New Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion

[Lt Melmo]

I can't get over that title.

The album leaked. I wasn't gonna post about it here cause I figured it'd get deleted, bein' all piratey and stuff, but then I read this. Turns out the band wanted the whole album to leak, and I'm guessing they're responsible for it.

So here it is: http://luckyoungmatador.blogspot.com/

That's my blog (named after a Springsteen lyric so don't laugh). Whole album is available for download, as well as individual mp3's to listen to.
A.C. fans are rabid and have been driving up our traffic all day. And the band's from Baltimore so you should listen to it! Actually most people on the OH would still hate it, even if A.C. is pretty mainstream now.

My impressions: it's really a 50/50 mix of Avey Tare's noise and Panda Bear's chill drone. I'm a huge fan of Avey and not so much Panda Bear (kinda wish the band would just break up permanently, but you know how that goes). As such, only one track has really got me coming back over and over again, and that's the opener. I'm not the only one, either... according to my hotlinkfiles stats page, it's been listened to 90+ times. The climax is incredible.

This album will basically just wish you had bigger speakers. It sounds HUGE. I'm certain it'll grow on me over time.

[jeffmantoformvp]

Haha, I also couldn't believe they named the album that. I think it sounds great.

[ATO UMD]

I was going to post the pitchfork story about the hoax but noticed you did so on the blog.

Anyway, here's hoping they come to town soon on tour. I've just gotten into them recently and can only imagine how insane their live show is.

[Austin]

Not as good as Strawberry Jam, still pretty tight though.

[NewMarketSean]

Ugh, I want to get into this band to support the Baltimore music scene but I just can't. Most of their songs make me want to bash my head into a brick wall. It's that bad.

Beach House is the only "big time" local act that I have gotten into and sometimes I can't even immerse myself in their music either.

Whats wrong with me?

[Scrat1]

Ugh, I want to get into this band to support the Baltimore music scene but I just can't. Most of their songs make me want to bash my head into a brick wall. It's that bad.

What songs have you been listening to? Leaf House is the song that got me into them. There are definitely some songs that I can't really listen to, but I generally like their stuff.

Beach House is the only "big time" local act that I have gotten into and sometimes I can't even immerse myself in their music either.

Whats wrong with me?

I love Beach House. There are lots of great musicians/bands working in Baltimore. Definitely more than Memphis. All we've got down here is Jay Reatard. Have you given Dan Deacon or Wilderness a try?

[spneca]

Not as good as Strawberry Jam, still pretty tight though.

I think that Sung Tongs is their best effort to date, but Merriweather Post Pavillion is pretty good. With each album they have gotten more and more poppy, yet they have still managed to stay unique.

If I were to pick a favorite track off of this album, i would say 'Bluish.' The pre-chorus just knocks me off me feet. It is so unexpected, but it works so well.

[Capn Vivi]

Ugh, I want to get into this band to support the Baltimore music scene but I just can't. Most of their songs make me want to bash my head into a brick wall. It's that bad.

Beach House is the only "big time" local act that I have gotten into and sometimes I can't even immerse myself in their music either.

Whats wrong with me?

Have you heard Panda Bear's independent album, Person Pitch?

It's definitely a little more poppy than Animal Collective, but the songs are highly atmospheric and reminiscent of the Beach Boys.

I recommend it.

[NewMarketSean]

Have you heard Panda Bear's independent album, Person Pitch?

It's definitely a little more poppy than Animal Collective, but the songs are highly atmospheric and reminiscent of the Beach Boys.

I recommend it.

I had to force myself to listen to all of "Bros" and towards the end I wanted to kill myself. I wasn't into what I heard from Person Pitch at all.

From what I have heard from MPP, it's more straight-forward. My Girls, Brother Sport and Summertime Clothes are all really good songs. So there have put out something I can listen to without cringing.

I haven't really explored the Baltimore Music Scene all that much past Beach House and Animal Collective, but from what I have heard it's all very raw music, and I like my music more streamlined. Not saying I want pop music by any means, but I do enjoy structure and clear vocals and instrumentation.

