[coral lord]

man this is making me wish dragon slayer got the in-person studio treatment. that was my favorite of all the 2019 boots, it deserves better.

[Cooper]

Soul Capturer is unbelievably good. Just like Defeat this is some ancient classic style profound AC. This album is going to be one of their best

[Stories and Games]

coral lord wrote:

man this is making me wish dragon slayer got the in-person studio treatment. that was my favorite of all the 2019 boots, it deserves better.

agree, muark mentioned how SC opening this record is a contrast to dragon slayer starting skiffs on a mellower note, and i can't help thinking that dragon slayer wasn't really supposed to be such a mellow song. much as i really do like studio slayer i do think there's an energy gap between how that version is meant to come off and how it actually comes off. it's meant to crackle like SC does yknow

[foxtrot]

When I think about the rest I just can’t even… The idea of epic Avey tunes like Genies and Magicians, some of Panda’s best contributions to the band in ages (Broke and Gem), a massive College style closer, Deakin’s best AC contribution yet…

[tay's tee games]

dio wrote:

Barring ITT songs, what is the greatest ac song of the last 5 years? Bridge to Nowhere? A 7s or Reset track? Cherokee or prester??? Something else??

Digital version of Sunset without a shadow of a doubt. But there are a lot of strong contenders tbf...

From the band: PJ/Who Knows and Strung
From Avey: Goodside, Saturdays, Mayan
From Panda: Math, Dolphin, Livin in the After

Goes to show how strong I find the IIN tracks are because Genie's, Magicians, Defeat and even potentially Kings, Stride and Gem would race ahead of the vast majority of those mentioned.

[foxtrot]

Interesting idea:

For me the list looks something like Goodside, Edge of the Edge, Danger, Slayer, Strung, Hey Bog

IIN songs that beat all of those: the epics - Defeat, Genies and Magicians really

[Jam]

Panda: Danger, I Know I Don’t Know, Sunset
Avey: Hey Bog, Sweeper’s Grin, KC Yours
Band: Prester John, Royal and Desire, Cherokee

Appreciate the writing about Soul Capturer as a song about the Internet. It’s honestly impressive that they’ve written as many songs as they have about *technology* without getting incredibly eye-rolly or embarrassing with the lyrics (Which they’ve certainly done for other topics, Piggy Knows comes to mind)

[lhtd]

Petition to change the album name to Is Not It Now? (ININ)

[Jam]

Nine Inch Now?

[BoomCheese]

Sorry to continue the derailment, but that is too fun a question. Royal and Desire or Goodside is the best song of the past 5 years. Hey Bog and Prester John up there too.

[dio]

Wait why was I calling it ITT yesterday. iIN... That is a not great acronym though. Nine inch nails basically. And you can't just call it Now either. I'm doomed

[dio]

IIn is almost as bad as the apple product option "ask App not to track" in terms of how much it does NOT roll off the tongue

And their best thing is probably an obvious choice like Cherokee or Hey Bog or some panda features. Bridge to Quiet is great too idk

[muark]

If they called it Sea of Light it would've been SOL. Full circle

[willie dustice]

dio wrote:

I can already tell Magicians will be this insanely dank, dark chocolate of a prog rock odyssey. And it's like Cherokee is it's weirdo lounge-y little bro. And I mean I love studio Cherokee pretty good as is... And dragon... But idk idk. I might just be reacting to the novelty of how good Soul sounds.

And I also have this theory that were kind of placebo tainted by just knowing that Skiffs was recorded remote. Like if someone told me they were done in same way as ITT actually it'd set me at ease or something. But nah Defeat and Soul do sound kinda extra great.

All I can really complain about on skiffs is vocals a bit low on Dragon and Track 2 and passerbys ending forces me to forget '189boots even tho it's not like I even dislike new version. Also maybe a single auto tune track seems to be missing from Cherokee climax. But like is it, the climax sounds fantastic so who knows

Magicians easily my favorite on the album. Last 4 minutes of it is some of my favorite AC ever.

[dio]

Hell ya^. I don't wanna rip bandaid of not listening to music box boots to find out how it ended back then. The Dreamland part is just insane.

