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So Pitchfork has pretty much already declared the new Animal Collective album the 2009 Album of the Year. They are not a band I know much about, but I like the stray songs I've heard.
So, I turn to you good Collective - who here digs this band? If I want a good intro to them, what should I acquire? And most importantly, are they good?
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I mean, given the rapturous response to the new one, that might be the place to start. I have their last three though I'm still not a huge fan. Their good stuff is GREAT and their not good stuff is totally boring and disposable (if not abrasive and unpleasant). Their albums are usually about half really good, interesting and weird pop songs and half droning near-ambient, near-instrumentals. I tend to have little use for the latter stuff. I'd probably start with Feels, which has some of their more interesting pop stuff, and though it has a couple of worthless tracks (eg, The Bees, which is really annoying), it probably bridges the gap better than any other. At their best, their songs have a sort of childlike sense of playfulness, without being overly cutesy (Who Could Win a Rabbit and Winter Love off of Sung Tongs).
I'd start with the first 4 or 5 songs on Feels and then turn it off before it gets incredibly boring.
This band should be paying Pitchfork 50% royalties on every album sold.
Overall, I agree with Eric. They do have some great individual songs, but nothing they've released to date is worthy of your actual money-- unless you buy mp3s by the song.
It's actually tracks 1-4, and then 6 on Feels-- track 5 is The Bees, which ZUCKS. But then the last track (Turn Into Something) is awesome.
But the problem is, where can one go to buy mp3s by the song????? Especially DRM-free tracks from all the best indie labels? And what if I don't want to spend 99 cents a track like on iTunes? Oh, if only there was a solution to this quandary...
Eric, would you stop promoting the Zune store already!!
Good point on "The Bees." One of the most self-indulgent artistic entities this side of the Pitchfork homepage.
my lady friend and I have a special place in our lives for "the bees". It is our go-to reference for anything that is totally and hilariously bad.
Eric is spot on, VC, though I tend to enjoy the best songs on Sung Tongs better than Feels. And actually the Water Curses EP last year wasn't half bad. haven't heard the new one, but i hear it's the most accessible yet.
Most importantly, NEVER SEE THEM LIVE. They are the worst live band I've ever seen, or I should I say, worst live band I've walked out on.
That's kind of awesome-- "How was the movie?" "Bad." "The Bees bad?" "No no-- not that bad..."
You do of course know that now I MUST hear this elusive Bees...
I picked up the Water Curses EP and will get Feels next. Thanks all.
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