism

There was something really beautiful about this one. I was not familiar with it, but it was just being immersed in a pretty world. For me it wasn't too perfect (Daily Routine felt like it dragged) but I was pulled in and found myself really enjoying it. One criticism is I didn't always feel the ending and beginning of each song, it just all sort of melted together.

This one took me several listens to get through because I kept ending on "what?". And then I'd listen to it again and get totally spaced out in some sort of pulsing electro psychedelic dream cloud. Bonus points for artistry. This is definitely an artistic album with incredible sound alchemy. I especially liked In the Flowers (where it really KICKS IN at 2:30ish is awesome!), My Girls, Summertime Clothes, and Lion in A Coma. Far out!

Not an entirely original observation, but this does remind me of a much trippier, more evolved Beach Boys. The close, barbershop harmonies especially. Initially, I only liked it, without really loving it, but the album weas just off to a slow start. Then the tracks that I liked a lot; the amazing Summertime Clothes, the boioioioing of Lion in a Coma, and how Brother Sport snuck up on me. Honestly everyone describing this as noise, or repetitive, or confused, just get a grip. (Also the repetition? I mean, that's a key element in music, especially electronic and classical music.) This list isn't going to be all guitars and choruses in 4:4 time, jeez. I mean, I hated Throbbing Gristle, but I appreciated it being on the list. I hated Limp Bizkit, but they were representative of an era. Waahh, waahh, it's not some dad rock from the 70s. Suck it up and expand your horizons when you're listening to this list.

FOUR WALLS AND ADOBE SLATS FOR MY GIRLS

This is one of those albums I’ve always seen and knew existed but have never listened to. It’s good. It’s definitely important because I can point to about a dozen bands that don’t exist without being influenced by this.

This is definitely an album that I can just get lost in because it sounds so dreamy, but I felt like I couldn't quite understand the lyrics well enough. Also, all the songs sounded pretty much similar. Maybe one has an electric guitar and the other just has a synth but the vibes of the songs and the soundscapes created were all pretty similar and blended together. But the performances and instrumentation were so good I can't hate it.

Good indie stuff.

Hugely interesting experimental electronic indie

It's a really good album. Improves with repeated listening, on the evidence of listening twice!

Fav Track: Bluish

Positiv überrascht, nette Indierockmusik. Mochte ich als Jugendlicher gerne.

Really enjoyed this one, felt really unique and ethereal at times, the first song had a great explosion of sound in the second half after 3 minutes of music which felt perfect for sailing a boat in an enchanted forest or something. Other favourites include: summertime clothes, daily routine, bluish and taste. The album cover is really cool aswell, really matches the sound of the album. Overall, 7.5/10.

This is a very technically impressive album, and I find myself enjoying it more than I thought I would when I first saw it. There’s a clear influence on indie music of the 2010s here that is undeniable. I would have hated this when it came out in 2009 but I’ve found that my attitudes towards music in the 2000s-2010s closed me off to a lot of good stuff that I missed at the time.

this album was huge when it came out. a few of my friends played it on repeat all of summer 2009. it holds up

I put this on in the early hours of the morning whilst I rocked my little girl to sleep, with my partner asleep in the bed next to me. My Girls was unintentionally the perfect accompaniment.

It was pretty good, not my favorite.

Modern acid band, these guys are weird. Panda Bear in particular does some weird things and a lot of the time it doesn't work (looking at you, Lion in a Coma), but then their standouts are awesome, like the very next song, No More Runnin. It's beautiful and lets the mind settle into a little pocket of vibes, almost like a rainforest with light rain dripping with frogs croaking to the beat. Very unique band and I like that.

Didn’t get it the first time I listened to this years ago, but really enjoyed it this time through

I enjoyed listening to this, though its a little pretentious and sometimes can take it a layer too far for me 4/5

Woah. Cool illusion on the album cover! I've genuinely never seen that before! Anyways, this Animal Collective album is really good. It kind of gives Beach House vibes. I don't like this album quite as much as Teen Dream, but it's still pretty freakin' great. The style here is pretty unique and I like it. It's got some psychedelic elements that I've seen compared to the Beach Boys. I kind of get it, but not a ton. The electronic and indie elements add to that to create an album that feels modern. I enjoy the sound of the album, and the singing is a big part of that. This album's got some nice harmonies. I like that. The writing is also considerably pleasant. A good chunk of these songs relate to romance, as is often the case. These songs focus on the topic in interesting ways though, with songs like "Summertime Clothes" and "Bluish" being strong examples of this. The album even has some songs about having kids and family! That's so sweet! This is just a very pleasant album to listen to. It's a decently varied album with a lot to love. This is the kind of late 2000s indie album that belongs on a list like this. High 4/5.

psychedelic electronica/pop Favorite track: My Girls other picks: also frightened, summertime clothes, no more runnin, brother sport

Something like Flaming Lips, but still unique. Some Beach Boys style harmonies in there as well.

I really enjoyed it! The vocal layering in combination with the synths stood out to me the most and the album cover is really cool too! The track order is perfect, the songs all flowed into each other nicely. I think this album would be a good start for someone looking to get into experimental music since it's not as "out there" as some other albums in the same genre.

As a girl dad of two and husband to a wife and the primary income provider who is also mostly uninterested in all things consumerism, I can think of few songs that resonate with me as perfectly as My Girls. In many ways it’s probably one of my favorite songs of all time. The rest of the album is solid… it can lose me at times. My Girls is enough of an all-timer for me that it earns an auto 4 stars from me.

I adore this album - always a go to for energising and beautiful music.

This took me right back to college. I remember the hype around this album, and there are some definite classics from the era ("My Girls" and "Summertime Clothes"), but generally just the indie/freak psychedelic rise in that era. I feel like this, and its influence on millennials during this era, marked the transition from indie-sleeze to the EDM/drug focused 2010s. I enjoy the album and the weirdness, but it was never one of my absolute favorites of the era.

75/100.

How have I not listened to this album. Wonderful. Summertime Clothes FTW. Great stuff all around.

Wild how something this layered can feel so.. gentle. It's got this swirly, sun-through-the-trees energy. It took a few spins, but it’s clicking the more I listen. There’s a clear love for structure here, even if everything sounds like it’s melting a little. Definitely has some of The Flaming Lips influence. It’s weird, but not weird-for-weird’s-sake. Honestly, it kinda makes my brain giggle. Like, in a good way. Also, shout-out to the album cover, I thought it was a .gif image when it generated. Spins: 3 Playlist Additions: - In The Flowers - My Girls - Summertime Clothes - Bluish

One of the many bands I was introduced to by some of my older friends I was making music with. While I never was as passionate about Animal Collective as them, the few songs of this album I knew caused me to keep interest in them until seeing them in 2013. Looking back, I love the experimentation and how I can see the influence this has had on other artists and producers. Both rough and enveloping, it reminds me of active summers

This is a rather neat album with some really cool effects. "My Girls" especially has such a unique sound, it's very iconic. It's just a fun album.

very interesting sound, not as good as I was expecting overall. Would listen again.

remarkable

After reading the reviews I didn’t think I’d like this and was expecting listening to be a chore … Reader, I loved it! Different and interesting and strangely soothing 😀

Es ist ein facettenreiches Album, das seinen eigenen psychedelischen Kosmos schafft. Es besticht durch seine experimentellen Klanglandschaften, harmonischen Gesänge und kraftvollen Melodien. Tracks wie „My Girls“ und „Summertime Clothes“ sind hypnotisch und zugleich energetisch, was das Album zu einem immersiven Erlebnis macht. Die Kombination aus elektronischen Beats und organischen Klängen verleiht dem Werk eine einzigartige Atmosphäre.

I didn’t know a whole lot about them but quite enjoyed the album. It was a nice combination of pop and experimental music

This album gives me such a sense of mystery. Its one of those that is so layered and different that I want so badly to understand it. I swear it sounds different every time I hear it. Its just SO cool, and I'm so intrugued by it - like I don't quite get it and I want to keep listening it until I do.

