Merriweather Post Pavilion

Merriweather Post Pavilion is like one of those psychedelic pictures you have to stare at until you see another image appear underneath. It took me repeated listenings but I finally got it, the brilliance that has the blogworld abuzz. It’s because Animal Collective, despite their Beach Boys influence, don’t play pop music — or, at least, they don’t use the same song structures and easy hooks as, let’s say, Coldplay or Vampire Weekend. Take “Brother Sport” for example (as can be heard on JeffMix2009.01.27) — a song that lacks a chorus, has only about a dozen or so words to its lyrics, and is mostly groove: a bouncy, half tribal, half D&B groove, at that. Add some laser sounds, some yelps, and you've got one of the best songs of the year. And albums. Well done Animal Collective, making weird sound so good. A
Animal Collective: My Girls (mp3) (buy)
Animal Collective: Brother Sport (mp3) (buy)