[bobbyonename]

I absolutely love how they play with different sound palettes for every era. It's pretty amazing. Not many bands do that. At first I felt this palette didn't strike me as very interesting but since Strung came out I can't stop listening to the three singles and just full on LOVING them all. It's both playful and dramatic. The boys are on expert mode.

Strung really just unlocked it for me. This band is crazy... They've made so much music that's moved me over the years, no matter how much I try to keep my expectations low I must admit I hold any new release to an incredibly high standard even unconsciously. As is the case with nostalgia, it's really easy to feel like their past work is their best work. The "golden era" etc. Call me crazy but what we have from this album so far... I actually like it more than MPP, SJ...

[ingenue]

I’m hearing a black gospel vibe in “Strung With Everything” too. It’s a southern spiritual, a jubilee. That line where Dave almost breaks into a scream—“You know I would not be afraid”—is straight outta the pulpit.

[conswaygo]

ingenue wrote:

I’m hearing a black gospel vibe in “Strung With Everything” too. It’s a southern spiritual, a jubilee. That line where Dave almost breaks into a scream—“You know I would not be afraid”—is straight outta the pulpit.

Definitely agree. In their recent lyrics, it seems the boys have turned their self reflection into a form of life advice

[Hellomark]

YES I'm surprised I haven't seen more people acknowledge the gospel influence going on in that part of the song. I think that's right on the money. The whole song has such a cool structure, the way it morphs from this laidback tropical pop song into this relentless and explosive spiritual thing. Structurally, it actually reminds me a lot of the last section of Defeat. Way different mood obviously, but they both have that sort of A-B-A-B-C-B-C-D-C-D type song structure, where it keeps continually reaching new peaks. Like a climactic moment halfway through the song later functions more like a verse that builds toward an even more climactic moment. When they return to the "suns no better off lately" part but play it very softly as a way of building tension, it reminds me of the last time they play the "just a frightened mother" section in Defeat, so restrained and light in between the two massive DA FEAT sections. Not mind blowlingly original or anything but it's a super cool and effective way to structure songs that have this many sections.

[Namesarehard]

“You know I would not be afraid” - this also sounds a bit like a carnival-barker?

[BORCHENKO??]

Re the whole song structure thing, they do that same thing with total finesse on Honeycomb. Part of the reason why I love that song is the whole "A B A B C B C D etc" thing that makes me feel like I'm constantly being pushed and pulled in different directions

[Hellomark]

Oh yeah good call, Honeycomb is another great example of that.

[Stories and Games]

i think avey's main calling card as a songwriter is that he'll have this big chorus chant that he doesn't get to until the home stretch of a song, and everything else has really just been buildup to that. lion in a coma, amanita, purple bottle, did you see the words, water curses, cobwebs, mercury man, moonjock, chocolate girl, bat you'll fly, la rapet, he's been doing it since forever lmao

[coral lord]

Stories and Games wrote:

i think avey's main calling card as a songwriter is that he'll have this big chorus chant that he doesn't get to until the home stretch of a song, and everything else has really just been buildup to that. lion in a coma, amanita, purple bottle, did you see the words, water curses, cobwebs, mercury man, moonjock, chocolate girl, bat you'll fly, la rapet, he's been doing it since forever lmao

It’s why he’ll never have a radio hit but also why he makes the most rewarding music to listen to.

[nothingmaster]

slippi too!

[unrecordednight]

Slippi's Applesauce wrote:

12 AM the time of each time zone.

So it would first come out in New Zealand at 12 Am Feb 4, which is like 6 AM ET Feb 3rd. Then continues unlocking in each country as they hit midnight.

thanks!

[dio]

coral lord wrote:

Stories and Games wrote:

i think avey's main calling card as a songwriter is that he'll have this big chorus chant that he doesn't get to until the home stretch of a song, and everything else has really just been buildup to that. lion in a coma, amanita, purple bottle, did you see the words, water curses, cobwebs, mercury man, moonjock, chocolate girl, bat you'll fly, la rapet, he's been doing it since forever lmao

It’s why he’ll never have a radio hit but also why he makes the most rewarding music to listen to.