I wish they had been more adventurous with the melodies and bass lines to push this album to the top.

Really good really strong interesting Good vibes the whole time and likely a grower One for da future

Crucial to all blog boys in the 2000s

I think I expected something else, but was pleasantly surprised! Cool album. I think I got a little lost along the way with the length and lack in variation, but great just the same!

It never stood out to me in Anco's discography, but on relistening to MPP now I really do love it and think it's their strongest, most polished album, even if sanding off the harsher electronics and screams sacrifices a lil bit of the band's uniqueness. It's still a wacky record with loud-ass neo-psych stuff integrated into some wonderful pop song structures. Songs like Bluish and My girls are just really, really well composed and lovely to listen to. More experimental cuts like Lion in a coma complement rather than clash with them. Great track sequencing too!

Vibey, we liked it

not my fav AC album but always loved My Girls + Daily Routine

First time listen and really liked it. My fave Daft Punk song features Panda Bear. Coincidence? I think not. I dig that floating in the ether over modulated breathy sound.

It needs to be summer like right now, then this is a 10/5. I think archible already said that. But it's right.

A Summer 5, A Winter 3.

9/10 This album is permanently wedged between the underground weirdo Indie canon and an iconic 2000s Pop record, and it’s a shame there’s not a lot of really great artists that breach this Avant-Pop crossover enough because it absolutely warrants its legend status. Got really into AC last year and ran through most of their discog, and while there are other projects that I prefer, I can’t help but come back to the warmth and joy of MPP the most. https://imgur.com/a/C7oa6tG

Come on, it’s bangin.

Great

Torn between thinking this is the best thing ever and not enjoying it at all. Probably lands somewhere in between but My Girls raises it above the rest

I liked this mess. Three or four of the songs on this album were frequent inclusions in the Pandora station I liked back in the 2010s, but I had not listened to the whole album. I was happy that they kept up the sonic intensity from start to finish, it felt cohesive and I love the palette of sounds they worked with.

This came out in high school, and while I’ve never consciously listened to this before, it all felt familiar. Very enjoyable, though a bit too synthy and strange at times.

I was completely blindsided by this. I'm the right age, and the right scene for this, but I guess from the wrong country. I had no idea who these guys were or what they'd been doing. I really like the vibe of this, but honestly the album is likely 10-15 minutes longer than it needed to be, and I'm not too sure about longevity.

I own this. I like it

4 stars

interesting listen today. surreal, dreamy and postmodern psy-rock music. with digital synthesizers and mesmerizing, atmospheric arps, the best way i can describe this album in terms of sound is an arcade in a cyberpunk future. we're talking neo tokyo 2019. it's a really specific kind of sound, and for those who are willing to sit down and immerse themselves in the noisy soundscapes, there's a real hidden gem here.

This was a slow creeper. I'd only ever spun a single Animal Collective song a decade ago, according to Last FM. I began with no expectation and finished with satisfaction. My Girls was the clear standout. Guys Eyes had an interesting jive to it. Bonus points to Lion In A Coma for the jews harp. All 3 made it onto my playlist of top tunes, which doesn’t happen often.

There's something so nostalgic about this album, but I don't know why.

Favorite Track: My Girls

4/5. I think in high school, this was a perfect album to me but I do see some flaws here and there. Listening not with good headphones also takes it down some steps but even still, the album is a little too long. Some songs can definitely be trimmed and making it a solid 40 minutes would be perfect. No doubt, a great album still, the melodies and sounds used to invoke this feeling of etherealness and yet down to earth, hard to match. And I would still recommend it to anyone wanting some new styles not found most places. Animal Collective as a whole got some great albums so was glad to see this here. Best Song: My Girls, Brother Sport, Bluish

Stoner headphone bliss

Woaaahhh album cover that moves!!!! As a youngster in high school, I was well-versed on the intricacies of The Internet to know a thing or two about its various webbed sites. Tumblr, Reddit, YouTube, they were all playgrounds for timewasting, each with their own little cultures and whatnot. Still intimidating to me was 4chan, however, as it was usually spoken about as a den of degeneracy. Today, I would have no interest in visiting or participating in any discussions there, but I bite the bullet in my senior year of high school and decided to explore what the anonymous forum had to offer. Enter /mu/. The pinned post that greets every new user says "Welcome to /mu/. Now get out." Most every user there is a misanthropic, snide asshole who is very self-assured in their opinions about music, but somewhere in noise is a consensus. Dubbed /mu/-core, a few oddball albums have been thoroughly championed by anonymous users, including In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and The Money Store. While you won't find either album on this list, one /mu/-core selection that did break the mold was Merriweather Post Pavilion. Animal Collective had already been nominally successful without the endorsement of /mu/ (their prior album was named Album of the Year by Pitchfork), but Merriweather Post Pavilion seemed to be one of the first notable albums of the internet underground. Chances are, you probably didn't know about this album unless you were actively on the forums talking about what was on the come-up. And now the OGs wear it as a badge of honor when they get to say "I was there, I remember when it dropped." And there's some real street cred to that. Merriweather Post Pavilion is unlike any other music at the time. Taking the ever-popular indietronica movement of the 2000s, the trio (guitarist Deakin stepped away for this album) blends pretty synths and pads with grounded percussion samples in order to create a psychedelic and otherworldly collection of songs that flow seamlessly from one to the next. Few albums are so pleasant, so extraordinary on first listen that it feels like a warm hug. Relistens only expand on the experience. Be open to Merriweather Post Pavilion and you will be rewarded graciously.

Remata muy bien. Brother Sport.

It seemed like an all-timer classic when it was released but I'm not sure it really holds up to that level any more. Still an indie classic, just not an all-time great.

Still a great album.

A great bit of experimental chamber pop. A psychedelic cacophony

A psychedelic trip. Πρεπει να ακουσω πολλες φορες ενα τετοιο αλμπουμ για να χω ολοκληρωμενη αποψη Rating: A

Eh. Ok.

I can absolutely see how this kind of vague, meandering style would be offputting to some people, but I really enjoyed it. I’m drawn to these sorts of albums that evoke a mood or atmosphere in a minimalist kind of way.

cool

Skemmtilegt, pínu ruglað, smá sturlað.

Mjög gott og skemmtilegt tilraunaindípop með bítlaívafi. Verður betra við hverja hlustun, rúllaði henni heilan vinnudag. Þá var Avey Tare tengdasonur Valtýs um tíma, sem hlýtur að vera hálft stig. :-) 4,5

I enjoyed it. Not my favorite, but it will likely grow on me.

Lovely

4☆/5 10.05.2024

Thought I'd instantly love this, although it's a bit more of a slow burn. Certainly interesting though, and the next album irritated me so much that I'm rounding this one up.

this album vexed me for years and years because i knew it was the paragon of Cool Guy Music* but i just didn’t get it…it finally clicked for me only a year or so ago and yeah, now i get it. i’m obviously not a huge anco stan and honestly i think they can be a bit cringe but i’m trying to focus on this album as an album and not as an indie electronica talisman with all the weird cultural baggage attached to it. i do think it’s beautiful! it sounds like the better summers of my adolescence: lovely and fretful and bright. fav tracks: in the flowers; my girls; summertime clothes; bluish; Yno more runnin *this is also how i felt about pavement for almost the exact same amount of time.

8.5/10 I listened to this album a lot when it first came out, and it has aged very well Really good psychedelic electronic indie pop. This is the only AC album I’ve heard where they managed to to keep their more avant garde/poor impulses in control and therefore it is consistently excellent The rhythm - a mix of live percussion, drum machine, and electronic drones - really stands out. The production overall is very good here. The multi-layered and harmonised vocals really shine on some tracks A lot of the Panda Bear heavy stuff is what I imagine it sounds like in Brian Wilson’s head. Big compliment Doesn’t get the full 5 because there is a slightly lower ratio of banger to vibes songs than I’d like Best: My Girls

Groovy. Cool. Weird.

