Collected Animals • "Isn't It Now?" - aka will Defeat be on the album???

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Post **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2023 10:32 pm

my general opinion is that this has higher highs (defeat, magicians, stride) than skiffs but lower lows (genie's, gem, maybe ACAB). but it's also the more interesting record that gets me more excited about their future output.

Post **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2023 10:35 pm

Fovrodi wrote:

Don't want to will anything to happen, but if it does freebird I hope it's a quality rip and all of the album. In good faith I will pre-order the vinyl if it does and I don't even have a record player

Welp

Post **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2023 11:29 pm

Weird that a few of you are seeing Genies as a weak spot. I was just listening to it this morning thinking about how wonderfully different the studio version is. Live it felt very wet and tropical but they totally transformed the feel of it for the album. I really dig the way it feels now. The first half is like a medieval fever dream. Like someone in those times slowly feeling more and more sick and disoriented. Starting to experience hot sweats and hallucinations from some bad food or something. It’s all dry and woodsy but still kinda psychedelic and court jestery. Hard to explain. Feels much more renaissance Skiifs era than it did before. Is that a fucking accordion at the start?! Violin, acoustic guitar, those snappy drums. Panda’s voice very dry and unadorned. Then the last part, because it is much drier, feels less like gliding above a coral reef and more like just awakening from the fever and sweats and experiencing clarity again. Like leaving the filthy bed and stuffy Tudor house and walking out into the green fields. Feeling clean and fresh again.

Post **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2023 11:48 pm

never been a fan of deakins voice so stride is the only dud for me, pretty difficult to get through without skipping. the rest is a sounding very good. will be fun to blast a few of these in the car. happy this is finally out there for us to enjoy

Post **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2023 11:50 pm

Is Avey saying "hooooold HAAAAAAAAANDS!" during that part in the middle of Kings?

Post **Posted:** Sun Sep 03, 2023 11:52 pm

Got a lot of stupid shit going on in my life rn so been avoiding anything non-vital (sorry fellow obsessive board members) but this could be a nice way to not think for a little while so I ask... Please. Please someone punch me in the ovaries right this instant.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 12:00 am

My initial thoughts:

It sounds like a temporal shelter of tempered electro-wooden funk. Equal parts Scooby-Do shag carpet and Mideval mania.

Kings Walk is the hidden gem in my mind. I'm a big fan of the 'bum bum' in Gem & I, given that it differentiates itself from Broke Zodiac and creates a new world for the song to exist within through the panning of Dave's voice. Undersold on Genie's, which was my most anticipated. The Hove version of In the Flowers is a fair comparison; I really wish there were more vocal effects, yelps in the middle passage, and generally louder instruments.

I like that the hi-hats aren't as accented as they were on Time Skiffs.

But, overall, this is a sublime work that will take me repeated listens to understand its character and grok its sonic world. Feels mature. I think it's an outside record, an autumnal record (beginning to end), and works best on loud speakers and headphones with a big soundstage.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 12:16 am

Just wanna say that I love the lyrics to Broke Zodiac so much, feels like a song about following your instincts to help other people, finding guidance in life through the impulse to do good and consider the whole rather than just your own needs. Perfect little song.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 12:49 am

i didnt listen much to boots and i dug this for the most part on first listen. i really liked genie's, the first part reminded me of early pink floyd like matilda mother or see-saw. also loved stride rite (but i always love deakin songs) and broke zodiac. was already obsessed with soul capturer. looking forward to letting this sink in.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 1:24 am

to my ears this feels only slightly less safe than skiffs. definitely love it and don't mean to sound negative but I think its been a decade of slowly coming to terms with ac not being a band I look to for the most forward thinking music and this record definitely solidifies it.

still love them dearly

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 1:52 am

Initial thoughts:

My hype was wearing out recently, this kinda came out of nowhere in the least expected moment so it was not as surprising as I thought it would be, still I feel like I'll love it to bits given enough time. Genies Open is really good, but kind of muted in a way like it's not clear enough so I understand why everyone feels so meh about it. Broke is beautiful and quirky, one of the tracks I was waiting for the most including Gem and I, both songs came out sounding great. Kings is a good way to close the album, interesting enough to not feel intrusive.

Now, the rest of the tracks were a complete mystery to me. I had absolutely no idea Magicians second half was soooooo good, exactly the kind of psychedelia I fuck with. Same with Stride Rite, on par with Royal and Desire if not better, Deakin knows how to write sad music. ACAB throws you off completely, soooo good and fun and funky, even if it's a bit repetitive.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 1:56 am

apellira wrote:

to my ears this feels only slightly less safe than skiffs. definitely love it and don't mean to sound negative but I think its been a decade of slowly coming to terms with ac not being a band I look to for the most forward thinking music and this record definitely solidifies it.

still love them dearly

I disagree. It’s the first part medieval fantasy psychedelic prog, part autumnal woody bizarro funk album I’ve ever heard! There is still no one who does it like these boys. Yet another miraculous and idiosyncratic creation from one of the most adventurous bands of all time. I absolutely love it.