Ok so if you type IIN you might as well just type Isn't. But Isn't doesn't feel specific enough. IIn. I had a friend work an an app called In for years before it folded and there were huge amounts of investor money behind it and I never had courage to tell him the name was awful. IIn. Like sunn o. Can I be the one to hate this name? Like I'll take that burden, yal all keep being fine with it or liking it and I'll take it upon myself to hate it but only really because I don't like typing it

Or ya it's just roman 2 + n. 2n. IIn. Idkkkkkkkkk

[muark]

willie dustice wrote:

dio wrote:

I can already tell Magicians will be this insanely dank, dark chocolate of a prog rock odyssey. And it's like Cherokee is it's weirdo lounge-y little bro. And I mean I love studio Cherokee pretty good as is... And dragon... But idk idk. I might just be reacting to the novelty of how good Soul sounds.

And I also have this theory that were kind of placebo tainted by just knowing that Skiffs was recorded remote. Like if someone told me they were done in same way as ITT actually it'd set me at ease or something. But nah Defeat and Soul do sound kinda extra great.

All I can really complain about on skiffs is vocals a bit low on Dragon and Track 2 and passerbys ending forces me to forget '189boots even tho it's not like I even dislike new version. Also maybe a single auto tune track seems to be missing from Cherokee climax. But like is it, the climax sounds fantastic so who knows

Magicians easily my favorite on the album. Last 4 minutes of it is some of my favorite AC ever.

Would you be willing to give us a track ranking Wille?

[dio]

IIn = 2n, 2n equals tune. I'll call it tune. Tune is also my future son's name. Tune skiffer catalanello

[Slothrope]

So I listened all of the tracks in tracklist order last night (barring the one we haven’t heard obviously) and I think it really works. Soul cap —> Genies —> Broke works out really nice, and with the way Magicians and defeat are structured, their pairing works out a lot better than I expected too. Defeat —> Gem is still the weirdest one for me, but I’ll take the levity angle. And Gem & I into stride balances out well enough. Kings as a closer is a bold move, but I see it working as an epilogue. Really curious as to how AtCAB contrasts with the drama of Stride/Kings

[willie dustice]

muark wrote:

willie dustice wrote:

dio wrote:

I can already tell Magicians will be this insanely dank, dark chocolate of a prog rock odyssey. And it's like Cherokee is it's weirdo lounge-y little bro. And I mean I love studio Cherokee pretty good as is... And dragon... But idk idk. I might just be reacting to the novelty of how good Soul sounds.

And I also have this theory that were kind of placebo tainted by just knowing that Skiffs was recorded remote. Like if someone told me they were done in same way as ITT actually it'd set me at ease or something. But nah Defeat and Soul do sound kinda extra great.

All I can really complain about on skiffs is vocals a bit low on Dragon and Track 2 and passerbys ending forces me to forget '189boots even tho it's not like I even dislike new version. Also maybe a single auto tune track seems to be missing from Cherokee climax. But like is it, the climax sounds fantastic so who knows

Magicians easily my favorite on the album. Last 4 minutes of it is some of my favorite AC ever.

Would you be willing to give us a track ranking Wille?

Magicians
Stride Rite
Broke
Defeat
Genie
Soul
New song
Gem & I
Kings

all just my opinion obv. I rank those first 6 songs I listed in one tier and the other 3 below that. Actually I’d say ATCAB and Gem & I are in a “enjoyable but don’t blow me away tier” and Kings in a :shrug: tier.

I’m sure others will feel very different once it comes out but this is how I feel after probably like, 30-40 listens? Lol

[opposite field]

Soul is a perfect opener for these songs I think. People said Dragon Slayer was a really good entry into the Skiffs world but I feel like Soul is even better and the production just sound so GOOD. The only reason I don't want to listen to it a lot is because it gets me so excited for what's to come and right now there is uh, nothing.

[coral lord]

dio wrote:

IIn = 2n, 2n equals tune. I'll call it tune. Tune is also my future son's name. Tune skiffer catalanello

[Jam]

dio wrote:

IIn is almost as bad as the apple product option "ask App not to track" in terms of how much it does NOT roll off the tongue

Did you watch the John Early HBO special

[jfw7]

it's a shame because ONNN is a much stronger acronym

[mildew_on_rice]

Another sort of off-topic comment... When I think about or listen to Painting With, it truly blows my mind that it's the same band. It's not that I don't like PW but... it just feels so bizarre compared to the rest of their discography. The same guys that made Golden Gal made Defeat just wigs me out.

[jfw7]

it's not the same band!! same guys though. not sure i understand it as a through line to SJ though

wrote:

The title Painting With — where did that come from?