Psychedeliv Pop. Witzig zu hören. 4/5

This is a cool album. So much of the rock from this era sounds so stagnant now, but this album still feels fresh. Great mix of psychedelic rock infused with a lot of more modern elements, like sampling. The place where Animal Collective really shines is the vocal harmonies. The vocals are layered so beautifully, and they bring a lot of life to the lyrics that the wouldn't have if sung by a single vocalist 4/5

Good album.

I sure am glad I didn't write this one off due to its adoration from the music section of a certain Cantonese cave painting forum. This whole thing was a pretty cool trip to be honest. My first listen was a total trippy breeze, a lot of the tracks felt like they naturally segue from one song to another. This felt like a coming of age story in the way things move. Smaller tracks would set the ambiance for different stages of life, bridging the way to the bigger and more bombastic tracks being our fondest memories we hold onto. This was a nice contrast to how many of these albums we have been given so far which feel front-loaded with the best of the album before waning in quality as it goes along. The opening track feels like the beginning of life, especially with the distant fleshy pulsating in the back of the opening, before making its way into the calm but uncertain times of a child. These first 3 tracks gave an odd sinking feeling at times. Summertime Clothes by contrast is this ecstatic burst of joy, an anthem of the good times in life, the feeling continues across the next few tracks but slowly wanes away as the tracks took on a more somber tone. Feeling like either the end of a night of celebration or even the joys of childhood & adolescence being dulled away by the mundane routine of adulthood. Brother Sport brought back the joy of earlier tracks, and as the final song feels like it is the start of something new. On top of finding fun in the albums structure, and I will probably prefer to listen to the full album whenever I put this on again in the future. There are plenty of individual songs in this that were just really good. I definitely meshed better with the psychedelic stylings on this rather than what was presented in 'Forever Changes' a few days ago. If I had to nitpick anything it would be that a few of the last tracks before Brother Sport were not as good, and that some of the line delivery in a few songs where it was purposefully stilted didn't land with me. I'm really glad to have finally found something new in this list that I will definitely come back to in the future. Favourite Tracks - Summertime Clothes - Bluish - In The Flowers

i was recommended this album many many moons ago on an ancient chinese basket weaving forum and at the time it changed my life. i thought man, i must be the only white boy that likes such a cool, experimental and refreshing take on the pop genre. what a fool i was. anyway even if i dont really enjoy listening to this album anymore (probably a matter of fatigue) i still have to give it a good review. pretty undeniably a foundation in the blending of experimental electronic and pop into what has become mainstream electro and hyper pop hits like brat. thats right guys the /mu/ mpp pipeline resulted in brat summer and you can't convince me otherwise. lots of bangers. my girls, daily routine, summertime clothes, taste. im a sucker for good synths and those tracks all have great synths on them. these days i think id rather listen to experimental or pop, and strawberry jam is probably my favorite release by am over mpp, but this is still good nonetheless. i was teetering on a 3 just because ive overlistened to this album so much but thats probably a little too subjective for such a good release.

Why the fuck this adventure time background soundtrack ass music got me cryin in the club

This is by far, easily the album I've enjoyed the most reviewing so far. I have never heard of Animal Collective and certainly not this album, but I was so pleasantly surprised when I put the first track on. Initially, the long introduction on "In The Flowers" had me really aprehensive. I thought maybe it was going to be another shitty british rock band trying to have a cool long intro on there first track before breaking into Regatta De Blanc levels of terrible, but boy was I wrong. I love the use of drums, claps, rimshots and other percussion, ethereal sweeping synths, the plucking chords. The vocals are great, however I must admit that I'm not really able to recall a single lyric. I found that they were much more like an instrument then they were used for conveying story or ideas. That could be a bad take, but they blended in with the other sounds so seamlessly that the lyrics seemed not as important. I was an incredibly big fan of songs that started and slowly built into something bigger and more majestic like "My Girls" (one of my favourite song of the album). "Daily Routine" is just majestically beautiful, especially the second half where the vocals are just floating in this cosmic soup of undulating and progressing chords and negative space. It felt like I was travelling through time and space at lightspeed, but in slow motion at the same time. It truly is an amazing piece of music. I was very pleasantly surprised by the start of Guys Eyes where a more traditional dadrock-esque guitar and drum sound is used, which was a nice departure from the rest of the album so far. It naturally progressed to rely on this less, but still a nice change of pace. I was not a huge fan of Bluish or Lions in a Coma, but even these songs were able to change and evolve at the end into something that I enjoyed more. I couldn't quite pick what genre this band is. All I can think is they sound like Pink Floyd if they had access to modern synth equipment and just a dumptruck of acid. There are definitely some great songs on here that I will be listening to again. If I could, I'd give this album 4.5/5, but instead I'll just give it a 4.

I have seen this album plenty of times on /mu/ and other music discussion pages and formed an opinion without having listened to it. I thought it would be music for wankers (please see my review of arctic monkeys for my inability to enjoy things). In The Flowers is a great opening track, really hooked me in on a first listen and remained fresh on a repeat listen. This track set very expectations for the rest of the album. My Girls is great on an instrumental level, but the lyrics can make the song pretty repetitive, it's a fine track but it can get a little grating, specifically the 'social standing' line. Skipped on a repeat listen when I realised what song I was on. Also Frightened is also a repetitive song but I enjoyed this one more, it's a groovy track, just as good on a second listen. Summertime Clothes is a banger. Sounds like a marching band forcing you to have a good time. On a repeat listen I went back to listen to this a few more times, it's a very fun track. Daily Routine is probably my favourite song on this album. One of those songs that totally changes what its doing halfway through. I have gone out of my way outside of album listens to put this song on. I really enjoy the long, drawn-out soundscape of the second half of this song that really shows off Animal Collective's skill as producers. Bluish is a fun track but a little forgettable, on a repeat listen I forgot that I had heard this song before. Guys Eyes was a not my cup of tea on a first listen with its multiple vocal tracks playing over eachother, but I enjoyed it a lot more on a repeat listen. Taste is another that I tuned out of on my first listen but appreciated much more on a repeat listen. Lion In A Coma I remember well from my first listen for its annoying fucking jaw harp at the opening leading into mumble-mouthed vocals. Honestly the first minute or so of this song is annoying as shit and feels overproduced. Around 40-45 seconds in there's this annoying vocal effect which sounds like those "erm what the glorp" alien cat memes on twitter. Unfortunately the annoying production continues. This No More Runnin is a very welcome slower track after Lion In A Coma. This song is to Merriweather Post Pavilion what Caroline, No is to Pet Sounds for me. On a repeat listen this felt very cathartic especially after resisting the urge to skip the previous song. Something about Brother Sport rubs me the wrong way. Both on my first listen and on repeat listens, this song sounds like it laid the groundwork for the boom-clap, feel-good, advertiser friendly musical scourge of the 2010s (Mumford and Sons etc.). Credit to Animal Collective for what is a funky track with interesting production and arrangement but this song feels to me like a sign of the evil that is to come. Reading about this album and this band inbetween listens the inspiration of Brian Wilson and albums like Pet Sounds and Smile is very clear in the tone and production style of Merriweather Post Pavilion. Despite how harsh I was on a few songs on this album, they are still listenable and enjoyable (except Lion In A Coma). I am a big fan of this album and I'm hoping the rest of Animal Collective's catalogue is as adventurous.

A pleasant surprise. I could listen to this regularly. Gentle ambiance.

Strange and electric.

idk why the rating so low. this is great sober and probably life changing high. Me and the hatman finna get turnt to this shit i jus gotta pop 12 benedryls first. this album is for realer geekers ONLY

I have the sudden urge to tell that alt girl from high school who always ironically a ripped up Ramones shirt how I really feel about her. This one brings back a lot of memories for me. This album encapsulates the sound of indie music for an entire decade in the 2010s and this band is one of the early most pioneers. I think this album falls into the same trap that a lot of synth lords from the 80s do though- a cool new technology comes out and they keep hammering that button without really innovating too far beyond using it in the first place. As a result the sound is cool and new but after 30 mins it gets old pretty quick.

