[zack]

Oh dude I cherish their more emotional songs. Definitely agree that stuff like Banshee Beat, Laughinh Hyroglyphic, Penny Dreadfuls, Cuckoo Cuckoo are incredible songs and are some of my favorite AC/Avey songs and I've said before I would love them to make more intensely emotional music again but at the same time I love the fuck out of stuff like Floridada and Gnip Gnop because they can make me smile when little else could.

[Texas Trill]

Right there with you buddy. There are few bands that I've found who succeed at writing sincere songs about the full range emotions, self improvement and working together. AC is the best at it

[bentoboxd]

zack wrote:

bentoboxd how long have you been listening to AC? Genuinely curious. You're entitled to your opinion of course, its just the way you phrase it is so pretentious and douchey (sooooooooo shit). I'm not the biggest fan of PW, it's like bottom three of their discography (so is CHz) for me but I still really enjoy it. I have zero problem with people having different tastes and opinions obviously it has just become really annoying all the entitled, hostile, asshole attitude some people have towards the band these days. Saying you've thought about "shelving" them is a sentiment I've heard from several people and it's just ridiculous to me to see some people who once loved their body of work suddenly act like none of their legendary material matters anymore. It seems like bandwagon shit. Having that strong of a negative reaction to Floridada really gets to me for a couple reasons. That song is pure positivity and jubilant madness and that is nothing to fucking scoff at you joyless husk. Like a lot of people I listened to it countless times and it's still euphoric to this day, which is saying something coming from someone who's often deeply depressed. It may be silly but that's part of its appeal and it's annoying to me to write it off as camp. My best friend actually feels the same about the song though so that's why I feel strongly about defending it.

I really love the ep. Kinda Bonkers is really fun and gives me a lot of the same genuine hope as Floridada. Peacemaker is chill, least favorite but I like it and as someone else said it's definitely sexy. Goalkeeper is truly awesome, tied with Floridada and On Delay for best of the era for me. It's just beautiful and manic at the same time while being somehow more of a controlled chaos than most of the cycle. The chorus is top tier AC. Jimmy Mack is so energetic and infectious, really really happy they recorded it.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA I really don't have to address you seriously considering you've immediately taken a hostile attitude towards me for having a difference of opinion. I've been listening to AC since the Feels, not as if that is relevant at all. If i don't like an album, EP, or a song, I don't like it. Period. How long i've been listening to a band does't effect whether or not I find something enjoyable.

Yes, people go through periods where bands they've enjoyed for years get shelved because the quality of the music simply isn't where it should or used to be. I feel the same way about Deerhunter for example. I'm not saying none of their old material matters, it obviously does, but I'm not going to let it cloud my judgment of new material. If it sucks, it sucks.

wrote:

That song is pure positivity and jubilant madness and that is nothing to fucking scoff at you joyless husk

I legit almost died of laughter after reading that. Yeah, man some people aren't into campy cheesy songs with an annoying chorus. I guess, get over it? Kinda ironic to say you have zero problem with differences of opinion and have this in the same paragraph. Anyway, I'm not hot on PW or this EP and I'm definitely not alone in that opinion. If you have an issue with the way I delivered that opinion, thats not exactly my problem man.

[Texas Trill]

No issue from me with your opinion. But I do think if you gave those "cheesy" songs more of a shot, you may see that it might change your negative outlook. Or maybe your outlook needs to change before you can give them a shot

[bentoboxd]

Texas Trill wrote:

I'm with you Zack. I love positive Animal Collective. It really helps me focus on bettering myself and gives me a boost of energy. That's why I've really latched onto this era

But I see where bentoboxd is coming from too. To me, it seems like he connects more with the sadder/darker AC songs. And I agree the lyrics on Down There and songs like Banshee Beat are superb. If that's all you want to listen to then I imagine the happier, upbeat stuff is going to sound too earnest or maybe even insincere. But I like that the band, especially Dave, is able to explore such a wide spectrum of emotions and attitudes. All the sad songs about loss make all the happy songs about growth all the more impactful. A yin and yang situation

To be honest I'd say this os almost spot on in regards to seeming insincere. SO much of AC's work (and solo) is darker/sadder/cerebral. So when I here songs like Floridada, I'm literally going WTF is this. It doesn't come off as sincere happiness. It feels extremely forced.

[bentoboxd]

Texas Trill wrote:

No issue from me with your opinion. But I do think if you gave those "cheesy" songs more of a shot, you may see that it might change your negative outlook

Common response is " you've gotta give them a shot." Assuming that wasn't the case. I have, I simply don't like this Era's work. I wasn't hot on CHZ, but thats mainly do to mixing choices tbh.