Thematically, I think this album is teaching me to accept the present. To live in it and be more aware of the fact that it is literally all that exists. All we have is ‘Now’.

A few thoughts on a few songs:
Broke Zodiac is such a sweet, cloudy little ball of psych pop. The chorus is particularly satisfying. Panda and Avey doing their perfect harmony thing. Lyrics about empathy and considering other people’s needs above your own. This would feel like a breather track if it wasn’t so absolutely perfect. Could not have turned out any better.

Defeat wouldn’t have worked as a closer. Too much of protracted, heavy finish. Kings does a slightly lighter version of this while Defeat itself can totally consume us as the epic centrepiece. Then we get some levity afterwards to help keep the album balanced.

Gem & I - The more I listen the more I am enjoying the sequencing. Much like Broke Zodiac, this just a perfect punchy little Panda Bear song that helps frame the album’s emotional behemoths with some variety and freshness. Noah is talking about realising that the time you’re in right now is actually the time of your life. Another reminder to accept and embrace the present moment.

Stride Right might be Deakin’s best contribution to an AC record yet. The piano is plaintive and elegant. His voice is bare and vulnerable. Having him harmonising with himself adds to the very personal nature of the song (all Deakin’s work really). The choruses really burst open. These gorgeous moments of warm sunlight embracing us through life’s challenges. Moving on with life. Love the way the song builds and fades and rolls through these constant waves. Another one that turned out brilliantly.

All The Clubs Are Broken is a bizarre little piece of ear candy. Like a medieval disco tune. It’s cute and disorienting and heaps of fun. It works as a kind of penultimate interlude type thing for me. Similar to ‘Someday I’ll Be…’ as others have said. A psychedelic round that loops a bunch of times over its 2 short minutes. A little parting gift before the final stretch.

King’s Walk is like College all grown up. Avey, Panda and Deakin all chanting in harmony over the barest backing. I’m glad they kept it minimal. It’s a modest and sober finish but it’s packed with delicious AC vocals. I see the brief lyrics as a statement on climate change and the modern world but also a personal statement of resilience. Yes, life is hard work - harder than any of us anticipated as kids. But this is ‘Kings Walk’. This is Avey accepting the challenge and standing tall.

I still can’t get over the fact that I’m listening to this. Just putting it on whenever I want. Amazing.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:05 am

Actually no, Genie's isn't understated, it's perfect. I think it does benefit from stereo more compared to headphones. So far.

I almost wish it just was the opener, but I think that's some Soul Capturer fatigue a lil... everything eventually settles. I'm actually really glad this freebirded before we got a third advanced single.

This is how they played Genies last year... the high pitched SpongeBob jellyfish synths are way more subtle than how I think it was in like. What, 2021 I guess

Track 2-6 are like all 10/10 weird. And most of yal like Stride more than me, so it'd be more potentially. And last 3 are perfect for me too. So um ya Soul Capture is just like "good" and Stride is "good", rest is "great", cool. That's way better than Skiffs which to me only has like 4.5-6 "great" tracks and none as long as 3 of the great ones here, its simple math people, music IS math

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:17 am

This is their definite oktoberfest record. With all the fallen leaves and all the festivities in the dark underground mystical magic carnival. Twist it off and pass it round. I couldn’t be happier. Let’s get ready for the winter

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:17 am

Can I plz get a crunch someone? So excited

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:24 am

I got you, laddie.

I like this. Defeat is wonderfully coming back around to me lol. What a privileged position to be in that I almost had studio Defeat fatigue lol. I love the instrumental break in 2nd part so much. And the wordless vocal break in 1st part! Anywayyyyyyy. Best record. <3 u guys. TY band

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:25 am

Is the only time all 3 lads are singing at once is middle of Defeat and Kings? I mean I guess it'd be really hard to tell. Idk...

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:29 am

i do wonder if "isn't it now?" can be read in an almost phildickian sort of way, like how in valis the protagonist believed that we were all living in 60 a.d. in the roman empire. prisoners of the past, etc.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:33 am

Predictions of date of release of full/other half of Music Box soundboard? November? Halloween?

For the glutton.... throw in Tri-kid, PB Hearts, Cecil and The Path + The Challenge for 2.5 hours of Skiffs bacchanalia excess. Y'all I didn't realize it at the time, but this sound is how the go Music Box shows were at the time. I mean do y'all have that poster from that show? https://twitter.com/anmlcollective/stat ... 0154141696

with the kissing dissolving pink freaks and the ram-head shaman? Framed above your record player stereo. I do that thing where I bring up that I went to both Music Box Shows that weekend a lot.

