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Is it me or is this album art totally moving??

Not surprisingly, P4K’s first 2009 album review, for the new Animal Collective album Merriweather Post Pavilion, is a glowing one.

It’s not surprising for two reasons: the first is that P4K adores the shit out of Animal Collective and would slap a 9.6 on anything they put out, but the second is that this album is REALLY F*CKING GOOD. I mean it.

The album’s out on January 20, and like I’ve said before, among online indie circles (which number larger than you’d think) it’s become one of the most highly anticipated releases of the year. Please note that January’s not even half over yet. Official (and unofficial) listening parties have been planned across North America to coincide with today’s (January 6) vinyl release date. And before the album leaked on Christmas day, numerous bets were placed guessing the day it would leak, along with a release date ticker on many a signature.

The age of digital music has resulted in me having a very hard time busting through the album in one sitting, because for the love of all things holy I cannot finish My Girls (ahem, track 2) without reaching for the back gesture to play it all over again. Like closer Brothersport, it’s a peachy song that makes you want to do zany, unscripted things that invite stares from strangers. In addition to those terrific tracks, my other album favourites are Also Frightened and Summertime Clothes. On these eleven tracks, Panda Bear and Avey Tare’s harmonies have never sounded better!

Animal Collective’s members say the album’s the best thing they’ve ever done, and I’m seeing lots of nods of agreement in the preliminary reviews I’ve read so far. I don’t know how else to describe this album other than to say it’s awesome, and that the band have succeeded in their goal with this release - which according to the download card that came with the vinyl is:

“For most of the time we’ve been playing together, both in Animal Collective and the years before, we’ve tried to make music that would be deserving of an amazing outdoor listening experience. As both a name and a place, Merriweather Post Pavilion [venue in Maryland] represents this for us.”

If you’ve never listened to Animal Collective and are wondering what the fuss is all about, Merriweather Post Pavilion is your best bet for getting into the band’s music. Give the album a whirl when it comes out in a few weeks’ time and let me know what you think!

Posted on Tuesday, January 6th, 2009 at 3:00 pm by Kat and is filed under Music & Videos.

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