Okay, I don't usually start posts like this, but if you haven't heard this album you're missing out. Seriously, this thing is so fucking good, it's like if the Beach Boys took a ton of acid and decided to make kick-ass experimental pop songs while using a shitty de-tuned piano. If that doesn't convince you, I don't know what will.
Animal Collective is the musical quartet (sometimes trio) of Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Geologist and Deakin. This album, "Feels", features all of the band's members, and involves outside artists coming on for collaboration, such as Eyvind Kang and Doctess. This album followed their most stripped-down album so far, "Sung Tongs", and comes before one of their pop-iest albums, "Strawberry Jam". This album is the blending of those two worlds while incorporating even more jaw-droppingly beautiful psychedelic sounds than ever before.
That's the first thing many people notice about this album: the textures conjured up here are incredible. In the opening track "Did You See the Words", bubbly giggles rise from the swirling, reverbed background while guitar and synth ascending lines fill in the gaps, and finally a simple drum and piano line bring the entire song together with a quietly propulsive energy. That's only the first forty-five seconds. Every song incorporates its own flavor, from the giddy, breathless "The Purple Bottle" to "Loch Raven" and its restrained melancholy.
But that's not all, not by a long shot: this may be Animal Collective's best written album. There are fantastic lyrics abound, abandoning the nonsensical lines of some of "Sung Tongs", favoring beautiful imagery ("words cut open", "my cherry dream boat") and the occasional painfully blunt and hard-hitting lyric ("this mess is mine", "there will be time to just cry", "I'd like to spread your perfume around the old apartment", "I will not give up on you").
The vocal performances here are also worth noting: Avey Tare is giving some of his most impassioned deliveries, shouting on "Grass", just about whispering on "Loch Raven" and crafting beautiful Beach Boys-esque harmonies on just about every track here. One standout moment for me is Panda Bear's contribution on "Loch Raven" - his background vocals are fucking haunting.
The melodies here are gorgeous and insanely memorable. Every song is crafted so well, nothing feels accidental or malformed. This is in part to how distinctive this album is in not only Animal Collective's vast catalog, but the music sphere in general. It's a mature album from this band, one with a lot to say and a lot for the listener to uncover.
Before I close out my little spiel, I'd like to talk about "Banshee Beat", a song that just recently totally clicked with me and may be the best Animal Collective song (other contenders being "Fireworks", "For Reverend Green", and "Bluish"). The song features a slow, morose opening set against swelling layers of guitars and crackling noises, Avey singing quietly and uncharacteristically bluntly. As the rhythm begins to swell in the background, the song picks up ever so slightly. Avey seems to be picking himself up little by little. As the vocals begin to rise in pitch, the background harmonies skitter around like voices in his head. The low drum line in the background propels the song forward. And the last few minutes contain of the most beautiful moments I think the band has ever made. I get the stupidest grin whenever the "swimming pool" line comes on. It's a fantastic song.
Anyway. Great, great fucking album. Link below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gqvBoFpgXQA ("Grass")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXfwc0RDHBQ ("Did You See the Words")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HP2OdUgWCbY (Live in Oakland feat. "Loch Raven")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jj-0vMrZJbo ("Banshee Beat")
http://tinyurl.com/hr6464b (MEGA)
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