This was my least favorite Animal Collective album for a real long time (I'd been on board since Sung Tongs and AC's trudge towards the mainstream coincided with my increasing snobbishness), but I think I was being stubborn.

Lot of cool sounds and moments and I call tell it's influential, but a little annoying in some aspects

Cool album art and cool songs

Really enjoying this one, it is certainly alternative and probably divisive. I recognise "My Girls" from somewhere else, not sure where... I'm glad Iistened to this and will seek out some more Animal Collective.

Very goodd, misschien ooit wel een 5

Aah, I loved this at the time and then immediately forgot about it. it's still good, although somehow already seems a bit dated. My Girls has a good emotional heft, and there's plenty more great songs on here. A bit samey at times, but a worthy four.

Arguably the peak of AnCo's discography, MPP took their sound further than it had ever travelled before, but also made it the catchiest and most fun of any of their records. Some of the best indie bangers of the naughties on here.

Surprisingly good background music for working

Great album! Reminds me of an updated beach boys

This album sounds like they started a live show and then just kept sampling themselves into some weird oblivion by the end of it. This however, ended up not being something to get mad about. It is easy to start off critical about this album, but it wins the listener over, if not just from sheer curiosity. Most electronic music has this lazy vibe where the artist finds a groove, and then lives off it for several minutes. This album has elements of that, but in a progression reminiscent of Bolero, there is a constant building going on, enough to remain the same but enough new elements to keep it interesting. Electronic music tends to fall short of personality, and perhaps that is the draw behind it to go mindless and let 1s and 0s dictate the flow of one's life, however Animal Collective ups the game where Moby became stale. Taking a more pop approach, and putting a bit more thump into the electronica, Animal Collective in a way makes all these familiar sounds and their shortcomings into something unfamiliar, perhaps a bit fresh, a surprisingly approachable album.

When listening to the first track I was like "WOAH" and then by the end I was like "oh..."

Almost done listening, but so far I'm really enjoying it. Definetely more poppy and psych than i would normally listen to. Good walking music.

I don't like this as much as I would hope that I did. Part of it is that it's all very mushy sounding. I can't appreciate the dynamics because it's all kind of too compressed. That said, I appreciate what it's going for as an updated Brian Wilson wall of sound, and I'm gonna do a 3.5+. It might grow on me.

This is a tough one for me to rate. I really did not like this album at first. It's early tracks are borderline headache inducing as it is a lot of noise. Very loud/busy if you set your volume high enough to hear the vocals. But the more I listened to it the more appreciation I grew for it. The songs are very densely layered with various beats. Most of them have thrumming and dripping sounds which creates a very immersive, psychedelic feeling. If you let yourself zone out to this, it really can take you places in your mind space. I listened to this completely sober but I felt high listening to it. I can only imagine what an experience this album would be while tripping.

This reminded me a lot Beach House, which I liked. Some of them weren't so much my bag but overall I thought this was decent and glad I heard it. Different. Will listen again

Makes me think of Off the Air. Light, nonsensical, just pleasant.

A nice mix of Beach Boys harmonies and electronica that shouldn't work but really does.

trippy lima beanss Put off this album for a while in anticipation of it appearing on this website, though I did recently get into Strawberry Jam (2007) by them, as odd and as noisy as it was. The cover is very fitting for the music: bright, psychedelic, if a little nauseating over time. I don't normally use that word for albums I like, ever, but today is an exception. "Brother Sport", the closing track, is a good example of where that tension comes from- beautiful Wilsonesque harmonies filtered through unpredictable, high frequency boops. It provides a distance between me, the listener, & the melody/bones of the song similarly to how the heavy distortion works in MBV's Loveless. Though ultimately, it IS smoother on the ears than Strawberry Jam, which helped "My Girls" blow up like it did. I'm not saying that makes it better, but it it does mean it comforts more than it ruffles me. It may be some hipster shit, but in the words of Gwen Stefani, "This my shit". HL: "My Girls", "Summertime Clothes", "Daily Routine", "Taste" May 23, 2024

I’ve heard of Animal Collective, but never knew anything about them, or what they were about, but I’m so glad I came across this album. This is right up my alley.

Saw them live ages ago and didn't really know what I was listening to. In the Flowers starts quite slow but when it picks up it is awesome. My Girls is super fun. I wish more of their music was like this.

pretty good idk about y'all

Who says avant garde can't also be fun? I get that Animal Collective may be a bit too unconventional for many people's taste but I find something very accessible hiding right below the surface here. There are shadows of The Beach Boys throughout the album albeit much more experimental. If nothing else, I don't know how you can hate 'My Girls', by far the biggest standout on the entire record and arguably one of the best songs of the early 2000s. 'Brother Sport' is also extremely fun. The rest may be more interesting to think about and not exactly music you'd play at your next house party. But sometimes it's exactly what I'm in the mood for.

This is one of those rare albums that I initially thought would comprise the majority of the 1,001 albums. An album that I've never heard of, probably wouldn't have discovered, am not initially a huge fan of the genre but appreciate why it's on this list and makes me want to explore more. Refreshing sound, much better than the endless list of country, Clapton and Morrisey nonsense I seem to get on here. Tales off slightly in the latter half but definitely one I'll be exploring more of.

Fun to revisit Merriweather Post Pavillon 15 years later. It really is unique, but it didn't quite have the cultural impact that reviewers at the time proclaimed it would.

Animal Collective never fail to surprise and with Merriweather Post Pavilion they further developed their unique sound. It's rarely fully perfect product, when you decide to experiment as much as AC does; but it's always exciting.

I'd never heard of this group. The album grew on me over a few listens. Hard to pick a favourite track - perhaps Lion in a Coma, Daily Routine, No More Runnin

Quite ethereal and dreamy. Not bad.

Hear me out... the vocal tone, harmonies, instrumentation layering, chord progressions... they all make this sound like the spiritual descendent of the Beach Boys, and specifically Pet Sounds. I'm also hearing Foster the People and Conor Oberst/Bright Eyes.

I didn’t like this at first, but it got better as it went on. Amazing production and interesting lyrics. Might not come back to it but this was still pretty good.

Remata muy bien. Brother Sport.

If Amnesiac era Radiohead formed a supergroup with Stereolab, got SFA for harmonies, and decided to make Smile. Compelling stuff demanding continued reflection.

want to return to this

Atmospheric, trippy and whimsical. It really is like an alternate universe Brian Wilson, in all the best ways. Really delightful and mildly mind blowing. Fave Songs: Summertime Clothes, Bluish, No More Runnin, Taste, Daily Routine, Guys Eyes, Lion in a Coma

bluish, no more runnin, in the flowers

nice, moj djir al nista wow

Well this was a very interesting album. Dream pop of a very high level. This definitely worhips at the alter of Mr. Brian Wilson, the singer even sounds like him from time to time. The sounds are strange and unique and more often then not quite wonderful. This is one I will continue to explore. 4 stars

This album starts strongly. There's a tremendous amount of energy. It more like a collection of anthems than songs. Yet there is a strange Eno under current influence that carries it all. It was a pleasant surprise. It made me want to dance - never a good thing. I was sad when the album finished. It left me wanting more. And so I bought a copy.

Favourite song - My girl

Have you ever been in a lucid dream with plastic clouds and fluorescent metallic mountains? Licking the pavement with a dry tongue. Floating and sweating profusely, but never stop laughing. Losing perception of time. Seeing sounds, Hearing shapes. This is the record in the background.

Contemporary electro noise with a kind of wall of sound vibe and some lively harmonics. I'd not really listened to this before, whilst I'm tempted to go for 5 stars, that might just be because it's not F*&king COUNTRY AGAIN., so I'll be cautious and drop a star because I didn't instantly listen twice.

