2012 will mark 13 years of Animal Collective and the
Baltimore natives have certainly covered a lot of territory in that time. They began way out on a limb creating some of
the most original material to surface in recent memory and albums like their
2000 debut Spirit They’ve Gone, Spirit
They’ve Vanished and 2004’s Sung
Tongs were championed by critics and fans alike for the unparalleled
creativity that the quartet displayed.
Since 2005’s Feels, and
especially on 2007’s Strawberry Jam and
2009’s Merriweather Post Pavilion the
band moved towards a more accessible brand of psych pop that brought them an
increase in listenership and a spot atop the world of independent music. If you’ve found their recent material a
little too populist, then you’ll certainly be happy that Centipede Hz finds them comfortably back in their experimental
zone.
For their tenth album, Animal Collective have turned over the
majority of the singing duties to Dave Portner (Avey Tare), while Noah Lennox
(Panda Bear) takes on two tracks, and Josh Dibb (Deakin) one. It’s likely that Portner’s spazzed out,
shouting vocal style will turn some folks off because there is something really
abrasive about the way he attacks the mic, but it does fit in well with the
warped psychedelics that play out behind him.
Animal Collective have always had a knack for pushing the
envelope on just what the listener will accept as pop music and Centipede Hz is no exception. Even though tracks like ‘Today’s
Supernatural’ and ‘Applesauce’ are beyond weird there is still something
universal and easily likeable about them, especially on ‘Applesauce’ where
industrial noise and Portner’s vocals superimpose nicely over a catchy as all
hell synth line. The Deakin-led ‘Wide
Eyed’ also has a broad appeal and nods to psychedelic predecessors like Pink
Floyd.
It’s hard to say whether Centipede
Hz will be as loved as Merriweather
Post Pavilion, but it does fit perfectly in line with this band’s beyond
weird M.O. If nothing else it is just
another instance where Animal Collective are several years and a few galaxies
ahead of everyone else.
Grade: B+
technically sung tongs was recorded by Avey and Panda, not the "quartet". i'd give your review of the album a D+