But like. There were court jesters and errant knights and magistrates in attendance honestly. I had forgotten that. Panda was there in spirit via a metallic orb. A dwarf in a flask. Y'all I sweat people were talking af over the first night. I was filled with rage. The second night was better (???) and not just cuz I found an amazing seat. And the video they released was only night 2. This record is night 2.

Did I know they were saying "defeat" first time" I knew they were saying "isn't it now?!?!?!?" I didn't think it was the feet. I do miss The Path a lil. Hmmmmm. goodnight

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:34 am

soothsailor wrote:

i do wonder if "isn't it now?" can be read in an almost phildickian sort of way, like how in valis the protagonist believed that we were all living in 60 a.d. in the roman empire. prisoners of the past, etc.

sick. and yes. I'm a grade school Latin teacher so I understand this on a very deep level.

This record is for the heads and the freaks and the medieval scholars and medievalists alike. The ergot partakers and the stoic abstainers alike, the monks and the harlots alike.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:34 am

I seriously think Magicians from Baltimore is one of the best songs I've ever heard. It doesn't feel like hyberbole to say it's up there with Banshee Beat, Winters Love, In the Flowers, Fireworks.

The last half in particular-- there are few songs that make me feel the way this song does. I don't even really know how to articulate it. No other band can do this, for me. It's pure magic.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:36 am

I really really really like the progression of Magicians and all the places it goes and develops.

I really do want to re-hear the Music Box version of Magicians in HQ even tho I know there is a fan boot/video, cuz all I remember well is the Magnolias part (that's probably what we called it for a second back then? idk) and I don't remember the ending being as epic at all, but could be wrong, and it was all there all along.

I think it's my favorite. I gotta head bang at the end, it's so wild.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:39 am

For track rankings RN I'm thinking

1 Defeat
2 Magicians
3 Broke
4 Stride
5 Gem
6 ACAB
7 Genie's
8 Kings
9 Soul

Maybe? Idk this is very premature, only thing I'm sure of is that Defeat is the greatest achievement here, that song alone makes this the best album since MPP.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:42 am

Super similar list for me, except Stride probably lower. Idk, it is growing. And Defeat seems more un-rated/post-rated than "#1"

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:49 am

Went ahead and made a big playlist of this and skiffs. It feels cathartic to have these songs intermingled again and takes me back to those crisp autumn 2019 days before the dark times. What a ride it’s been to these two records

Feels greedy but I do hope they hit us with some live tapes from the vault as well and the original mbv to bring it all full circle

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:57 am

dio wrote:

soothsailor wrote:
i do wonder if "isn't it now?" can be read in an almost phildickian sort of way, like how in valis the protagonist believed that we were all living in 60 a.d. in the roman empire. prisoners of the past, etc.

sick. and yes. I'm a grade school Latin teacher so I understand this on a very deep level.

This record is for the heads and the freaks and the medieval scholars and medievalists alike. The ergot partakers and the stoic abstainers alike, the monks and the harlots alike.

love this. fuck, what a satisfying album.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 2:58 am

Genie's has grown on me massively...i used to want a more explosive or dynamic element to the song, but i now understand that they went for this sea-sick psychedelic ocean carnival on codeine which dissolves into a very traditional mantra "sea of light" meant to feel like an early 1900s folk song sung in rounds by monks in England...

yes, Genie's is going to be the grower of the album -- not only for me, but for all you folks -- just a hunch

the way Avey accentuates the staccato "sea of Lighttt." in the 3rd section was done masterfully, in fact all over this record i can tell Avey really focused on HOW to sing these words...

edit : oh shit, dio also mentioned monks on this page ? we vibin'

edit 2 -- someone had the idea to make a Mega Mix thread to combine Skiffs and INN songs together. please someone do this, as i want my next listen of IIN to be conjoined with the songs on Skiffs... would love to see everyone's ideas how to make this mix

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 3:02 am

Genies is growing like psychic wildfire in my mind. It's so good. It and Magicians are biggest head banger. Live last year, Genies, felt like this slow roller coaster ride to the top of some peak. It's incredible. I want to slow bang my head thru the climb. I can't fuggin believe it. Magic Mountain Disney World Narnia Dawn Treader

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 3:02 am

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 3:03 am

dio wrote:

Genies is growing like psychic wildfire in my mind. It's so good. It and Magicians are biggest head banger. Live last year, Genies, felt like this slow roller coaster ride to the top of some peak. It's incredible. I want to slow bang my head thru the climb. I can't fuggin believe it. Magic Mountain Disney World Narnia Dawn Treader