Has always dipped a bit in the second half for me, but when MPP hits, it HITS. Laying back in a dark room and letting the textures and layers of sound wash over you is always wonderful. Around Lion in a Coma is where I release I'm pulled out of the experience. Not that any of it is bad, I just start to get a little bored. The closing track Brother Sport is a nice finish that caps off the record on a postive note. *Heard before.

The most remarkable thing about this record is that it was commercially successful.

This one is a classic of sorts. So many people sing this album's praises, and it was extremely well received by critics. I do enjoy it, though I wouldn't say I find is as monumental or groundbreaking as some do. Interesting indie rock/pop sort of stuff, maybe like a more energized, modern Fleet Foxes if that makes sense. Animal Collective is an interesting group, aside from the song "FloriDada," I always forget what they even sound like. Even having listened to this album a day or two ago, I already kind of forgot what it sounds like. But I know it is and was a great listen. Favorite tracks: Lion in a Coma, In the Flowers, Also Frightened, Bluisu, Brother Sport. Album art: Definitely a cool one, a big optical illusion image, one of those designed to look like it's moving. It's actually a bit freaky, it almost seems like cheating. 4/5

Remata muy bien. Brother Sport.

Just realizing now that I really haven't listened to this band much at all. Got through the first track and I was thinking "this is what this band sounds like?". For some reason I had them in my head as some indie folk festival type of band, but this is really a breath of fresh air. The sound is eclectic and interesting, it's layered just the right amount when you want it, and I feel a sense of wonder when listening; what's coming next? A gripe that is starting to raise its' ugly head on me is that sometimes the music feels kind of direction-less which ironically is probably the single biggest musical concept that I look for when I'm listening to music. I really love music that has direction, that aims somewhere and goes there (or doesn't and goes somewhere else). Track 2 and 3 together gave me this lingering, loitering sort of feeling and it made me want something more. Usually this isn't such a bad thing that it will make me not like music, but those two songs together equals close to 11 minutes of music that doesn't stretch itself or go into new areas. It's also 11 minutes of the albums first 16, and at that point it's kind of fair to start making assumptions about the overall sound. Thankfully it picked up by track 4, "Summertime Clothes". The syncopated synth that lays the foundation is a cool energy-filled element that elevates everything else around it. Awesome focal point. In the end I think I wanted something more out of the sound. I wanted structures to appear when they didn't, and I wanted songs to explode sometimes. I feel like they are SO close to having a sound that I love, but just come up short. I'll definitely listen more and could see myself liking them the more I do. I like the album cover. It feels timeless in a way.

Great for inspiration, clearly.

Really good pop album. Reminded me of my earlier years.

Of course recognized my girls! Loved it 😊. This was a good album. Feeling positive so i’ll give a 4! Nothing bad to say about it.

"My Girls" will forever be a family anthem. This alone gets this weirdAF album a 4 star here. So much melody, and yet almost no traditional musical structure whatsoever. I remember when I first bought the album I listened so often and yet even though I "liked" it, I could never fully click. I'm not sure that was ever the point. Beautiful weirdness that won't work if you (I) compare it to anything else musically - embrace it. 7/10 4 stars.

I feel like sometimes I have a hard time getting into psychedelia, but I had no problem vibin out to this album. I feel like it had a solid balance in being experimental but still digestable w an upbeat flow to it

Getting weird

Surprisingly loved it, I thought it would be some pretentious hipster garbage but there’s a lot to like about it.

Mukava soitto kun uudelleen ratetaan albumeja tässä näin heh

I was expecting something completely different. I think I had Animal Collective mixed up with another band whose name I can’t remember at the moment, and that other band I don’t care for at all. This was super interesting. I feel like I need to listen several more times to really appreciate it. 4 stars.

Still mesmerized by the album cover.

excellent, some amazing songs in "also frightened", "summertime clothes", and "bluish", but it's overall really good

There’s a dreamlike quality to the music on display here. It’s not a dream I enjoy but nonetheless there it is. The digitized noise of this sometimes lets loose some stunning vocal harmonies that get over shadowed by the production.

Great album, Guys Eyes & Taste were my favs.

‘My girls’ is een geweldig nummer. Misschien niet het meest toegankelijke pop-album, maar het is in z’n soort een psychedelische topper

The more time that passes between now and that what was once Animal Collective, the more convinced I become that this is drug music. Not that you have to take drugs or that you should to appreciate this, but that the music is like…“hey drugs!” Is this the kind of semi-surreal stuff that flows through the average tripping brain? Anyway, the music is pretty catchy and experimental overall, and though it’s a bit disjointed in spots, overall it holds together.

Already listened to

Shimnery, noisy, indie pop. Not a bad listen at all.

This is some interesting experimental pop. The best part is the hypnotic loops; they’re really great stuff and they grab your attention. The lyrics and singing are not nearly as good, though. They’re enjoyable, but don’t work well enough to make this a masterpiece. Anyway, 4. Also, since Panda Bear featured on Doin’ It Right, this album is Daft Punk Approved TM.

starts with really trippy psychedelic music to India era Beatles back to even trippier psychedelic

Some truly unique sounds in this. Deserves a decent score

Experimental af. Deserving of at least a 4

A classic.

I'm not sure how I missed this album. 2009 was right around when I started to get into indie music in a big way, and this album was huge during that time. But it was probably a decade later before I was properly introduced to this album. And I quite liked it. The songwriting is unconventional, the instrumentation is glitchy and strange, but it all comes together into a hooky collection of tracks that sink into you even deeper with repeat listens. Although I missed it on release, it still very much sounds like the late 2000's to me -- a nostalgia for something that I didn't experience.

Beatles. Bjork. Battlestar Galactica.

I’ve listened to this so many times and like it but don’t really get why ppl call it a masterpiece. it’s good but not that good

I always kinda neglected this one for it’s cover and I think I might’ve heard 1 or 2 songs and nothing more. That was stupid, this record is nothing short of amazing. It opens strong and just doesn’t let go. Very powerful! 8,5 out of 10

Cacaphony

Something about this intro song is so familiar and yet I can't place it. I think it kinda reminds me of Passion Pit? That's the only similarity I can draw for another experimental pop artist. This honestly really helped me wind down, I wouldn't say it's tiring in any way but it helped me get ready for bed.

Probably more of a 3.5, but I rounded up because this sound reminds me so much of my time at university.

Another 3.5 rounded up

I have never listened to them before. Such a sweet feeling of nostalgia.

Im tired right now so it’s hard to write this. But this album is pretty, well, psychedelic. No guitars and lots of weird synths. I like the vocal melodies too. Things can drag on, but it’s not a huge deal.

AnCo is one of my favorite artists of the last 20 years and as such, MPP is one of my favorite albums of that span too. I prefer a few other AnCo albums (Sung Tongs, Feels, Strawberry Jam), but this album remains incredible.

This is definitely up my alley. It reminds me of a watered-down version of Django Django combined with The Beach Boys. Seeing as those are two of my favourite bands, I was very excited during the first song. But then the second song sounded like the first song. And the third song sounded like the second song. And the fourth song sounded like the third song. And so on and so forth. I really like it...but it's too repetitive. I'm going to listen to this a few more times to see if the tracks become more discrete over time because I can see myself really loving this.

I was really surprised by this album. First listen to the first couple of songs had me NOT loving it. The next day I came back and ended up listening to My Girls a couple times in a row. Since then, I've realized this album really rips! I think a couple songs tend to overstay their welcome, but save from that I was a huge fan.

Very unique with some bangers (My Girls, Summertime Clothes, Brother Sport), but ultimately not accessible enough for all to earn a 5 star rating.

There is something very chaotic about this album that I like very much

Good

An album that manages to combine danceable melodies with esoteric vocals successfully is rare indeed. If only the vocals weren’t buried so deep in the mix on some songs.