BW: That started a long time ago as a joke where Dave —

DP: It wasn’t a joke.

BW: Well, we thought it was a joke. He had the idea… we were never that series about the name Animal Collective, and for Strawberry Jam, he was like, let’s change the band name. And the band name he wanted at that time was the Painters.

DP: Animal Collective was always supposed to be that way.

NL: With Campfire Songs, we thought of ourselves as Campfire Songs. That was the last time we thought of ourselves like that.

BW: And FatCat [Records], when we were working with them, was like, “Horrible idea, your CDs need to be in one section.”

DP: I thought an alternative title to the Strawberry Jam album could have been The Painters, thinking of us as the Painters.

BW: When we send demos to each other we come up with fake bands names or fake albums. And on this one, Noah referenced this old joke — no offense, Dave — and said, “Oh, the Painters are back!” And then afterward we started fixating on that word paint. It is very painterly.

[bullseye]

jfw7 wrote:

it's not the same band!! same guys though. not sure i understand it as a through line to SJ though

wrote:

The title Painting With — where did that come from?

BW: That started a long time ago as a joke where Dave —

DP: It wasn’t a joke.

BW: Well, we thought it was a joke. He had the idea… we were never that series about the name Animal Collective, and for Strawberry Jam, he was like, let’s change the band name. And the band name he wanted at that time was the Painters.

DP: Animal Collective was always supposed to be that way.

NL: With Campfire Songs, we thought of ourselves as Campfire Songs. That was the last time we thought of ourselves like that.

BW: And FatCat [Records], when we were working with them, was like, “Horrible idea, your CDs need to be in one section.”

DP: I thought an alternative title to the Strawberry Jam album could have been The Painters, thinking of us as the Painters.

BW: When we send demos to each other we come up with fake bands names or fake albums. And on this one, Noah referenced this old joke — no offense, Dave — and said, “Oh, the Painters are back!” And then afterward we started fixating on that word paint. It is very painterly.

I can't wait for the 30th anniversary edition of painting with and the painters EP, where we'll finally be getting all those sweet demos from the painters.

[NightlifeMingus]

I’d give anything to see some of these other “fake” band names

I wish it were a feasible idea to change the band name or eschew one altogether — it perfectly suits their creative ethos

[lhtd]

Trip Advisor remains unparalleled

[Stories and Games]

reading that excerpt is so fucking funny if you imagine dave is absolutely fuming the whole time

[memememe]

did a lil thing where I was making an "alt tracklist" between the two albums BUT only switching songs that are the same place/number between TS and IIN. only moved three!

torn on if Dragon or Soul feels better between the two, but I left as is. all the panda & Deakin songs are on my Alt Time Skiffs, which is interesting.

Dragon Slayer
Car Keys
Broke Zodiac
Strung With Everything
Walker
Gem & I
Stride Rite
We Go Back
Royal & Desire

Soul Capturer
Genie's Open
Prester John
Magicians from Baltimore
Defeat
Cherokee
Passerby
All the Clubs Are Broken
King's Walk

[opposite field]

I actually think the different bands thing is a fun way to approach the discog and make connections. Like the band that made MPP is the same band that made Painting With(and danse for that matter) and then the same band that made Strawberry Jam made CHZ etc. Makes it slightly easier to draw a straighter line in their evolution if you do it in this very non-linear way.

[lhtd]

Yes, but we would still bracket [Animal Collective] as the concept that encompasses different voices, which, as much as I appreciate the idea, would be redundant in doing so given what "Collective" means. The name Animal Collective implies it's a polytheistic band.

[NightlifeMingus]

I am personally not a big PW fan, but I have actually had the thought before that I get the most out of it when I think of it like a side project, rather than a mainline album

[Slippi's Applesauce]

willie dustice wrote:

muark wrote:

willie dustice wrote:

dio wrote:

I can already tell Magicians will be this insanely dank, dark chocolate of a prog rock odyssey. And it's like Cherokee is it's weirdo lounge-y little bro. And I mean I love studio Cherokee pretty good as is... And dragon... But idk idk. I might just be reacting to the novelty of how good Soul sounds.

And I also have this theory that were kind of placebo tainted by just knowing that Skiffs was recorded remote. Like if someone told me they were done in same way as ITT actually it'd set me at ease or something. But nah Defeat and Soul do sound kinda extra great.

