Collected Animals

album slaps!

— Noah and Josh were stuck on what Ferry Lady seemed to be missing and Noah, seemingly jokingly, mentioned trumpet. Josh came back with some synth trumpets and Noah really liked it.

Love this. The trumpets are really inspired

after listening to this several times, it is insane that praise wasn't the lead single

anywhere but here & elegy are stunning.. holy fucking moly! I have nothing to add to the conversation, but can echo the sentiments of how expertly produced this is. the warmth of skiffs and now with a wonderful growth in songwriting.. I know we’re just a bunch of AC bitches here, but this is definitely another solid one to put on the mantle. Love it.

Excellent record! I've given it two listens since last night and this morning. Anywhere But Here and Elegy are my two favorites but overall I liked every track. Now, Virginia Tech Digital when?

RESET is my favorite PB album, but it really is “going back to basics” and doing it the best they ever have. This is a leap forward, a progression in style and form that doesn’t feel forced or gimmicky at all. In fact, I don’t think I’ve ever felt Panda more in his element than on this record. It’s a very good sign for him as an evolving artist and for the creative longevity of the band as a whole.

Defense is the perfect ender, the b side is incredible. Only song that I am no sold on at the moment is 50 mg.

Ok, Japanese friends! It's your time to shine.

Who has the Japanese edition with the Virginia Tech bonus track? https://www.hmv.co.jp/en/artist_Panda-B ... t_15384417

Is anyone in Japan able to confirm whether there's an Atmos mix for Virginia Tech in the Japanese Apple Music?

(which, btw, I highly recommend listening to the Atmos mixes of this record... each sound pops out even more. Really well done)

Stoked by everything… except Just as Well. No demoitis this go around except for that track. The song lacks the “oomph” that the Madrid boot and the recent live versions have. The mix is missing something in the middle, missing some kind of low end or mid range power. But overall, an outstanding tour de force of Noah qua Noah here. The liner notes are especially open and telling.

If you're able, listen to the Dolby Atmos mix--feels more balanced on that track in particular, the stereo (aka album) mix is REALLY heavy with the guitar and the percussion takes more of a back seat whereas the percussion is more emphasized on the previous tracks. Alternatively, try different speakers/headphones/etc. It has sounded different each time I've listened depending on what I'm listening through and which mix, which is kinda fun in and of itself.

Song still slaps though

ETA: looks like you have listened to the Atmos mixes, and sounds like you agree (?)

I like the album plenty - but it's not immediately hitting for me the way Reset did. Probably a good thing in the end - AC growers are the best kinda. I think it's the range of sounds that make it not immediately easy for me to sink into it. I didn't get into AC until a bit after Painting With, and I remember the first time I listened to PBVGR; when Tropic of Cancer and Lonely Wanderer came on the first time I just couldn't wrap my head around those being on the SAME album Sequential Circuits, Mr Noah, Boys Latin, etc. It took some time for me to get comfy with the headspace I'd need to be in to move from there to there. Ditto here with the second half of SG. Excited to play this to death now!

Here's the full interview with Noah and Josh!

nice interview! lots of great tidbits to hear...... curious about the luka trade getting cut —— do you remember his take? prob the same as everyone else's

did we know about brian's hurdy gurdy album already? (noah's desert island geologist choice) super keen to hear that from the little live clips i heard a while back

It's clearly his Blood on the tracks btw

I see it. Not just because its a breakup album. Arguably Dylan's best, released a full decade after his golden era.

God Praise is emotional. Unbelievable. Such deeply happy and warm vibes, lord. And I love that it's like. The epilogue to Buoys. It's that songs happy ending. Driving off into the sunset happy as fuck lol. Teary eyed from it

have you read the lyrics to Praise? its very sad lol

Ferry Lady is like what i always wanted Butcher Baker to sound like

listened over speakers super loud for the first time and was instantly grinning.

first half I kept thinking these are some of best melodies he's written in years. second half tone shift had me thinking this is the saddest he's been in years. hope he's doing alright.

what an absolutely incredible record.

sorry to add to the comps but Venom's In is so early-70s beach boys, love it

venom's in is really cool, such a different style of songwriting for him. somehow that makes it more experimental/fresh, I feel like it's so different from the "mantra-pop" of Defense / Reset / Buoys

not to say i don't love PB finding a lyric/melody and singing it 20x over a fantastic backing, but i love seeing him work in new modes

each song has made me tear up

the reverse demoitis I have for s of e... haven't had chills this hard in a while. definitely already ranking at the top of his somber songs. just so transportative...

it's every emotion I felt at the time of the Madrid set just cooked into one haunting package. exactly what I simultaneously could and couldn't have imagined it to sound like... wonderful

I see it. Not just because its a breakup album. Arguably Dylan's best, released a full decade after his golden era.

dio wrote:

God Praise is emotional. Unbelievable. Such deeply happy and warm vibes, lord. And I love that it's like. The epilogue to Buoys. It's that songs happy ending. Driving off into the sunset happy as fuck lol. Teary eyed from it

have you read the lyrics to Praise? its very sad lol

me me don't understand emotion hulk smash!

