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In getting to know “Merriweather Post Pavilion,” I made the mistake of keeping Animal Collective’s 2007 release in mind. Expecting to hear the jarring rhythms, deep-thumping dissonance and gripping vocals that had characterized “Strawberry Jam,” I was at first disappointed with the new record. It seemed as though Avey Tare, Panda Bear and Geologist were on a Valium low and had lost the edge of their previous work. But as I discovered, it is vital for one to seperate “Merriweather Post Pavilion” from the group’s early days and enjoy this 2009 groundbreaker in the here and now.
Golden flax melodies weave through every track of “Merriweather.” “In The Flowers” opens the album with seeming hesitance, and almost-muffled vocals before it rips into courageous thumping beats while sustaining the richness of the opening. This flows quietly but expectedly into “My Girls,” which delivers the narrative of a father’s desire to be able to provide for his daughters, combining over-the-fields harmonic vocals with a growing, throbbing electronic backdrop.
At times, the Collective seems to return to some of its ethereal, noise-wash roots, but not necessarily to their benefit. Certain tracks fail to reach their peaks they seem to build toward, particularly “Daily Routine,” “Guys Eyes” and “Taste,” which causes the middle of the album to bottom out. However, as the album moves closer to its finish, the excitement builds again. “Lion In A Coma” opens with a didgeridoo pulse that permeates the song and propels it forward, stopping only to allow Tare’s pitch-perfect vocals to soar over the top. The complex sounds and driving vocals of “Lion” make it my favorite of the album, and the benign “No More Runnin’” is a tasteful, dreamy choice to follow it up. “Merriweather Post Pavilion” closes out with “Brother Sport,” a jaunty ride and a stunning combination of folk sensibilities, electronic thrust and the Collective’s standard noise ecstasy.
“Merriweather Post Pavilion” is not like the Collective’s previous work, and it is wrong to expect as much. However, it is also unlike just about anything you have probably heard before. While at times Animal Collective could have done more to keep the listener’s interest, this small setback does little to diminish the overwhelming sense of invention, musicality and positivity they convey with their new disc.
Overall, this is a wonderful, golden-hued album for the open-minded listener. Plus, the cover is an optical illusion that toys pleasantly with the mind. Grade: A-
