Merriweather Post Pavillion

This album makes me think that the hipsters are going to explode. It feels sort of like that idea that proving god fallible would create a loophole in the universe unless Jay and Silent Bob stop Ben Affleck. That is kind of what this album is like, except for the fact that all the hipsters will explode because it's so damn hip and they all are in agreement even though they strive for uniqueness, which will again cause the explosion previously mentioned. As you can tell I am not a very big fan of hipsters, but then again, I'm not very hip.

The opening track on Merriweather Post Pavillion really gets you into the world of Animal Collective. Mainly this means get ready for anything, especially if it comes in the form of organized chaos. I have always been a fan of organized chaos, but usually preferred it in my television shows or Charlie Kaufman movies. I am still trying to figure out if this album has changed that or not. I think it has.

The album really picks up midway through the second track My Girls, a pulsating hymn that feels sort of like a cross between PM Dawn and Weezer.

Also Frightened - "Will it be just like I'm dreaming". Some serious vocal layering in this tune, so unapologetically honest. Great song

Some time in the middle of the 4th track Summertime Clothes I was trying to figure out what was so whatever it was I was looking for to describe this album. I think it has to do with each individual song. They all feel like an entire album packed into 4 minutes or whatever. Very fancy songwriting.

Daily Routine starts off as any annoying daily routine does, monotony. The all of the sudden we are mid song. Fittingly it ends with what sounds like a deflated yell/sigh. Good stuff. I would seriously doubt I am the first person to compare these guys to Arcade Fire. I already mentioned the hipsters are going to explode right?

Bluish slightly picks up the pace that was slowed by our Daily Routine coming to it's daily end. The production on this album is pretty crazy. I think each song is checking in with like 2400 tracks each. This song is a fine example of that. There are a lot of fun hooks hidden in here.

Guy Eyes is a fun experiment in harmony. One thing I will definitely give Animal Collective, you surely have a hard time guessing what is going to come next. And that makes it exciting, and as I get older I am starting to realize that exciting = good and everything else = bad. So if you aren't excited you might want to switch things up a bit. Call a hooker, get a puppy, quit your job, whatever works.

Taste is a hell of a sense. "What I really want......is a simple place". I would love to make a video for this song. It would definitely include the circus and a monkey. Maybe the audience would be all monkeys and the band could be the circus performers. This is a good idea I am pretty sure, someone call Brett Ratner. Repeated questioning chants would definitely be a password clue if this album was the password.

I was going to write that this next song was confusing me until I saw the title was Lion in a Coma. Now that makes perfect sense. A lion is hella strong, comas are hella confusing. If a lion was in a coma it would be hella confusing. Good thing we cleared that up. Seriously though, someone turn off the drugs, this is hurting my brain.

No Runnin is probably the closest thing this album has to a ballad although I certainly wouldn't call it that. I like this song, it makes me feel like I'm in the pool or something. That being said it's certainly not about to win any "Favorite Song on the Album" contests or anything because it's basically a snoozer. This seems like a song for people that do lots of pills and/or nitrous. In which case this song is probably pretty awesome.

Wow Brother Sport, I'm not sure if you are an Indian theme song or the start to a weird British musical. Assuming you are just the final track to this album I am a pretty big fan. This certainly falls into the exciting category. They really decided to throw the kitchen sink at us with this last track. I have no complaints with that.

In summary, this album is not for the faint of heart, or those that don't like adventurous music. For those that do like some toppings, and weird excotic flavors in their ice cream, Animal Collective may be just what you are looking for. In fairness I'd give this 3 1/2 monkeys if I had that technology built into my rating system, but I don't.

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Merriweather Post Pavilion