Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavillion

[Ian]

I know it's way too early to make this topic, but screw it, I'm psyched for this.  It comes out 1/20/08, but a listening party was recently held for it, and several people have their advance copy.  Word is, this is their best CD yet.  Some impressions from people who've heard it, in case you're not already hyped up:

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/146944-first-listen-animal-collectives-merriweather-post-pavilion
http://www.prefixmag.com/news/animal-collective-preview-merriweather-post-pavili/22670/
http://chocolatebobka.blogspot.com/2008/10/animal-collective-listening-party.html
http://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/index.php?blog=6&p=992&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1#more992
http://andybetablog.blogspot.com/2008/10/random-notes-on-merriweather-post_22.html

This is my third most anticipated release of 2009, behind Radiohead and MuteMath, my two favorite bands.  Actually, Mew and AC might be tied for third.  Glass Handed Kites by Mew is one of of the ten best albums I've ever heard, so I have quite high hopes for the next one.

Oh, and this is kinda scary, but if MPP has the best song of 2009 on it, that will be the third year in a row of AC snatching #1 song.

[Ian]

Heys guys.  Two songs from this have come out, Brothersport and My Girls.  I have had them both on repeat the last few weeks and they don't grow old.  The vynal release hits on the 12th, so it's time to start getting pumped.  Based on the two songs so far and the reviews from the listening parties, I fully expect this to be a top 10 album next year, at the very least.  I can't wait, last times I was this excited about music is when In Rainbows was announced and when I got my MuteMath CD in the mail.

Anyways, check out the lyrics to the divinely catchy My Girls:

There isn't much that I feel I need
A solid soul and to know I'll be
With a little girl and by my spouse
We only want a proper house

I don't need fancy things
Or to take part in a precious race
Children cry for the one who has
A real big heart and a father's grace

I don't mean to seem like I care about material things
Like my social status
I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls

I really wish people were allowed to sing stuff like this on the radio.

[Ian]

effing dial-up >:O

[Aaron]

Check your email, Ian

[Ian]

Thanks for the try, but again I say: effing dial-up >:O

I'm tempted to find a friend nearby who would dl for me, but that seems kinda pathetic... so I'll just wait til I get back to school :|

[bloop]

I think this may well be their best album, or at least the one I personally have the most affinity toward at the moment.  I need more time with it. 

I also like that the vinyl is going to be released so soon, but I'm not sure what kind of message they are trying to send by not releasing the CD simultaneously.

[Josh]

Fwiw, vinyl sales DOUBLED in 2008 compared to 2007. Not that that explains what their message is releasing the vinyl a week before the CD, but still interesting. (As I'm sure you AC fans know, you get a download code for the MP3s when you buy the vinyl...)

Anyway. Back on point. I've never cared much for this band in the past, but even *I* think this album is pretty undeniable.

[Ian]

p4k liked it quite a bit: http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/148230-animal-collective-merriweather-post-pavilion

One week til I get to hear

[murlough23]

Well, what the hey. I liked TV on the Radio's "pop album" despite not previously thinking they'd be the kind of band I could get into. So maybe I'll check Animal Collective out this year.

NP: "Family Tree", TV on the Radio

[Ian]

In the meantime listen to Strawberry Jam, especially "For Reverend Green", "Fireworks" and "Derek".  And "Leaf House" and "Who Could Win A Rabbit" from Sung Tongs.

[bloop]

I figured they'd get "Best New Music" with anywhere from the high 8's to the low 9's from p4k.  That sound you hear is the giant backlash.

I'm still not sure whether I like this more than Person Pitch, but I'm pretty confident that it's my favorite Animal Collective album.  UPS tracker says I'll have it tomorrow.

[bloop]

I'm surprised Josh likes this album, and I would actually be pretty surprised if it was murlough's cup o' tea.  It has a certain mantra-like repetitive quality, both musically and lyrically.

[murlough23]

I'm surprised Josh likes this album, and I would actually be pretty surprised if it was murlough's cup o' tea.  It has a certain mantra-like repetitive quality, both musically and lyrically.

Uh-oh. Is that a non-recommendation?

Tell you what, I'll check it out if my steady stream of new stuff to listen to begins to get a bit dry. If I don't like it, I'll consider it one of those "I don't get it" sorts of things rather than complaining about what I think it should be.

[bloop]

Well, I don't want to dissuade you necessarily.  Also, most of the decent rips that are out are from the vinyl, so you'll get pops in places.  That'll probably change since they are offering digital downloads with the vinyl release.

[murlough23]

Well, I don't want to dissuade you necessarily.  Also, most of the decent rips that are out are from the vinyl, so you'll get pops in places, but that'll probably change since they are offering digital downloads with the vinyl release.

I didn't figure I'd get around to it right away. I'll wait until the CD version has been out for a little while, thus increasing my chances of getting a good quality download.

NP: "Masterswarm", Andrew Bird

[bloop]

You could do that, or those of us that own the vinyl with download key could help . . . 