[moop]

Idk, Floridada has definitely made me tear up a couple times. I think lyrically a lot of PW has pretty heavy almost nihilistic themes but the tempo and sounds are just super bouncy and playful.

[zack]

Like I said the hostility was mainly built up from my friend hating on Floridada which I think is a sincere song that gave me happiness when I was in a really dark place so I'm sorry for being a bit hypocritical and taking it out on you. I tried to make it clear I don't have a problem with different opinions, I even said I'm in the same camp in thinking their last two albums are some of my least favorite but I still like them. I'm not saying you're wrong to dislike them. The question of how long you've been a fan wasn't for elitist cooler than thou stuff I'm sorry if it came off that way. I was asking for genuine reasons like how PW would compare to what would to you be their "classic" stuff and how that colors your experience and opinion of their newer stuff which I think it does most of us, or maybe I should just speak for myself. The thing I was really trying to get across and the reason I got so defensive, and this is tied to my friend and a few people I've known who used to be fans among a lot of those people online, is what seems to me (and I could be totally incorrect) like an almost malicious level of judgement and dismisiveness towards them.

[Texas Trill]

I think you may be taking bentoboxd's opinions too personally. Not that it's wrong to want to defend something that you genuinely love, but I don't think it's helpful to focus on someone else's criticisms if there isn't a constructive way to use them. It does kinda bum me out reading negative reactions to AC on their fan forum, especially to songs about unity and working as a team, but know there are people who share your opinion, even if they're not vocal about it

[bentoboxd]

zack wrote:

Like I said the hostility was mainly built up from my friend hating on Floridada which I think is a sincere song that gave me happiness when I was in a really dark place so I'm sorry for being a bit hypocritical and taking it out on you. I tried to make it clear I don't have a problem with different opinions, I even said I'm in the same camp in thinking their last two albums are some of my least favorite but I still like them. I'm not saying you're wrong to dislike them. The question of how long you've been a fan wasn't for elitist cooler than thou stuff I'm sorry if it came off that way. I was asking for genuine reasons like how PW would compare to what would to you be their "classic" stuff and how that colors your experience and opinion of their newer stuff which I think it does most of us, or maybe I should just speak for myself. The thing I was really trying to get across and the reason I got so defensive, and this is tied to my friend and a few people I've known who used to be fans among a lot of those people online, is what seems to me (and I could be totally incorrect) like an almost malicious level of judgement and dismisiveness towards them.

PW would definitely be their worst if I was to put a number on it in comparison to their older stuff. Easily the most forgettable album of theirs I've listened to.
And I think the reaction you're getting from people IRL and online is justified. People in general are very fickle so it doesn't take much for people to dismiss a band once they stop making music that speaks to them.

[zack]

Fair enough, different strokes. Sorry for partially derailing the thread. I reiterate that Goalkeeper is truly awesome.

[speen]

This thread went sour lol

Anyway, Floridada is a fine song, I think it's fun. Peacemaker has really grown on me, and is one of my favorite songs from this era now. Everything Victor said on the last page I agree with, it has a really unique vibe that lets it stand out from the other (very samey, imo) panda songs from this era.

I'm just so looking forward to panda returning to songwriting that doesn't involve hocketing

[Vovenarg]

So is this the first era where Panda wrote more songs than Avey....? seems significant

Avey: 8 originals + 1 cover
Panda: 9 originals

[CokePotCrack]

I thought the ep was pretty decent. My fave songs were the opener and closer, they felt like fresher, newer territory while the middle two kind of just sounded like PW tracks. Love that Jimmy Mack!

[zack]

First time it's been even close. People think of the MPP era being really Panda centric but in reality it's 1/3 panda songs. Dang with Grim Reaper that makes 27 Panda songs in the last couple years without counting the Preakness, Swallow at the Hollow, Davy Jones, etc.

[CokePotCrack]

Also as far as the new/happy vs old/darker AC material, I like the older shit a bit more, though the new stuff is growing on me.

[jetski]

Vovenarg wrote:

So is this the first era where Panda wrote more songs than Avey....? seems significant

Avey: 8 originals + 1 cover
Panda: 9 originals

This is assuming Panda wrote Goalkeeper right?

I feel like it's actually an Avey song and Panda's vocals are just sometimes more prominent, kinda like how Panda almost sounds like the lead vocal on Bagels even tho Avey wrote it. Or maybe it was co-written by both of them

The main reason why I'm guessing Avey wrote it is because there's no hocketing lol. The melodies also just sound more Avey-like to me. But either way their writing was almost exactly 50/50 for this era which is cool

[Texas Trill]

Geo said Noah wrote a song called "Goalie" last year in an interview, so I'm assuming its the same song, just with a different title

[jetski]

Ahh gotcha, I knew he mentioned the song title in an interview but I didn't know he mentioned who wrote it (never actually listened to the interview)

[Panda Tatari]

I took it to be a panda song due to his obvious love of footie, but it could of had some input avey during recording.