Starting a petition for all of Buoys to be rerecorded in this style

I prefer the immersive digital folk sound of Buoys (not a big fan of this Mariachi vibe since Reset), and I find the songwriting a bit too classic for me to enjoy it as much as the pre-Reset albums. However, some melodies sound better than I expected based on the first singles—especially 50mg, Venom's In and Elegy for Noah Lou.

Some parts of Left in the Cold sound a lot like River Man by Nick Drake—one of my favorite folk songs.

I guess I prefer all the songs that don’t have that Mariachi vibe or "rock influences" haha

Having now listened to some recent boots, I think they're a great complement to this record. Same but a bit more pumped up and elongated. I can totally understand why there would be some demoitis but seems people are mostly happy with the end results on most songs. I've been crooning melodies from the second half all day. A fantastic album. Second song with the spoken word was my least favourite on first listen, I don't generally like spoken word in music, makes me think of All Saints Never Ever, but it's grown on me enormously. My cats miaow along to it, really goes well and makes me laugh.

^I had same reaction to track 2, felt like a come down from track 1 and the vocal stacks seemed borderline too much in the first verses but yes, it's grown, and it's cool for panda daughter to return as a poet and not just a Zelda impersonator

why is buoys catching strays in this thread that thing is great and this is also great

wow Praise is his best song?????

Cass McCombs co-writing Venom’s In is great. It’s such an evocative song.

here's the credits page from the booklet (with a curious liner note—worth reading), I know some were asking about it earlier

Spoiler: show

Though oddly he’s not credited in the physical liner notes at all?

why is buoys catching strays in this thread that thing is great and this is also great

Yes, Buoys is really underrated. The only track I wasn't really into was Home Free.

Venom's In is my early fav.

Defense as a closer - the upbeat response to the downbeat [but great] Elegy - is so satisfying. When that guitar lick comes in the air just opens up.

Just a real delectable treat of an album man. Some of my favorite songs since Person Pitch. Anywhere but Here is pure euphoria, my favorite harmonies hes ever done. I truly don't believe I'll be able to overplay Ends Meet and Praise. Just as Well is very solid and enjoyable, it got some of that bounce back. I really don't know what magic the Madrid version had that made it pop so hard, maybe something with the syncopated guitar delay trick. 50mg fell off a bit for me, I miss the live intro and crackling guitar on that one. Ferry Lady grows on me more and more. The vocal swells on Left in the Cold, holy shit. And Elegy is an uncharacteristically raw cut for him these days and damn it hits hard. I love that Deakin made an ultimatum about including that song, so baller.

Cass McCombs co-writing Venom’s In is great. It’s such an evocative song.

'Worms' wrote:

here's the credits page from the booklet (with a curious liner note—worth reading), I know some were asking about it earlier

Spoiler: show

Though oddly he’s not credited in the physical liner notes at all?

per the jordan/greg interview, he didn't really write the song- i think just suggested the title. panda bear wanted to give it to him, but it never made it past demo version on cass' side, and that demo is what will be released for rsd (with one changed lyric, apparently)

Josh's synth solo in the middle of Just As Well, so sick.

Shit that's Deak?? My favorite of the "guest solos" on here. Absolute legend

why is buoys catching strays in this thread that thing is great and this is also great

no disrespect meant from me on buoys, i just think this album feels like an evolved/realized version of that sound and some of those tracks would shine like Buoys and Token did in madrid practice

I like a lot of Buoys... conceptually. But this record is his first to really hit the spot for me since I was like... a teenager. It feels very special. Glad he did Buoys because it led to this.

Going through my second listen now. Haven't gotten consistent chills like this from Noah since Tomboy tbh.

Venom's In is lethal.

Its like Buoys, Reset and Reset in Dub coalesced into this beauty

definitely the most vulnerable I think he's been since Young Prayer. and I think his best since Tomboy.

Praise would have made a better single than Defense. if only just to get more ears on it.

definitely the most vulnerable I think he's been since Young Prayer. and I think his best since Tomboy.

Praise would have made a better single than Defense. if only just to get more ears on it.

I agree with every single statement made here

Probably have the most demoitis from 50mg, it just sounds a little too gentle here. Also I miss the guitar playing the chords a few times before the bass and drums came in. But as far as demoitis goes, this is a minor case. It's still one of the best from a melodic and lyrical standpoint imo.

unrecordednight wrote:

gregphipps37 wrote:

Here's the full interview with Noah and Josh!

brother did you cut the bit about the doncic trade or was that a joke tease i wanted to hear his take lol

I did actually cut it but it’ll be a separate YouTube short tomorrow lol I promise

hell yeah ty <3