[Capn Vivi]

I had to force myself to listen to all of "Bros" and towards the end I wanted to kill myself. I wasn't into what I heard from Person Pitch at all.

From what I have heard from MPP, it's more straight-forward. My Girls, Brother Sport and Summertime Clothes are all really good songs. So there have put out something I can listen to without cringing.

I haven't really explored the Baltimore Music Scene all that much past Beach House and Animal Collective, but from what I have heard it's all very raw music, and I like my music more streamlined. Not saying I want pop music by any means, but I do enjoy structure and clear vocals and instrumentation.

Part of what I really enjoy about Animal Collective is their shunning of the traditional notion of vocals. Their lyrics can be really quite moving at times, but more often than not, the vocals are themselves a kind of instrumentation (ala Bjork, Sigur Ros). Of course, that can be hard to listen to. The first time I heard Animal Collective I thought it was nonsense (reminds me of the first time I heard Kid A) and I sat on it for a year before I gave it a chance.

That's not to say that all music the indie scene claims is "good" or "transcendent of the genre" can be automatically enjoyed by everyone. I will never get into Vampire Weekend, the Strokes (besides 3 or 4 songs off that first album), Tapes 'n Tapes, Black Kids, Deerhoof, etc.

At the same time, songs like "Banshee Beat" off Feels, "Kids on Holiday" off Sung Tongs and "Fireworks" off Strawberry Jam are, in my opinion, just unbelievable. I can't say much about Merriweather Post Pavilion except that I think the production is very very good, I just haven't gotten that into it yet.

I'm not sure if it qualifies as Baltimore Music Scene but Page France is quite good. They're from Cumberland/Hagerstown and I don't believe they're together any longer. Songs like "Junkyard" and "Bush" off Hello, Dear Wind are incredible songs, much better than some similar sounding bands like The Decemberists (though there will always be a place in my heart for the Tain).

I know band, Joe Greene & The Heavy Steppers is local, they play a lot of smaller places (I've seen them at the 8x10 a couple times) and I can really only describe them as a mash-up of Jack Johnson and bluegrass with a TINY bit of R&B. Great, great band live.

There's also Caleb Stine & The Brakemen, a band I know works in the city all over the place (I know you can get their album at Atomic Books but I'm not sure if they're actually signed). They're more country but definitely of a folk variety, nice laid-back and well-thought-out.

Personally, I don't understand the whole Rolling Stone thing about the Baltimore Music Scene. Is Dan Deacon really considered that good on a national scale?

Anyway, music is what it is, there isn't a band out there that everyone will love or everyone will hate. Good luck in finding new artists out there that you enjoy, from everything I've read on here, you know your stuff.

[Icterus galbula]

Park School represent!


I really liked their Feels album, particularly "Purple Bottle" and "Banshee Beat." I saw them at the Recher right around when that album came out and they were pretty fun live. I haven't really listened to Feels in a while now, there are definitely a couple songs on the album that annoyed me.

Definitely not a band for everyone, but I like their unique approach.

[Austin]

I don't know how anyone can not like "Fireworks" of Strawberry Jam

[Austin]

Also, in reference to the Baltimore music scene, Dan Deacon is my hero.

[NewMarketSean]

I'm not sure if it qualifies as Baltimore Music Scene but Page France is quite good. They're from Cumberland/Hagerstown and I don't believe they're together any longer. Songs like "Junkyard" and "Bush" off Hello, Dear Wind are incredible songs, much better than some similar sounding bands like The Decemberists (though there will always be a place in my heart for the Tain).

Funny you should mention Page France.... they are no longer but a few members have become Cotton Jones, and they are getting massive pub from what I can tell (I listen to WOXY a lot at work and they are played all the time), and I actually work with one of the band member's roommates. From what I have heard of them they are pretty good... and the girl back-up singer sounds a bit like Neko Case.

[Capn Vivi]

I don't know how anyone can not like "Fireworks" of Strawberry Jam

I agree, it's my favorite Animal Collective song, though "Banshee Beat" and "Did You See the Words" off Feels challenge it, depending on my mood.

That's the great thing about Animal Collective, for me, each of their more recent albums can be the best depending on your mood (kind of like Radiohead).