Merriweather Post Pavilion (Tues. Jan. 20th)

As if Animal Collective wasn’t already one of the most talked about bands existing in the realm of “indie-whatdoyacallthis?-rock,” they had to go and make what is likely to be one of the best albums of the year. This should not only prove to a big year for them (they are touring Europe for three months straight starting in January) but considering how amazing I found (am still finding) this album, I think it’s going to be a big year for everyone who hears this.

The opener “In the Flowers” comes in like a spaceship taking off. These bizarre parallels or quasi-contradictions characterize the entire album, which seems to leave only to come back louder and more bass heavy than before and with more vocals layered as well. The lack of any sort of discernable guitars on the first track also sets the rules for the rest of the album which relies oh-so-heavily on sampling, synths, drum machines and layering, layering, layering and more layering.
The layering of vocals on the third track “Also Frightened,” is especially effective in creating a sort of paranoid happy feeling as multiple voices ask repeatedly “Are you also frightened?” and minimal percussion skitters about here and there between bass beats. Considering all the electronic elements that make up this album, it sounds remarkably organic¬–as though the lab this was produced in had been entirely overgrown by vines and foliage, the result of some sort of natural catastrophe.
The icing on the cake has to be the lyrics, which often address charming existential dilemma’s such as “am I really all the things that are outside of me?” Out of context this may seem like puzzlements reminding us of “how am I not myself?” but when lines such as that are in their element it is hard to deny them.
In the wake of the Panda Bear’s immensely successful album Person Pitch, Merriweather Post Pavilion is a testament to Noah Lennox’s (as well as other vocalist Dave Portner’s and producer Ben Allen’s) ingenuity, both creatively and technically in terms of the wizardry that goes into making songs like these. Occasionally while listening to this album I asked myself questions like, “where am I?” (oh right! I’m driving, whoops...), “Is this the future of music?” (surely it must be, it sounds like the music I imagine space makes!), “ How did they do THAT?!... Is that even possible?” “Why do I feel like I am underwater and in space and in a rainforest all at the same time!?”
I think the answer to all of these questions is positively “yes!,” especially in the instances where that answer doesn’t even make sense.