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* ''[[NME]]'' (8/10) [http://www.nme.com/reviews/animal-collective/10043 link]
* ''[[NME]]'' (8/10) [http://www.nme.com/reviews/animal-collective/10043 link]
* [[Pitchfork Media]] (9.6/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/148230-animal-collective-merriweather-post-pavilion link]
* [[Pitchfork Media]] (9.6/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/148230-animal-collective-merriweather-post-pavilion link]
*''[[Noripcord]]'' {{rating 10/10}} [http://www.noripcord.com/reviews/music/animal-collective/merriweather-post-pavilion]
* ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' {{rating-5|3.5}} [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/25299332/review/25328702/merriweather_post_pavillion link]
* ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' {{rating-5|3.5}} [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/25299332/review/25328702/merriweather_post_pavillion link]
* ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' {{rating-5|4}} [http://www.spin.com/reviews/animal-collective-merriweather-post-pavilion-domino link]
* ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' {{rating-5|4}} [http://www.spin.com/reviews/animal-collective-merriweather-post-pavilion-domino link]

Revision as of 09:06, 5 February 2009

Untitled

Merriweather Post Pavilion is the critically acclaimed eighth studio album by Animal Collective, released on January 6, 2009.[3] The album is named after the Columbia, Maryland venue of the same name. In an interview preceding the release of the album, Panda Bear stated that Merriweather Post Pavilion is the band's best-recorded album.[4] At nearly 55 minutes in length, the album is their longest since their debut, Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished.

The download coupon card included with the vinyl release explains the album's name:

Merriweather Post Pavilion is an outdoor music venue in a place called Symphony Woods in Columbia, Maryland. It was designed by Frank Gehry in the 1960's, and they've been having concerts there from 1967 up through today. We used to go to shows there while growing up and have fond memories of times spent on the lawn. For most of the time we've been playing together, both in Animal Collective and the years before, we've tried to make music that would be deserving of an amazing outdoor listening experience. As both a name and a place, Merriweather Post Pavilion represents this for us.

The optical illusion cover art is based on the works of Japanese psychologist Akiyoshi Kitaoka.

Recording history

After recording Strawberry Jam in January 2007, Deakin (Josh Dibb, guitarist) decided he would take time off from the group for undisclosed personal reasons. As a result, the group decided that they would write a new batch of songs to be played without guitar. Drawing inspiration from Panda Bear's Person Pitch, they decided to use samplers as their primary instrument. They debuted nine of these songs, most of which later appeared on the album, in May 2007 and toured with them through 2008. The album was recorded in February 2008 with Ben Allen at Sweet Tea Studios in Oxford, Mississippi.

Release history

Merriweather Post Pavilion was announced in a cryptic update to Animal Collective's official website on October 5, 2008, an update which initially caused a great deal of confusion about the nature of the news.[5] The site was updated again on October 8 with a link to a second page showing a video of the track listing,[6] which was followed by an official announcement regarding the nature of the news on October 10.[7][3] Prior to the album's official release, a number of promotional listening parties were held in various cities across the United States and United Kingdom.[8]

On November 18, the track "Brother Sport" was leaked onto the internet by way of its inclusion in a French music podcast. The track was subsequently posted on many blogs, including Pitchfork, but was later removed virtually everywhere.[9] On November 24, it was incorrectly reported that the band Grizzly Bear had leaked the track through their blog.[10] Ed Droste of Grizzly Bear later cleared up the story, stating that they had only reposted the track as many other blogs had done.[10]

The album was released on vinyl in the United States on January 6, 2009.[11] It was released on both vinyl and CD in the UK on January 12th, and on CD & digital in the United States on January 20th.[12] The album was one charted in the United States on the Billboard 200, peaking at 13 on the chart.[13]

Reception

Initial critical reception for the album was very positive. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 91, based on 33 reviews.[14] Despite it's release in January, initial critical proclaimed it one of the best albums of 2009. Slant Magazine and Uncut gave the album five out of five stars, their highest ratings.[15][16] Stephen Troussé of Uncut wrote that the album "feels like one of the landmark American albums of the century so far."[15] Andrzej Lukowski of Drowned in Sound wrote "Is Merriweather Post Pavilion the flawless album that it's been willed to be? Taken as a whole I'd say it's pretty damn close."[17] Amongst negative reviews, Michael Patrick Brady of the The Boston Phoenix gave the album two and a half stars out of five, arguing that the album "lacks the playfulness and spontaneity that endeared so many to this group".[18]