Genie's is Smurf Musik

hash in the pipe, weed-dreamer zonked and chillin' to this on repeat for 2 hrs

all y'all better have pre-ordered the album, if not get on that

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 3:16 am

it's fantastic that there's gonna be handwritten lyrics on the sleeve for this thing. cozying up to the record player with my tangerine edition and getting lost in the art and words and music is gonna be great. ac 4 best band in the world again

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 3:28 am

infiniteblastsoflight wrote:

hey yall like many of yall i am currently losing my mind over the album! anyway, when i was listening to Soul Capturer, i noticed that the intro sounded somewhat familiar, and then it hit me:::: some of the talking comes from this 2019 tour promo video on AnCo's instagram! specifically the part where Avey babbles haha
https://www.instagram.com/p/B3H3ksPlbsC ... BiNWFlZA==
because of this i have begun to think about how that clip also shows what i can only assume is the Leiper's Fork, Tennessee rehearsal space. which also begs the question::: is this intro made up of recordings from their time workshopping this album in 2019? if so that is the coolest homage to the beginning of this era! either way i do think it's really cool that they did a little callback to this promo video

Great catch and definitely a sweet tie-in if so. Thx for sharing that. Am I a dunce for waiting until release day?

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:03 am

Chrunchitize me plz!

Edit: Received, thank you!

Edit: Link didn't work, still need punch :/

Edit: finally got it

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:12 am

I can barely even deal with Kings. It's insane
Intense as fuck
And yet teasing at ambience nearly. Choral ambience. Insane

Genies and Magicians are my older brothers like I knew they would be. They are teaching me so much~

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:13 am

i'd love to be punched right in the face please

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:24 am

I know this is getting exhausting but I will say I didn't have this for Time Skiffs. For whatever reason I'm having a weird amount of like pop cultural synesthesia, so reference points are so far: (sorry if reductive and retread)

Vintage cover art for cs lewis Narnia novels, dopesmoker cover art, Nausicaa, Earthsea, Pathfinder concept art, 1980 jrpg/crpg, bongs (I don't smoke weed rn btw), grateful dead promotional art, summer/July 4th AND fall festival atmosphere, Renaissance fair camp, classic rock appropriation of post tolkien high fantasy signifiers, ergot induced imagery, tarot, shipwreck narrative, fantasy pulp, prince valiant, central American mythology, Hieronymus Bosch

Sorry if that's reductive but I'm just getting a lot of keywords from the branding and "vibes". Some people are getting very different things like Stan and I'm interested in that. Also it's different than pop cultural referents. But you know.

What do y'all do when you listen? I find myself on here or chatting to friends, I have a little trouble focusing fully if I'm not driving or in sauna or maybe working out. Maybe should go on hike with it.

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:30 am

The Red Wall series

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:42 am

you a real (weird) one, dio

appreciate you

my main visualization and reference for this album continues to be the 60s: Velvet Underground stuck in medieval fantasy book, Kinks at a hippie disco festival, wool sweaters, shag carpets, grandma's quilts, Pink Floyd in Monty Python, Bruce Haack collab with Brian (don't you say it) Wilson, stoned theatre practice, pot heads singing in church choir, Krystal Kat, the first ever laser tag venue, paisley days, burgundy tones, yellow teeth, frizzy hair, thrifted necklaces -- Red Wall series is a good one, hear that for sure, Tolkien and Narnia, yah duh, all that vintage fantasy epic with dwarves, talking animals, wizards

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:44 am

A recently shared version of the punch is down sadly ... if any brave souls want to put down a summoning sign, you'd be saving so many hollows...

I love this thing man. It works out of sequence too lol. I might have to get the purple vinyl on top of the cd I bought just to save money out of sheer respect. So fuggin wild.

I love them so fuckin much for coming together to make sure this happened. My single complaint is why not big dumb full on x-wing blaster sounds in Kings. why not.

Can we get space-fantasy from them next after this high-fantasy? Also, I will say, Broke and Gem don't really fit the DnD dank vibes as much as the rest. And maybe Stride. But that's like good, it opens things up a bit... makes things more aesthetically diverse overall. I still don't know what Pandas songs are other than feeling slightly Police-y to me or something, I don't even know., But they're my favorite fun band panda since friggin MPP if I don't include Spilling Guts or some PW highlights

Post **Posted:** Mon Sep 04, 2023 4:46 am

This album really is crazy front to back. I think it's entering that top tier for me, right up there with their big four album run. It's so much stronger than Time Skiffs in my opinion. The production is insane, voices are perfect, and Panda's contributions (not just his songs, but the presence of his backup vocals and those drums!) are perfect. I love Clubs so much, such a pleasant little surprise that adds so much. Such a fun, mysterious, and emotional record. Defeat in context is really something. The first section brings tears to my eyes every time. Stride as well. Sheesh, I'm more impressed with this every listen. And those bum bums are starting to click too finally. Bravo, what a late career masterpiece.