I'd argue that every songy song on Spirit besides title track does this trick more pronouncendy than a lot of latter stuff so ya, def there from very beginning

[Jam]

This song structure is what makes Honeycomb so fun for me and it’s why I love Strung so much. Creates such a great flow and makes a song feel more internally cohesive

[foxtrot]

I also think its why a lot of big fans ultimately prefer Avey's songs to Panda's. And the Panda stuff that is loved the most (PP) has a few moments like this with big final sections/more complex structures (Take Pills, Bros, GG/Carrots).

[BreadBagel]

Trying to write out Strung with Everything's structure. I find it very interesting and unconventional.

A (Verse 1)
B
A
B

C (Pre Chorus 1)
D (Chorus)

B (Verse 2)

C (Pre Chorus 2)
D (Chorus)
D

E (Climax)
D (Altered Chorus)
E (Climax)
E

[drewblzz]

Joe Biden liked strung with everything

[Hellomark]

I love that word filter lol.

[jordanrandall]

He definitely says "strung TO everything" in choruses 1 and 3 right?

[r_o_s_s]

Definitely sounds like it to me

[rampface]

Anyone feel like this is their new Strawberry Jam and LP2 is gonna be MPP 2.0 AOTY 2023?

[lhtd]

broke down and listened to strung

wow

there are so many rhythms going on depending on how you listen!

there's kinda a doo-wop thing going on in one of the sections. also this plays really well if you play panda bear's "flight" afterward

i want to play this song at my wedding when we're all dancing!

[williswire]

rampface wrote:

Anyone feel like this is their new Strawberry Jam and LP2 is gonna be MPP 2.0 AOTY 2023?

OOooommgg i'd just cream

[scrambledgreggs]

williswire wrote:

rampface wrote:

Anyone feel like this is their new Strawberry Jam and LP2 is gonna be MPP 2.0 AOTY 2023?

OOooommgg i'd just cream

ya but I'm still hopeful LP2 will come out in 2022!

[TetsuoUnderFire]

BORCHENKO?? wrote:

Re the whole song structure thing, they do that same thing with total finesse on Honeycomb. Part of the reason why I love that song is the whole "A B A B C B C D etc" thing that makes me feel like I'm constantly being pushed and pulled in different directions

I got heavy Honeycomb vibes when I first heard this track, couldn't really place is. Maybe this is why. Honeycomb was probably my favorite CHz era track aside from Gotham

[jerry wonder]

They have never had an album mixed like this--it is so flat and small. Makes me wonder if they were responding to critique about the business in their music, so sad....

[mildew_on_rice]

jerry wonder wrote:

They have never had an album mixed like this--it is so flat and small. Makes me wonder if they were responding to critique about the business in their music, so sad....

Flat and small? I haven't disagreed more.

[KidEatsKeyboard]

I too disagree, sounds huge

[blindmowing]

these songs sound round and thick to me. i wouldn't say the songs sound "huge" either -- there is something understated about them -- but i think part of the Time Skiffs Theme is that this is about a slower journey through passages of time -- not drastic and dramatic swings through space, a flailing of sonic arms and spastic outbursts of noise like their early days, but more of a reserved, reflective energy with intentional moments of passion

[zarya]

https://imgur.com/a/w3qEy3m
Relix interview with Geo, if it's not yet been posted

[foxtrot]

totally agree with blindmowing. not flat or small at all. just because the arrangements have some room to breathe doesn't make it flat. I feel like there is a really fulfilling roundedness. and spot on with the 'reflective energy' comment.

[BORCHENKO??]

Prester John feels very epic and spacious to me, but not in a crazy swirling encompassing psychadelic way like MPP. More like a sunset. Simple yet massively profound if you stop and really soak it in

[Hellomark]

blindmowing wrote:

these songs sound round and thick to me. i wouldn't say the songs sound "huge" either -- there is something understated about them -- but i think part of the Time Skiffs Theme is that this is about a slower journey through passages of time -- not drastic and dramatic swings through space, a flailing of sonic arms and spastic outbursts of noise like their early days, but more of a reserved, reflective energy with intentional moments of passion

Well said, agree with all of this.

Also that article was lovely, loved reading a few reflections on the TS recording process.

[foxtrot]

zarya wrote:

https://imgur.com/a/w3qEy3m
Relix interview with Geo, if it's not yet been posted

Nice article, thanks for sharing! I thought the biography part was a nice little career summary and the TS stuff was a joy to read.