Golden gal is a panda song right?

[bentoboxd]

Goalkeeper def sounds like a Avey song.

[jetski]

Panda Tatari wrote:

Golden gal is a panda song right?

Avey wrote it, sounds to me like they're both signing in unison on it tho

[zack]

Agreed that pretty sure as far as writing:
Bagels is Avey
Golden Gal is Avey
Goalkeeper is Panda

[Vovenarg]

Yeah it is weird that Goalkeeper sounds so similar to Bagels melodically. But thematically and lyrics wise it definitely screams Noah. Maybe Noah was just being influenced by Avey on some of the melody haha. It definitely does a good job of mixing both of their styles and allowing them both to leave their mark on it.

[dervish]

i can understand the feelings around Floridada. Personally, I am not a fan of that song, but I absolutely love Kinda Bonkers.

If the hocketing was not used on every single song from this era, it would probably be loved by more people. i love it. but it gets very tiresome and one-trick. PW just needed a few songs without it and maybe a slower song or an instrumental and it would have been another amazing album imo.

[false9]

Goalkeeper is about hockey smh

[AudibleKayak]

Panda must really be into hockeyting

[Texas Trill]

false9 wrote:

Goalkeeper is about hockey smh

Pretty sure it's referencing soccer/football since Panda sings about a ball at one point, not a puck

[speen]

Goalkeeper is about ultimate frisbee smh

[destiny]

"you cant blame the goalie hes down on his knees" goalies in hockey traditionally are on there knees and crouch down to block 5 holes

[whereartesteban]

I hope we get lyrics to Peacemaker. I find myself at work trying to sing along and taking Avey's part so I can just copy the sound of the words hahahhaha. I could listen to this song for the rest of my life though.

As far as which sport Goalkeeper is referring to I think it's just referencing goalies in general. Seems to be about the feelings of a goalie, I don't think it needs to be sport-specific. I wash dishes and found myself really relating to this song when it gets really busy. I also hear my name in the last part though I highly doubt he's actually saying "Stephen dives as he blocks as he kicks..."

As far as Floridada goes in relation to their earlier more expansive, weighty, emotional material I'll say this: I think the sort of forced joyous vibe is great for doing everyday stuff. I experience depressive moments throughout the day and sometimes it's hard to pull myself up and do stuff, so I like that my favorite band is currently bouncing with energy musically and singing their asses off. Because nothing makes me happier than singing. However I understand how this song could be taken in as extremely annoying.

edit: lol i haven't heard the word "5-hole" in years. holy shit

[Panda Tatari]

Floridada is about flo rida smh

[Lacrimosa]

loving this EP more and more
Kinda Bonkers is the best post-ODDSAC song they've written

[Andrew_VB]

Tropic of Cans wrote:

Fiiiinally someone brings up the P4k score
(and gets it wrong)

of course it was the guy who was "ready to shelve this band"

[thespectrum]

I've been ready to shelve this band since i first heard them.

Put them on my favourite bands shelf that is, haha gotem

[Panda Tatari]

^

[speen]

Goalkeeper is about shelving, smh

[kafkaesque]

legendary comment, spectrum

[real slippi]

so I'm still a little unclear on the "extra" song from this era.

the guys mentioned early on in the painting with interviews that noah and dave each wrote 8 songs for this era. 6 of each were on painting with, then there were gnip gnop and hounds, and then we are left with kinda bonkers, goal keeper, and peackemaker. what is the extra song?

at first I thought that it was bonkers since it sounded slower and slightly removed from the rest of the stuff of the era, meaning dave would have contributed 9 songs. but then some posters have been saying that noah wrote goalkeeper since geologist supposedly mentioned he wrote "goalie" in an interview. to me, that one sounds possible to have been a joint effort, so possibly something that they came up with in the studio when doing jimmy mack. then a possible theory on peacemaker is that the chords are quite a bit different than the rest of noah's songs from this era, so it could have possibly have been written after the fact.

so what was it? was something written in the studio when doing jimmy? was the interview statement about each songwriter in the band contributing 8 songs this era wrong? something else?

[roopn]

I think 8 tracks is right, plus 2 extras presumably written when recording the last 2. Peacemaker is pb's extra, jimmy mack I guess is avey's extra, thought obvs wasn't written in the studio