Critical reception focused on the album's accessibility and the best summation of Animal Collective's previous work. Pitchfork Media gave the album a 9.6 out of 10 rating, stating the album is "striking in its immediacy and comes across as friendly and welcoming".[19] The Onion echoed this statement stating the album is a "summation and an expansion of everything Animal Collective has done so far, with a sharper focus on melody and more emboldened vocals that drive the songs."[20] Dave Simpson of The Guardian gave the album four out of five stars, declaring the album sound as "their most "pop."" and the album itself as "a joyful, transcendent record somehow reminiscent of kids let loose in a musical sandpit."[21] Entertainment Weekly awarded the album an A- stating that although it "won't land the band the opening slot on a Coldplay tour", the album "cleaves closer to "Pitch's" more listener-friendly aesthetic".[22]

Track listing

  1. "In the Flowers" – 5:24
  2. "My Girls" – 5:41
  3. "Also Frightened" – 5:14
  4. "Summertime Clothes" – 4:30
  5. "Daily Routine" – 5:46
  6. "Bluish" – 5:14
  7. "Guys Eyes" – 4:31
  8. "Taste" – 3:53
  9. "Lion in a Coma" – 4:12
  10. "No More Runnin" – 4:23
  11. "Brother Sport" – 5:59

Personnel

References

  1. ^ Cummings, Raymond (January 15, 2009). "Merriweather Post Pavilion Behind-The-Scenes With Ben H. Allen". Baltimore City Paper. Retrieved February 1, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ Mackay, Emily. "Merriweather Post Pavilion > Overview". NME. Retrieved January 9, 2009.
  3. ^ a b Thompson, Paul (October 9, 2008). "It's Official: New Animal Collective LP Coming at Us". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  4. ^ Dickman, Orna (October 16, 2008). "A different breed of folk arrives". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved February 1, 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Solarski, Matthew (October 6, 2008). "New Animal Collective Album in January?". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  6. ^ Thompson, Paul (October 9, 2008). "Animal Collective Reveal Merriweather Tracklist". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  7. ^ "Animal Collective Announce New Album!". Domino USA. October 9, 2008. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  8. ^ "Invitation to Merriweather Post Pavilion release party". myanimalhome.net.
  9. ^ Richardson, Mark (November 18, 2008). "New Music: Animal Collective: "Brothersport" (MP3)". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  10. ^ a b Thompson, Paul (November 24, 2008). "Grizzly Bear Apologize to Animal Collective for Leak". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved February 1, 2009. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "Domino USA - Albums". Domino USA. Retrieved February 1, 2009.
  12. ^ Bush, John. "Merriweather Post Pavilion". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  13. ^ "Merriweather Post Pavilion". Allmusic. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  14. ^ "Animal Collective:Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009): Reviews". Metacritic. CNET Networks, Inc. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  15. ^ a b Troussé, Stephen. "Album review Animal Collective:Merriweather Post Pavilion". Uncut. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  16. ^ Keefe, Jonathan. "Slant Magazine review: Animal Collective:Merriweather Post Pavilion". Slant magazine. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  17. ^ Lukowski, Andrzej. "Review: Animal Collective / Merriweather Post Pavilion". Drowned in Sound. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  18. ^ Brady, Michael Patrick. "The Phoenix > CD Reviews". The Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  19. ^ Richardson, Mark. "Merriweather Post Pavilion: Pitchfork". Pitchfork Media. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  20. ^ Battaglia, Andy. "Animal Collective: Music: A.V. Club". The Onion. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  21. ^ Simpson, Dave. "Animal Collective: Merriweather Post Pavilion". The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-03-04.
  22. ^ Greenblatt, Leah. "Merriweather Post Pavilion: Music Review: Entertainment Weekly". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2009-03-04.

External links

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