BORCHENKO?? wrote:

Prester John feels very epic and spacious to me, but not in a crazy swirling encompassing psychadelic way like MPP. More like a sunset. Simple yet massively profound if you stop and really soak it in

Yes! Great explanation of that sense of space in Prester and Walker especially.

Fuck I am so pumped for this album.

Was desperately hoping for a freebird by Thursday because I'm going away for a night alone in the bush and was super keen for a really special first listen. Looking like it won't quite arrive in time for that

Am definitely going to arrange something special for my first listen though.

[coral lord]

fun read

funny that they made a rule of no harmonies for CHz. that's certainly a choice!

[Slippi's Applesauce]

I've been wondering for almost ten years why they didn't do harmonies on CHz. Crazy to finally have an answer.

Super great read. Excited to hear the taishogoto, I wonder what song it's on. I had also been wondering if that was autoharp under the slide guitar solo when the drums come in on Strung With Everything. I hope it's used somewhere else on the record too

[TetsuoUnderFire]

blindmowing wrote:

these songs sound round and thick to me. i wouldn't say the songs sound "huge" either -- there is something understated about them -- but i think part of the Time Skiffs Theme is that this is about a slower journey through passages of time -- not drastic and dramatic swings through space, a flailing of sonic arms and spastic outbursts of noise like their early days, but more of a reserved, reflective energy with intentional moments of passion

I think like CHz it's going to be better listened to on speakers, very loudly. There's a lot of space in these recordings, sounds like natural reverb in a sense from live performances. I can't wait to get the LP and blast it on my stereo system.

[foxtrot]

Some intense thoughts. You might think I'm crazy but here goes:

I’ve hit middle age. I’m 41 now. I’m doing ‘adult’ things like raising my 3 kids and adding an extension to my house and managing the emotional load of sick/dying relatives and various other life stressors. I’m very grateful to be happily married to a woman who I love so deeply. And throughout our relationship we’ve often had the mantra to ‘choose love’. There are probably hundreds of women out there in the world that I could have happily married. But I chose her and I chose love. Love isn’t something ‘magical’ or ‘intangible’ that happens to you. You consciously choose it. It is the result of work and commitment and investment.

Another constant in my relationship with my wife has been Animal Collective. I was just getting into them at the same time I was just getting into her. So many periods of my life have been punctuated and enhanced by their music. Life changing moments sound tracked and mirrored by the band’s music. And what I’ve realised is that, in a lot of ways, I have CHOSEN to love them. Just like romance, the initial attraction was wild and glorious but ultimately it is the long-term commitment and investment that has made them something truly special. Something I treasure deeply. It has helped me dig deep and FIND so much to love.

This might sound a bit mad, but I know already that Time Skiffs will be an all time favourite for me. Not because I’m hyperbolic or undiscerning. Not because I’m blind to the band’s faults or a tragic fan boy that believes they can do no wrong.

Time Skiffs is already an all-time classic for me because I choose love. I’ve already connected it deeply to things happening in my life. It’s already inextricably linked it to this period of my personal life. I have let it in. I’ve invested time and energy and emotion into it. And I’m ready to reap its rewards and accept it in whatever final shape it takes. The three singles have worked liked the honeymoon period after a wedding, flaunting the pure joy that this album and band can bring me.

Ultimately though, I have effectively said ‘I do’. I have fully committed to AC long ago and certainly to Time Skiffs most recently. I have consciously chosen to love it. And I think that active and deliberate choice is going to be really valuable to me. Just like my commitment to my marriage and my children. They’re not perfect or faultless but I fucking love them with all my heart. I throw so much of myself into that. For better or for worse. But almost completely for better.

Some might find this perspective ridiculous. I don’t mind. You don’t have to respect it. It also doesn’t mean I won’t find fault in the album. Perfection is an abstract concept blah blah. But I am 100% committed to loving it.

[Hellomark]

Foxtrot you're a wise fellow, I'm a bit younger than you and find myself in different life circumstances, but much of what you just said felt resonant and clarifying to me. Thanks for sharing your perspective.

[conswaygo]

That was extremely well said and beautiful.


That immediately followed below by "WE NEED ASS EQUALITY" had me laughing

[roopn]

Beautiful post foxtrot, cheers