Animal Collective’s newest release Merriweather Post Pavilion has received rave reviews since leaking onto the internet last December. Their latest release features a dozen tracks that mesh together just perfectly and build on what they’ve done in the past. After listening to their newest record, which band member Noah Lennox (aka Panda Bear) dubbed “their best studio effort to date,” I couldn’t agree more.
Merriweather starts out with “In The Flowers”, a slow burning build up track with noisy synthesizer reverbs that pound your eardrums to death (in the best way possible). The excitement starts almost immediately, when the first track fades into the first single “My Girls”; most definitely the poppiest song this trio has ever constructed and quite possibly their best. But unlike some albums that fade out after one or two good tracks, leaving the rest as filler, Merriweather keeps going strong. Panda Bear’s souring vocals on “My Girls” blend perfectly with Avey Tare’s in order to create melodies that is difficult to pull off. The combination of the two vocalists really creates something special on this album, something they haven’t necessarily done as much on past albums. Key tracks include the second single, “Summertime Clothes” as well as the scaresly Beach Boys-esque “Bluish”.
The madness doesn’t stop anywhere throughout the entire album. The ridiculously catchy “Lion In A Coma” and closing track “Brothersport” bring up the tail end of the album and bring all the tracks together to complete Animal Collective’s near-perfect project. The group’s blend of great vocals, catchy hooks and synthesizers make this one of the year’s, if not the decade’s, best albums. The creativity is through the roof, and at the high points of Merriweather, it really captures the mind of the listener.
Here’s our countdown towards WPGU’s Album of the Year:
20. Jay-Z: The Blueprint 3
19. Manchester Orchestra: Mean Everything To Nothing
18. Wolfmother: Cosmic Egg
17. The Flaming Lips: Embryonic
16. Miike Snow: Miike Snow
15. Discovery: LP
14. Silversun Pickups: Swoon
13. Julian Casablancas: Phrazes for the Young
12. Andrew Bird: Noble Beast
11. The Avett Brothers: I and Love and You
10. Japandroids: Post-Nothing
9. Arctic Monkeys: Humbug
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs: It’s Blitz!
7. St. Vincent: Actor
6. Wilco: Wilco (The Album)
5. Dirty Projectors: Bitte Orca
4. Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion
#3 coming Friday…stay tuned!