I think I overplayed this when it first came out as its been a good 10 year or so since I last heard it. Thankfully I still enjoyed it as much as I used to. Perfect psychedelic pop which is just weird and experimental enough to keep it interesting without ever becoming boring for me (although from memory I remember people we’re definitely split on that!)

Really enjoyed this on the whole. Loses its way a bit towards the end, but closes with a banger

Well this is OK. Enjoyed listening to it, but despite the fact it tries to be experimental and outlandish, remains pretty tame without all that much to push the envelope

Lus and unique soundscape with influences of Pavement to Pink Floyd in there.

When this record first came out, everyone was glowing over it. I liked it okay, but it makes you work too hard for the quality of it. It's different. But just to be different.

This album is so ethereal feeling. Almost like it’s one continuous song. I barely notice the actual words being said, but surprisingly that isn’t a negative for this record. It just adds to the feeling of being under a spell for the nearly hour long run time. A spell I would gladly be put under again and again.

Sehr crazy

Pretty fun. Better this listen than the last. Would listen again.

Instant classic. Perfect album art.

4.5/5 (Excellent). I love this album still. It's hard to make music that's this weird but you can still dance to. I'm not totally sure of the album's theme, but there are strong parenthood / young childhood vibes. It makes me nostalgic for the time I spend with my kids. I never noticed how trippy the album cover was because I bought this on iTunes on an iPod and can't see the movement on a tiny screen. Favorite tracks: * brother sport (totally forgot about this track!! so good) * my girls * in the flowers (is a strong opener) * also frightened * daily routine

Trippy album cover, awesomely weird music. 4/5

So dreamy, I really liked it

Animal Collective...a band that I typically feel I should like more than I do. Long time indie media darlings, MPP was the first album that I even remotely liked, but still felt it was much too over rated. Unfortunately this was also the last MPP album I have really enjoyed. 4/5

This is an album I've always wanted to like more than I do. It's mostly down to the vocal style, but I can't deny that this is quite a masterpiece of 2000s indie-electronica. Had roommates who were into Animal Collective and I was just not cool enough to get into it. I will say it's kind of cute for the lyrics to reflect his life, he's a dad, a husband, but still wants to make bangers and still be himself. I can respect that.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Summertime clothes, Lion in a coma, No more runnin’, Brother sport

I think I liked this more after finding out a bit about it, but put me in mind of a jumble sale Tomorrow Never Knows for a whole album.

Mellow

At its best, it's so good. That euphoric explosion halfway through In The Flowers, followed by My Girls, is such a strong start. The sugar rush of Brother Sport and the breezy Summertime Clothes are other highlights. But I feel with Animal Collective there are sometimes too many ideas, too much experimentation or just too many sounds that it impedes the songs. The production on some of these tracks turns into a thick noisy sludge at times - maybe I need to invest in some significantly more expensive earphones to unpack it all? 3.5, but the album cover is fascinating me in a big way so I'll round up.

Love this album. Love the Beach Boys and shoegaze influences. Favourite tracks are My Girls and Bluish. 4.5

Some nice dreamy pop. Reminds me of beach house, there seem to be a few bands doing a similar thing

Ça c'est des kiffeurs.

je me suis endormie mais c’était bien

Despite it's online acclaim over the years, I haven't gotten around to listening to this until now. Very fun, tripy songs here to come back to. Favourites: "My Girls", "Summertime Clothes", "Brother Sport"

AnCo are one of the most innovative and exciting bands of the 21st century, and this is a really solid record. That being said, I just don't love it as much as Sung Tongs or Feels (or even Panda Bear's solo release Person Pitch) so can't really justify giving it higher than a 3, no matter what Pitchfork may do to me Edit: After a relisten I am going to go with a 4, especially as I think it's their only album on the list. My Girls, Summertime Clothes, and Lion in a Coma all are highlights and there is just so much lovely and strange but groovy stuff

Erinomaista ja erilaista näkökulmaa elektrooniseen suuntaan, unohtamatta kuitenkaan tiettyä poppismenoa. Kuuntelin ekaa kertaa joskus lukiossa ja silloin tuntui jotenkin vaikeammalta, mutta nyt ymmärsin paremmin. Helppo 4/5.

Didn’t have enough time to finish. Enjoyable but nondescript.

When Animal Collective came up as the suggestion, I knew that they are a band that has music that I like but I couldn't remember what I've heard from them. "My Girls" and "Brother Sport" are a couple of the tracks that I've heard before, and I like both of those tracks. Sometimes a portion of "Brother Sport" gets stuck in my head. Animal Collective has a mix of indie pop and electronic beats that fit well in to a style of music that I like. I was happy that all of the tracks were good. I could give this album a second listen.

I don't necessarily love how this album influence dso many artists and records that came later, but it's strikingly original .

Grew on me 2nd listen. Jangly, good snowboard video music.

The only thing I knew about Animal Collective was that their music was "experimental". I found myself surprisingly absorbed by the album. Nice soundscapes, good modern psychedelic music. 4/5 stars

Awesome album. Really good songs with big synths and drums. Only real problem was that most of the time the lyrics are difficult to understand because they're drowned out by the instrumental, but still great. 8/10

I...think I actually like this. Like, it's not amazing but it's engrossing enough in its weirdness to warrant further listening.

4.6 + Listening to this album is like randomly bumping into an old flame. You remember how intensely you once felt even though those feelings have mellowed over time. You're left wondering why you were estranged. This album feels so wrapped up in a time and place. It's the full realization of the Animal Collective sound that should've influenced music to come but somehow didn't. What a great record, though. Beautiful songs that punch with strong emotion reinforced by walls of electronic sound that somehow sounds so human and organic.

At the center of Merriweather Post Pavilion is a paradox: it is both wildly experimental (even avant guarde) and accessible and poppy. On the one hand, Animal Collective dispenses with traditional song forms almost entirely. These \"songs\" are driven by a combination of interlocking Beach Boys melodies and electronic pulses. Without song forms to anchor the cuts, they are oddly immersive. You experience them more than you listen to them. They are resistant to analysis. While it's true that there are elements of electronica, tribal beats, psychedelia, synth-pop, the sound Animal Collective comes up with here feels sui generis, as if it had always existed and Animal Collective had simply discovered it. Another thing that has to be said is that, although the music on Merriweather Post Pavilion is probably 90% samples, it has a watery, extraordinarily organic feel. It also exudes joy. And therein lies another paradox: even though Merriweather Post Pavilion is adventurous and filled with brilliantly executed ideas, I find it profoundly depressing. You see, I like traditional song forms and I don't much like electronica and dance music in general. And though it is outside the scope of this review, Merriweather Post Pavilion's post song outlook and emphasis on electronic pulses has been extremely influential in pop ever since, usually absent the skill and creativity of Animal Collective. Still, I must be honest and give Merriweather Post Pavilion a high score, in spite of my personal misgivings.

A softer psychedelic album with a couple of bangers. 0RS

I feel like giving this album a 5 would be too performative, but I really loved this album in college and there are some really good bangers on it. It's also pretty pretentious

I listened to this album a lot over the years. Even listened to it again last week. I think it came out the year I moved to Potsdam.

A classic dreamy fuzzy acoustic synth indie soundscape. long enough to slightly overstay its welcome.

Perfect Psychedelic Pop. Vocals reminiscent of The Shins but the music is much more experimental and angular.

As good as I remember it being, for sure. An album I don't come back to nearly enough.

A wonderful album of combined genres that makes this indie album stand out. An Co makes a nice trippy melodic album with this one. Their popular songs are synthy and up beat. I’d say this album is underrated amongst releases of the last 20 years. 7.9/10

It’s been a long time since I’ve listened to this one straight through. Obviously some of their best songs are on here but I’m a little surprised at how well it’s held up.

Love this album, love the harmonies. I hear a lot of Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys in this.

