So with running on little sleep and needing to get work done, I have been using electro/dubstep/house as a natural adderall and was planning on posting mostly those types of songs. However, now its winding down and I need a break. With that said, I have switched my musical attention back to my favorite band... Animal Collective.
This band formed back in the wee youth years the members lives. Noah Lennox (Panda Bear) and Josh Dibb (Deakin) met in second grade while Brian Weitz (Geologist) and David Portner (Avey Tare) met in high school. Panda Bear and Deakin went off to school in Boston while Geologist and Avey Tare attended schools in the Big Apple. Panda Bear made his first album in college. They all ended up quitting college, living in NYC to make music. They released their first album in 2000 and are still continuing to do so. (Sidenote: Deakin is an on and off member. His last contribution was on Strawberry Jam in 2007). Their last EP/album was released in 2009 and now each are doing solo stuff for a bit. Avey Tare just released a solo album and Panda Bear is slowly releasing his newest album slowly. There are a couple of new singles of his floating around but the entire album has not been released as a whole.
I'm actually gonna post more than 5 and I am gonna go in chronological order for this one from oldest to newest.
Chocolate Girl - So this is off their first album Spirit They've Gone, Spirit They've Vanished. This is one of my favorite Animal songs. Although you can't hear the lyrics really, they are truly poetic like "And remnants of you is emotion/My breath's out" just beautiful. My favorite part of the song starts around 5:10. They switch to a slower beat with an acoustic guitar. Brilliant. This is a fantastic example of the band's use of sample sounds and the guitar. Fantastic.
Leaf House - This comes from Sung Tongs, an incredible. They have moved from using mostly sample sounds and electric sounds to more organic sounds, like drums, guitars, and untouched vocals. This song is a bit silly but the harmonies are great. Although this isn't Animal Collective's video they are a very visual band. They tend to do insane videos for their music. They even made a visual record called ODDSAC . That movie was nuts.
Banshee Beat - One of my favorites. It comes from the album Feels. I have to be honest. I think Feels is my favorite album. The flow of the album and quality of of music, lyrically and intellectually, is fantastic. It was hard to pick a fav but I can never not listen to this song. It always make me think of different times in my life. It's an ironic song though. The beat makes you dancey and happy but the lyrics are depressing as hell. It's about some guy finding out something bad about his girlfriend from a whole of people but her. Womp.
Tikwid - I really like this song just cause of the beat. The lyrics are nutty and I don't know if they make sense. To be truthful, I just like the fact he says "berries in my heart bread" haha.
For Reverend Green - When I first heard this song, I couldn't get enough. It comes from Strawberry Jam. I don't know what I love about it. I think it's my angsty song with all the screaming. Sometimes you need to scream. I once had this song on in the car before I turned off the car, and when my mom turned the car on, she heard it. She proceeded to tell me I listened to music that sounded like dying cats.... haha. I don't think my parents will ever understand this kind of music. Some other gems from Strawberry Jam are "Fireworks" and "Derek".
Water Curses - I just love the use of sample sounds on this. Great bathroom sesh song.
Bluish - The most romantic song ever. The use of stereo sound in this song is amazing. You have to use head phones but it's genius. It's number 6 on Merriweather Post Pavillion. This album is what has brought Animal Collective heavily in the public eye. I don't read Pitchfork but I'm sure I read somewhere that Pitchfork went gaga over it. Whhhattteevvaaaa..... Not a bad visual either huh?
What Would I Want? Sky - GODDDDDDDDD. This song. This song. When I first heard it, I think I listened to it at least 20 times the first day. I think it shows the genius evolution of Animal Collective, with the sample sounds and instruments in perfect harmony. This is off the EP Fall Be Kind and it definitely has a more "fall" feel compared to the "summer" feel of Merriweather. I couldn't find an album version but hopefully the live version will suffice. I believe I will always smile with this song on and it makes for a GREEATTT Bathroom session song. I also REALLY love Panda Bear's singing on this..... *girly giggle*
The "weight from thinking" usually goes way after listening to this song.
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