[Josh]

Evidently, the download key isn't activated until the CD is released...

[bloop]

Not so.  I downloaded it in wav format from the record label (flac format would have been smarter from their perspective, but lossless is lossless), and immediately compressed it to V0.  It just took me a little while to fish the card out of the album sleeve.

[Josh]

Ah, I stand corrected. I was informed of that by a friend who bought the vinyl, but apparently he doesn't know what he's doing!

[Josh]

My (long-ish) review.

[Ian]

Very nice.

[murlough23]

Listened to this for the first time last night. You were right to warn me that it is frustratingly repetitive in some places. However, it is beautifully repetitive in others. The difference between the two is an extremely subjective and irrational distinction on my part, I'm sure.

[bloop]

Listened to this for the first time last night. You were right to warn me that it is frustratingly repetitive in some places. However, it is beautifully repetitive in others. The difference between the two is an extremely subjective and irrational distinction on my part, I'm sure.

I'm just glad you found any of it beautifully repetitive.

[murlough23]

I'm just glad you found any of it beautifully repetitive.

Yeah, I figured this one would be one of those where if I like it, that's an unexpected bonus, but if I don't, I'll put it in the "Just don't get it" category rather than giving it a low grade.

NP: "Needle & Thread", Sleeping at Last

[Josh]

Woa-- a 10.0 for this one, bloop?

[bloop]

What can I say - it's definitely a bloop album.  I might drop it to 9.5, though - I'm just testing to see if people still read those music journals.   

*It's notable that, if it sticks, it would be the first time I would have two consecutive years with a 10-rated album since I started doing this.

[spacebrat311]

I'm into it. Too early for ratings or analysis, except to say that My Girls is sublime.

[Josh]

Hmmm... I wonder when I handed out my last 10.0 score. Joe Henry's Civilians in 2007 is right on the fence between 9.5 and 10.0... I'd probably lean toward the latter. Before that, Andrew Bird's record in 2005 is the more recent.

[bloop]

Kid A (2000), Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002), Illinois (2005), and Dear Science, (2008) have been mine in the 2000s.  I hope it's just a perspective thing, because 4 or 5 classic albums in a decade is really kind of crappy.  Look at the 60s or 70s and rattle 'em off.  Shoot, I could name at least two I would rate that highly from 1991.

[spacebrat311]

I can think of a few that will be widely regarded that way even if they don't quite make your list. Neon Bible comes to mind, for instance.

[murlough23]

The first thing I always do when trying to get my head around an album is figure out which songs are my early favorites. It was probably beyond obvious that "My Girls" and "Brothersport" were going to get my attention, being the catchiest tracks with the poppiest choruses. But I think my favorite might be "Lion in a Coma", just because of how frenetic that oddball rhythm is. That song is insane.

[Ian]

My Girls pretty much has a lock on my favorite song of the year, despite us being only a week and a half in.

Insert Quote
Kid A (2000), Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (2002), Illinois (2005), and Dear Science, (2008) have been mine in the 2000s.  I hope it's just a perspective thing, because 4 or 5 classic albums in a decade is really kind of crappy.  Look at the 60s or 70s and rattle 'em off.  Shoot, I could name at least two I would rate that highly from 1991.

The highest rating I've given this decade is a 9.6, to both The National - Boxer, and The Mars Volta - Frances the Mute (haven't listened to MPP yet, but sounds like it has a shot to be up around there).  Closest I've ever come to giving a 10 is OK Computer with a 9.8.  So If I rounded my scores to halves I guess it'd be a 10, but would still be the only ten I've ever given.

[bloop]

Yeah, but you got those albums wrong.  OK Computer is more like a pi² - e/100 whereas The National album is definitely a 952/99, which certainly rounds to the decimals you just gave, but has a level of precision your system sorely lacks.      

[Ian]

Man I gotta have a little more precision than .5's :|

otherwise my #1's from this year and last year would have the same score even though last year's was better

[bloop]

I know I'm never going to be truly happy until I represent all my ratings as definite integrals.

[Ian]

stop shakin up my world man

lol

[bloop]

Maybe its the Beach Boys thing, but "Bluish" is an early favorite of mine, straightforward as the song is.

[murlough23]

Maybe its the Beach Boys thing, but "Bluish" is an early favorite of mine, straightforward as the song is.

It's like you have to be dragged kicking and screaming into actually liking something straightforward!

[murlough23]

Alright, so I gave bloop an elbow jab for admitting he liked something "straightforward", but you know, that forced me to pay more attention to "Bluish" the next time I listened to the album. And you know what, that's a beautiful song. Who cares if it's straightforward or not? (Especially considering that "straightforward" is a relative term in the context of this band.)

[bloop]

I don't think it's that hard to get me to like a more straightforward song, but I'm not sure what factors into me gravitating toward them at times when there are far more ambitious songs on an album.  The song's inherent beauty likely does have a lot to do with it.