All I can really complain about on skiffs is vocals a bit low on Dragon and Track 2 and passerbys ending forces me to forget '189boots even tho it's not like I even dislike new version. Also maybe a single auto tune track seems to be missing from Cherokee climax. But like is it, the climax sounds fantastic so who knows

Magicians easily my favorite on the album. Last 4 minutes of it is some of my favorite AC ever.

Would you be willing to give us a track ranking Wille?

Magicians
Stride Rite
Broke
Defeat
Genie
Soul
New song
Gem & I
Kings

all just my opinion obv. I rank those first 6 songs I listed in one tier and the other 3 below that. Actually I’d say ATCAB and Gem & I are in a “enjoyable but don’t blow me away tier” and Kings in a :shrug: tier.

I’m sure others will feel very different once it comes out but this is how I feel after probably like, 30-40 listens? Lol

Cool (and surprised) that broke is so high. Super curious about how it changed. Maybe more baroque?

Someone on the discord who keeps in contact with Deakin heard stride and also mentioned that it was very very different. Wonder what they could’ve done

[Jam]

So what, the TS band would be the Time Skiff Riders or just the Riders and this band would be ... the Defeatists? Da Feat Fetishists?

Jk I think the Magicians (from Baltimore) would be the obvious choice

[headroom)))]

dio wrote:

I saw the Soul capturerer as being capitol G god

Could be, the don dada of the soul patrol.

wilandhugs wrote:

I've been depressed my whole life, but in a cyclical kinda way where it comes and goes and my anticipation and hyperbrain just force it into becoming really negative-- the soul Capturer.
...It just comes outta no where, sends you down a spiral, and makes you rethink even your happiest moments. is how affirming the music is. It's like very clearly telling you that, no, the Soul Capturer doesn't have to destroy you, even if it does affect you.

Nice interpretation, I can see that. That last section of the song really feels like falling into an emotional whirlpool. And that "Don't tempt me" line is trying to stay afloat while emotions are trying to pull you in.
I guess the depression angle is kinda tied into tech use for me (and a lot of people) in that it drains my spirit/soul and makes me jaded.

I like how you mentioned that the music sounds very positive too, which is an interesting thing to think about. Its not like these lyrics were over dark music like Cuckoo or Defeat. I agree that there is a positive message in the song. Maybe that the dark thoughts don't have to take over but instead you can recognize the emotion and let it pass. Kind of a central point of meditation, which I definitely have to focus on when I'm feeling anxiety. I also remember reading that Dave used to meditate to help him with depression in early New York days.

[andthephantom]

Been trying to read stories about the IIN album announcement and Soul Capturer release for any outlets suggesting where they will be heading with their full-album analysis. Most don't tend to tip their hand too much. But here is a cool little paragraph from Paste (the last sentence especially):

New single “Soul Capturer” is a plentiful folk song that ruminates on online life and the cyclical gratification of being clinically attached to the internet. “You need a hush, you need a push,” Tare and Panda Bear harmonize. “You need some tush. It gets you high, pulls you from the rapture every time.” With a five-minute soundscape that weaves in and out of various shapes, harmonies, patterns and drones, “Soul Capturer” is one of the brightest Animal Collective compositions in recent memory. It’s perfect and hypnotizing.

[muark]

Have we done semi-definitive track rankings on this thread yet? Would be interested to know where everyone stands before this thing is released. FWIW:

Spoiler: show

Magicians
Stride ('21)
Genies
Defeat
Broke
SoulCap
Stride ('22)
Gem
Kings
I know I'm kinda cheating with stride but the gap in quality is too significant to account for just one version imo. Really hope they take it somewhere completely new on the album so there can be a clean slate for me to reset my appraisal.

[Allatrobles]

Been really busy, so i missed this announcement, but the new Album roll out is picking up steam!

I liked soul capturer before, but this studio version has won me over. I also listened to the boots in album order last night and I am very excited for a long, dreamy, meandering AC record again!

Broke Zodiac is the only song that hasn't won me over yet. I have high hopes the studio will grab me.

[Slothrope]

instead of “ranking” i’ll list the songs I am most excited about in the studio

1. Stride
2. Broke
3. Kings

These three are the songs that excite me the *least* in their current forms, and willie said stride and broke are the most different from their live versions, so i’m very excited to hear if these songs are pulled way up for me

4. Magicians
5. All The Clubs Are Broken (New AC! Haven’t heard it! Exciting!)
6. Genies
7. Gem (I love Gem & I, i’m excited for it too, huge chorus incoming)