Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion

The first thing I need to say is, “I’m sorry.” There has been so much written about this album already in anticipation of its release and after it came out that I can’t say anything that hasn’t already been said. Because of that, I had a hard time writing this.

Here we go all the way back to January in my continuing series of reviews of albums from 2009. It is fitting that I write about Animal Collective this late in the year, when this album has been available for over nine months. Animal Collective has always been a band that I have had to seriously digest before I start to enjoy their work, and most of the time it is well worth it. In a way, Merriweather Post Pavilion is an exception to that rule, since it is more immediately enjoyable than everything else I have heard by them. Even so, this album gets better every time you hear it.

The first album I heard from Animal Collective was Feels about a year after it came out in 2006. It took probably a dozen listens before I liked it. At times I wondered why I kept at it even though I wasn’t enjoying it, but I had read several glowing reviews of the album and could sense there was something there and I was determined to hear it. After shelving it for a month or two I listened to it with fresh ears and then it clicked. I am happy to report that Merriweather Post Pavilion does not take near the time investment as Feels.

Animal Collective is so interesting because of their ability to shift sounds and evolve from album to album. That, and the fact that they are so experimental make them fun to listen to and impossible to predict what they will sound like from album to album. So, it was a surprise and completely unexpected at the same time to hear that there weren’t many guitars on MPP. No other band I listen to except The Beatles have reinvented themselves as often as Animal Collective. That’s not always a good thing, I still just can’t get into some of their earlier stuff, but everything from 2004’s Sung Tongs on is essential. If you have based any of my reviews on whether or not to obtain an album, I think this may be the one that everyone would be able to enjoy at least a little bit. I would also say that if you were looking for a place to start to get into Animal Collective, this is it. This is probably their most likeable, and possibly best album. (Right now I am still digging Feels a little bit more.)

Chances are, if you are into independent music you’ve heard “My Girls”. The lyrics are nonsensical but the groove is absolutely infectious. Even my two older boys have to dance and “Wooo!” along with it when it is playing. Pitchfork.com just named this the #9 song of the decade. It is definitely one of the catchiest and easiest to like from recent memory. Check it:

“My Girls”

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So we can all agree that is a great song, right?  Some of the songs, like “My Girls” and “Summertime Clothes” are more “accessible” (for AC, at least), and others are a little stranger. Here is “Taste”, one of my other favorites on the album.

“Taste”

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Merriweather Post Pavilion is definitely worth owning and it will top many end of year lists. I have really enjoyed listening to it since it came out and wouldn’t be surprised if it made its way into my list of all-time greats that get played often.

4 1/2 stars.