A really interesting sound. My Girls is obviously a great song, but there are many more throughout this album that I had never heard before.

Not their best work, but still a very sweet album with a unique, engaging sound.

Album čiji sam cover viđo bar 17 puta tjedno u PMC grupi prije par godina kad sam se učlanio tamo. Non stop to trljanje u nos da sam ga tada bio odlučio i poslušati. Inače sam dost veliki fan AnCo-a, pogotovo albuma kao što su Feels, Strawberry Jam i Sung Tongs. Ovaj album je isto dosta dobar, ljetna psihodelija koja vuče na pozitivnije trenutke. Odlične pjesme (bengeri) poput: Summertime Clothes, My Girls, Brother Sport te divnih pjesama poput No More Runnin', Daily Routine. Sve u svemu, album treba da klikne (bar je meni trebalo) jer sam ga pokušavao nekad davno više puta preslušati da vidim šta je tolko dobro u vezi albuma. Sada bolje kontam, i drago mi je da nije težak album kao što mi je bio. Živio AnCo <3

wow

Very interesting. No idea about genre lol

Delightful psychedelic pop. I need to give this a proper listen, I don’t think driving to work on my car speakers does it a justice.

Another I haven’t heard before but wish I had. Lots of layers of noise and feedback creating something quite unique

Not my usual style of music but I enjoyed the entire album very much. Weird but just enough to make it interesting.

I’m a fan of Animal Collective. Their music is all at once elated, trippy, imaginative, childlike and oddly infused with nostalgia. This to me is what post modernist music should be. It’s the sensible trajectory for pop music to have taken. Jumbles of harmonic samples from the past, a full palette of noises gleaned from what exists. I really enjoy this album. It’s meditative and trance like. However, I find that it doesn’t reach the heights of the albums preceding it: Strawberry Jam and Feels, which both ultimately seem to have more concrete song construction, whereas this seems to flow meditatively from one song to another. This is definitely volume up, listen in a dark room, maybe while high, music. Or just sunny day music.

The far-reaching effects of this album on pop in the last 10 years is wild. Very cool modern psychedelia.

“Merriweather Post Pavilion” by Animal Collective (2009) Sometimes asking oneself “What the hell IS this?” prompts an exploration that yields unexpected (if unsurprising) insights. This album is a case in point. If you’re not familiar with this album or this musical style (as I am not), I recommend starting with track two, “My Girls”—it’s much more accessible than the opening track. Three guys, two of whom (I believe) operate twin sampling decks (probably mixed with each dominating one of the two stereo channels), and one in the middle on electronic keyboards. The lyrics are basically first person reflections of a family man who loves his wife, his children, his brother, and his now deceased father—wholesome affections seeking wise expression, and very conscious of his own personal responsibilities. The music is complex and innovative. Its central quality, however, is that is so extraordinary. If it ever becomes ordinary, it will age quickly and lose its power. Melodies studiously avoid the expected. Unremarkable voices, but arranged in harmonies that are attractive (Beach Boys comparisons are apt, especially on “Guys Eyes”—Beatles and Jane’s Addiction on “Taste”). Mechanical rhythms. Several tracks segue successively, rather than just break, giving the album a cohesion that fits well with lyrical thematic unity. But as long as you guys are sampling, you could have used some really cool African drums on “Lion in a Coma” and “Brother Sport”. This is the kind of album that will require time to fully appreciate, but likely worth it. 4/5

Interesting sounds but there weren’t many climactic or exciting moments to make the 5-6 minute songs more interesting. 7

Have always meant to check this band out. Sounds great and will require additional listens.

Decent

This album is very, very good. I listened to the whole thing thinking it was by Glass Animals. It's not. It's by Animal Collective. These are two different bands. Glass Animals is better. But this album is very good.

Yeah, shimmery synth drones and Beach Boys-esque vocal harmonies and jangly psych biz. There are some definite 5 star tracks, but it's not quite consistent enough to get 5 stars overall. Fave track - "My Girls" - great tune!

Ah yes, the college freshman bedroom poster album. It's actually pretty dang good, or is that just my nostalgia?

Most modern album I've had so far

Very good art pop. A little out there but in a good sense.

Really enjoyable listen, a few tracks that were mumbled thru, but overall a great experience. Should hunt down more Animal Collective!!

Pretty good sound. I like it!

I liked it.

It's cool. I need to spend more time with it, which I don't know when that'll happen. Like almost sound collage-ish, multi-layered, poly-rhythmic, psychedelic. It's cool, just kind of a lot. I'll try to come back to it at some point in my life.

Expectation: -> No clue what to expect. After listening: -> One of my more unusual listening experiences. Three days behind with this project as I continue to just put this on. Part because I like it. Part because I'm trying to understand it. I'm still not sure where I stand. The sounds are mostly pleasant but I cannot well describe the album nor the individual songs. I want to keep listening but it's time to move on. Track ranking: Girls Guys Bluish Frightened Daily Taste Brother Runnin Clothes Flowers

Sounds like if MGMT did even more drugs Strong 3

the moving album cover freaked me out at 4am yesterday >:( this was a bit better than expected. very atmospheric and somewhat unique for this list.

Pretty good album. Definitely suffers from the perennial problem where albums from ~15 years ago suffer from being at the bottom of the curve - not yet new enough to feel modern and fresh, not yet old enough to experience a fresh re-evaluation without the accrued post-gunk of what it inspired in what's currently playing on the radio. It's definitely cool in vibe but lyrically a bit funny. I'm a big fan of over-applied reverb and sample-heavy orchestration but at times it does feel a little self-indulgent. A few recognizable indie-scene-popular singles amongst the record. I was pleasantly impressed by the commitment to the soundscape, and I liked the more subtle stuff off the tracklist. My Girls (the standout single) I didn't like anywhere near as much as one of the other less popular hits, Summertime Clothes. That said, when paired against the other ilk of the /mu/ canon it's got the energy but lacks the fun. This definitely seems like the kind of album that will benefit from a re-listen so that's probably in the cards at some point - maybe I just haven't peeled back enough layers yet? I gave it a couple listens and I went in with an open mind. But I didn't run into this issue with, say, Godspeed or Death Grips, which are both artists of similar indie ilk that require your attention and appreciation. Perhaps the whole psych-pop craze of the late aughts, while fascinating as a cultural and sonic relic, died as it was always meant to. Fav tracks: Summertime Clothes, Daily Routine

Fine

The experimental nature of "Merriweather Post Pavilion" keeps the album shy of being pretty but dull, leaving it interesting without ever being truly compelling. Three stars. 1 "In the Flowers" (3/5) 2 "My Girls" (3/5) 3 "Also Frightened" (3/5) 4 "Summertime Clothes" (4/5) 5 "Daily Routine" (3/5) 6 "Bluish" (4/5) 7 "Guys Eyes" (3/5) 8 "Taste" (3/5) 9 "Lion in a Coma" (3/5) 10 "No More Runnin'" (3/5) 11 "Brother Sport" (3/5) Total - 35 Average - 3.18 349/1001 188/349 albums reviewed were new to me.

Beautiful sounds, forgettable songs. Might be better with repeated listens where familiarity enhances the enjoyment...

I suppose I get it, but I don't love it.

