Animal Collective: “Merriweather Post Pavilion” (Album Review)

Genres: Psychedelic Pop, Neo-Psychedelia, Indietronica 

        Merriweather Post Pavilion is an album that excels in revealing the magic that lies in everyday life and in little moments. Animal Collective’s experimentation glitters with uncontrollable energy which force you to feel this magic. This along with the mix of thrilling production and jittery vocals make the album incredibly lively. Treating life like a grand and almost unfathomable concept, Animal Collective bring true fascination to their music.

        Kicking off the album, “In The Flowers” serves as Merriweather Post Pavilion’s Call to Adventure of sorts. The meeting with the dancer is a mysterious endeavor that causes a psychedelic change. After the line, “If I could just leave my body for the night”, there is a complete transformation of sound, unveiling the new world that listeners become accustomed to throughout the album. This powerful start is thematically poignant and conveys its message through the use of gorgeous production. Another example of this is on “Daily Routine”, where Panda Bear takes us through a normal day of life with his daughter. Such a normal experience is made to feel important through the grand and hazy instrumentation. Panda Bear’s vocals are long and deliberate, feeling like each second of his day is meaningful. After all, “what good is it to make it fast?”. 

        The weight that’s created on each song is incredible, but could be demonstrated more thoroughly with stronger climaxes. Merriweather Post Pavilion features songs with great buildup and a truly entertaining sound, but like on “No More Runnin”, there are times where the payoff isn’t enough. After listening to the song in full there’s a lack of reaction, almost as if going: “Wait, that’s it?”. Although there isn’t too much stagnation on the album, this feeling is created when there is escalation to a point that just doesn’t feel quite tall enough. 

        Merriweather Post Pavilion is an album that can’t be easily replicated by anyone else for a plethora of reasons. The level of grandiosity and glamour that’s given to seemingly mundane parts of life is endlessly endearing. It speaks volumes to the strength of the record that this certain type of allure can’t be found anywhere else. Even though there are times where the album loses itself in its own sense of wonder, there’s beauty that enriches each moment. Animal Collective finds success with questioning life’s scale, coming up with something vivid and undeniable in weight.

Favorite Tracks: Bluish, My Girls, Summertime Clothes, Daily Routine, Taste, Brother Sport, In The Flowers, Guys Eyes

Least Favorites: No More Runnin, Lion In A Coma

Enjoyment: High 8

Critically: High 8

Arbitrary Number: 8.7/10