Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion – review

Corporate line:
“Merriweather Post Pavilion” is the Animal Collective’s ninth full-length. The whoops and hollers that previously held together the sublime, chaotic urgency of their earlier work now signal the calm sense of euphoria and wonder that ripples through this wide eyed record.

The good:
“Summertime Clothes” – Up, up and away as the beat kicks into a sweet journey right into a chorus that sings so sweetly: “I want to walk around with you.”

“My Girls” – It starts without much hope and grows into a beautiful wall of sound.

“Also Frightened” – A beautiful arrangement that launches deep into a psychedelic romp. What they are singing about is anyone’s guess—and it’s anyone’s guess if it really matters as long as you are listening over and over again.

“Guy’s Eyes” – Gets into Beach Boys “Smile” territory. Watch out, it just might hypnotize you.

“Lion in a Coma” – The didgeridoo is in full effect as they take a page out of the “Lion King” or maybe “Survivor.”

The rest:
“Daily Routine” – This is as avant-garde as it gets with a beat that isn’t really a beat—it sounds more like an annoying ringtone. The song never quite picks up steam.

“Bluish” – Hypnotic. That’s the first thing that comes to mind as the song buzzes into your headphones. It’s a shame it never really hypnotizes with the beauty of the earlier tracks. It tries hard—very hard.

“Brother Sport” – This afro-techno-pop track just doesn’t do it for me.

Finally:
Animal Collective is whimsical. They are interesting. And in some respects they are a bit all over the place. But if you love bands like the Fleet Foxes, the Flaming Lips, the Grateful Dead, and some later Beach Boys music, than “Merriweather Post Pavilion will be right up your alley.