020626 20:15 3.5

It's nice to see an album on the list that I grew up listening to, during its peak moment. I listened to a lot of Animal Collective in college in San Francisco. I was just getting into more alternative music from simply classic rock and punk rock, and starting to enjoy other genres of music, particularly experimental and "anti-rock" groups. SF was perfect for this around 2009, just before the techie explosion. Lots of small venues, house concerts, warehouse spaces, micro labels and record stores, and lots and lots of music swapping. Animal Collective was really popular in the scene and was historically a pretty wild band up to MPP: lots of sound manipulation, heavily reverbed and screaming vocals, lots of odd chord changes and tunings, and also fans of underground bands such as the Residents and Sun City Girls. This album really surprised people because it signaled a different direction for the band to make more poppy, amplified, arena friendly music. They were hinting towards it for a bit but I think at the time it was a wonderful transition. Alas, I feel that it's a wonderful effort if albeit atypical to what they're known for. See: Strawberry Jam and Feels. A lot of the melodies are bright and sunny but lost often times in the reverb and overdubbed vocal harmonies that make it more of a mood board for summertime imagery instead of a consistent selection of memorable hooks. Maybe the hype was a bit too much at the time. With that said, Panda Bear's songs are as delightful as always (following his high from the incredible Person Pitch album) and evoke some very happy, optimistic nostalgia during that time of being young and living through a moment of a lot of creativity and hope. He's the only member of AC whose music I still listen to often - experimental pop masterpieces all the way through. I find the Brian Wilson/Beach Boys comparisons to be lazy. But, in the same level as Pet Sounds or Smile, this is an album that's pretty idiosyncratic - you'd never mistake them for another band. It just doesn't thrill me as it used to. More of a 3.5. Still worth listening to, and glad it's on the list. Hope it made some new AC fans in the process!

I didn't know what to expect from this and when I saw the date I suspected I was in for disappointment. Maybe it was my low expectations but I really liked this on the first listen. It has that expansive noughties pop/rock sound that washes over you like waves of a vast hipster ocean. My criticism is that this sound is highly dependant on electronic manipulation so it would probably translate to a live performance reliant heavily on synths and pre-recorded samples. That and the fact that album is 10 minutes too long. They could have cut some of the fluff on the B side and improved the listening experience. Overall a solid effort and an intriguing listen. Although not an instant favourite, I think there was some potential shown here that would warrant further exploration.

-0.5 for the cover. Terrible. Music wise ok, nothing special. Helped me focused so it’s not too bad.

Truly one of the more unique and interesting albums we’ve had. I can’t say I’ll ever listen to this album again, but I can understand why it’s on the list if it stuck out so much from 600+ albums.

The kind of mid-indie music that sounds good when you are doing something else (making a bird-house, washing the dishes, reading a book, etc.) that take most of your brain's waves. Great background music, let's say. But giving it my full attention, doing nothing else, I found it kind of boring/monotonous. That sounds like 3 "I don't hate it/I don't love it" stars. Good for cleaning the house music....

This would take a number of listens to really sink in but these days you don't get that opportunity, and there are so many other things I'd rather listen to. Summertime Clothes and Brother Sport are great, the rest all just bled into one. Just an album that came out in the wrong time.

I liked it but also hated it. I don't know what to make of this.

J’ai bien aimé mais c’est ésotérique

relentlessly millennial(non-derogatory)

Starting with the good… “My Girls” is awesome. Love the melodic sonic landscape. It’s quite hypnotic. As is a lot of this record. But that hypnotic quality can also get a little boring in places where it’s not quite as catchy like in “My Girls.” Certainly an interesting album worth listening to though. And new listen for me, although I’d heard of the band before.

Right up my alley but lackluster songwriting

I can definitely see how this paved the way for a lot of the Tame Impala-ish psychedelic pop that came after. Damn though, some of this stuff is dragged on and overly repetitive to my current ears

I remember this album being kind of big while we were in college - didn't quite get it then, don't totally get it now. There are some okay sounds on here, but if I want this sound I'm probably going for more accessible pop version of this sound in Vampire Weekend or slightly more experimental MGMT (their new stuff is actually really good) or Beach Boys. Feels like we're listening to these guys try to find their sound and never totally find it. Also, maybe it's my headphones, but feel like I can't hear any of the individual instruments.

Weird (2/5) but oddly compelling...? (+1/5) = 3/5

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Very Good - An album with a great sound that envelops the listener. In The Flowers is weirdly creepy, while My Girls explodes into pure bliss. The next few songs continue to wash over you like warm water. I actually don't think many songs here are particularly amazing but as an album experience it works so well. As a individual track My Girls is the clear standout. Great album.

New wave like

Early 2000’s alt-rock

3.5 Sounds like if the Beach Boys were trying to summon Cthulhu

Like it 3/5

I liked a lot of this, then there were not-so-good moments.

Felt a little like the beach boys.

I'm unable to pinpoint the band's style; it doesn't seem clearly defined. While this might appeal to some listeners, it's not enough to keep me engaged, at least talking about this particular album.

It's fine

some very good production on it, my girls is amazing.

Great background music and very rewarding layering as long as you don’t actually read the lyrics

Nice album

This was too chaotic for me to really enjoy it.

This started out okay, and transitioned to me after a while. Not really my thing.

weird but good! would listen again

My first exposure to Animal Collective. Was a bit more 'out there' than I expected, in a good way. A lot of arrangement twists and turns. Not as far as Flaming Lips (which can be isolating) but certainly strays from mainstream. Like Architecture In Helsinki.

A lot of this reminds me Beatles? The submarine album.. But also.. I like some elements but... I think one listen is enough for me..

3.5/5

I thought this was the "Heat Waves" guys at first. Nope. This is cool enough. Electronic, tribal, ethereal, kinda Beach House-y. "My Girls" is instantly recognizable from...everywhere. Headphones are key to appreciate the little twinkles and sonic tiddlywinks on this one, otherwise it just sounds like noise.

tried to like it

I listened to this twice, and liked it better the second time. I was rather taken aback by how experimental it sounded at first, though that's not a bad thing. I think it works on some level, and the fugue-like vocals were a highlight. But even after listening twice, I can't really remember any of the songs, just kind of how it felt to listen to them. I will say, the album cover does an excellent job of conveying the kind of music you're getting.

They're like an indie pop jam band

3.5

Not really my thing.

The cover is trippy, the music inside matches

Pros: Complex & intrinsically thought out in terms of structure, lots of layers, would be sick to see live on shrooms with a big sound system. Cons: Overly complex(?), little to no pocket (frustrating for a drummer's ears), not super danceable (arguably) Right off the bat, I should acknowledge that despite being a young, impressionable high schooler when this album dropped, I have no nostalgic feelings for A.C. or many of the other experimental indie/pop projects making waves during the same time period (Dirty Projectors 'Bitte Orca' comes to mind). I was too busy headbanging to UK post-punk (Enter Shikari, anyone?) and industrial metal (Rammstein \m/ ) at the time, and this flavor of indie pop was far too mainstream for my clearly superior tastes to even acknowledge. Now older and (hopefully) wiser, I'll applaud A.C. for this undeniably well thought-out and crafted package of truly experimental electro/pop. The production work is stellar, given the sheer amount of vocal and instrumental layering going on throughout. While bold and innovative in many respects, however, there were no moments that truly latched onto me and made me go "holy shit, now THIS is the future of pop music" -- which I can't help but feel like is what the guys were going for with such an experimental offering. Maybe a bit too repetitive at times for me. But still a worthy addition to this list.

pretty cool

I’m not sure what to say about this. I want to listen to more… experimental and fun, would love a bit more edginess. Has a Beach Boys feel in the vocals, and I once again crave more bass. Inventive, but leaves me wanting more. I’m missing something so I really need another listen. Cool though.

I have more time for Animal Collective than I do for most of their peers. I think the first couple records are fun and psychotic in a good way, plus when I saw them perform it was memorable because it was way too hot out and they were way too loud and people kept fainting and getting pulled from the crowd. So I have some good will towards them. This album feels like an aggressively uncommercial band trying to be a bit commercial because there’s money in millennial indie rock at the moment. Lots of good bands from 2005 have this album in 2009. I still like it alright but it’s kind of a bummer too.

Too noisy for me

Interesting

Fine. Nothing stands out, but also nothing offensive

Didn’t get it in 2009. Same now. On some level i appreciate it, but mostly it flies past me.

Meh. It was interesting at least. Funky and all over the place. Found most of it kinda annoying at parts. Tbh if I had heard this summer before my senior year of high school I might've liked it more. The optical illusion on the cover art is cool.