Is it possible that Animal Collective has already released the best indie rock album of 2009? It certainly is according to the buzz surrounding the January 20 release on Domino Records.
The latest addition to the band’s discography, “Merriweather Post Pavilion,” is a trance rock infused mash-up that will remind the listener of MGMT’s “Oracular Spectacular” and Radiohead’s “Kid-A.” Each of the album’s tracks blend and drizzle into one another as guitar and synthesizers work hand in hand.
The second track, “My Girls,” stands out as the first track on the album to grab the listener’s attention. Lyrics such as “Is it much that I feel I need /A solid soul and the blood I bleed/With a little girl, and by my spouse/I only want a proper house,” are backed by recurring synth and Africanized drumming. The repetition of the chorus plants the song into the back of the listener’s head and it will be a time before it can shaken.
“Also Frightened” boasts recorded animal sounds and native instruments as the track progresses like a Lennon or McCartney track off 1967’s “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” and/or “Magical Mystery Tour.”
“Summertime Clothes” will more than likely be the single to follow “My Girls”. Stomping kick-drum rhythm and lyrics are wrought with the mind of a sleepless summer night. The lyrics rain out, “And a voice from the clock says ‘You’re not gonna get tired/ My bed is a pool and the wall’s on fire / Soak my head in the sink for a while / It chills my neck and it makes me smile / But my bones gotta move and my skin’s gotta breathe /You pick up the phone and I’m so relieved.”
“Bluish” provides a Pink Floyd-esque techno dream. The vocals are sweeping and the synth reverberates over a pulsating kick-drum. “Guys Eyes” plays with more environmental sounds combined with overlapping vocals and a repeated rock rhythm. As lyrics repeat, the sound becomes droning and gives way to the track, “Taste.” “Taste” seems to be inspired by reggae orchestrations with Animal Collective’s own synthetic touch.
“Lion in Coma” turns on the band’s love of world instruments featuring the use of a didjiridoo. “No More Runnin” turns the noise levels low and the vocals become as soft as dreams. The final track, “Brother Sport” could be heard as the future for indie rock favorites Vampire Weekend, as it is more of a straightforward and memorable song apart from the rest of the album. Something even Peter Gabriel would approve of. However, Animal Collective has proven with this release they are on a level all their own.
Although it may be too early to call it the best of ’09, Animal Collective have certainly raised the bar within their genre. The band has only recently managed to garner “big time” notice, but better late than never. Look for Animal Collective’s “Merriweather Post Pavilion” to be a contender for years to come.