Collected Animals

Ethmin, is your sig a Dirty Projectors reference?

edit: casually starting a new page with an off topic post

it is!!!

edit: I just had a good time listening to Tour Along the Potomac for the first time in awhile. Was real nice and soothed the soul.

Haha awesome! Super underrated album, it's one of my favorites

Anyway carry on about meeting of the waters

FYI The digital download codes included with the vinyl are now active. I'm downloading the WAVs as I type this...

It's now on streaming services as well

FYI The digital download codes included with the vinyl are now active. I'm downloading the WAVs as I type this...

They were working on April 23rd for me. Sorry you had to wait so long to DL

[edit] Oh wow, it is on streaming services. Listening on Google Play Music right now.

surely we haven't run of things to say about this!

blue noses is so chill and lush and beautiful
man of oil reminds me a lot of pullhair rubeye - full of great little melodies and classic avey style
amazonawana is super cute
selection just nails that 'updated 03/04 sound' with geo's contributions and the noisy finish.

just keep on loving this thing

an amalgamation and concrete product of a lot of geo's accomplishments in terms of finding ways to sculpt, organise, repeat and change sound

I think blue noses is my favourite track.

I think Man Of Oil is astounding.

Avey's vocal melody is enchanting and the lyrics are really affecting from an environmentalist perspective, then you have Geo's forest samples overtaken by the metallic noises at the end of the track. Hints at man-made environmental collapse u feel.

I hope that since this EP shows that AC are still masterful at this kind of spiritual/meditative sound it will make some people reconsider PW as an intentional aesthetic choice rather than a deterioration of quality

^Totally agree

There's nothing wrong with ppl not liking new stuff by AC, because music taste is subjective. Obviously some people will not like PW just like some people don't like anything by AC. But I def agree that there are a lot more factors at play then just AC's songwriting capabilities. Just because an album sounds shitty to someone, that doesn't automatically make the songwriter shitty.

I think mood and context is a huge factor in the songwriting process, especially with music like AC's where they sort of channel whatever mood they're feeling at the time. The setting/context for MotW was probably way more conducive to the slow/atmospheric style of music, whereas with Painting With they were probably trying to achieve a completely different vibe. There are other more obvious factors, like having an extra member and songwriter on PW and more instruments/sounds at their disposal, but it's clear to me that the intent of the music on those 2 releases was vastly different, therefore the end result is intentionally going to be very different

So it does bother me a bit when people say that MotW is proof that the "magic" is back, or whatever. I mean, I can sympathize with people who feel that way, because for many of us AC is our favorite band and it sucks when your favorite band stops making music that you like. It's a rly shitty feeling because it can be kind of rare to find a band that really captures that sense of "magic" and that you really connect with, and losing that connection with the music can feel like the band personally hurt you. But again, there are so many factors at play that determine what the music ultimately ends up sounding like, that I don't think you should just blame the musician for losing their touch

Tho maybe people don't intend to blame the musician when they complain about not liking PW or any other piece of music. I think some people are just voicing their frustration due to not connecting with the music like they used to, and I totally get that. But I do think that some people sell Painting With short because it doesn't have any ambient moments, or because it's too nonstop energetic, etc. For me personally I always try and listen to new music with zero expectations of what I think it will or should sound like. It's unrealistic and probably impossible to actually achieve that, but I aim for that because I feel like it's easier to appreciate things for what they are rather than what I wish they were. And I feel like that's helped me to connect with PW and lots of music in general

Thanks for reading if you made it this far. I'm kinda fascinated by the way that people experience music differently/subjectively and anytime the topic comes up I end up writing a novel about it

nice post Victor. I didn't mean to dig at anyone here who's complained about PW, and I totally get it if some people are just not into the style they chose for that one. but there were a lot of critics and some people on the reddit talking trash about AC as if they didn't have the stuff anymore when they clearly do. they're just always making the music they want to make at the given moment regardless of what the fans want or what's trendy, which I think is what drew a lot of us to the band in the first place

Great couple posts guys. Victor, I would definitely read a dissertation about music subjectivity if you were ever to write one.

For me, I'm a big fan of the PW era. Its super-saturated-technicolor aesthetic is my jam, but even more than that, I love how flawlessly AC can juxtapose The Painters EP, which is just now being shipped out, with Meeting of the Waters. This band is starting to remind me more and more of Picasso; jumping from one genre to the next, with flawless mastery in completely different styles and moods.
And going off what you said, scrambledgreggs, the deeply meditative sound of MotW is so seductive to me. Although the energy level contrasts with The Painters, I still find both releases to have a deeply spiritual quality. That "Unity of All Kind" element.

I love it!

i seem to remember people having similar reactions after centipede came out. maybe i'm misremembering or confusing it with people who decided they didn't like it because pithcfork called it a burrito or something

it seems like there is far less discussion on the boards about their music than there was 5-7 years ago on these boards, but it seems more positive now. maybe the people who didnt like the directions they have gone in post-oddsac have bailed altogether, which may be for the better.

motw is still growing on me more and more with each listen after many of them, especially the ambient bits, which was always the case with their early era stuff. I really love how much it feels like one single piece of music and how the sounds really have a life of their own to them like in the spookiest points of hcti where the sounds just take you somewhere else.

amazonawana has the "childlike" "playfulness" that so many (reviewers) loved about their early output, while selection of a place sounds very reminiscent of avey's past stylings, but coming from a pretty different place/perspective. it's a cool release because it felt like something they would have already done a long time ago going into it, and even sounded like it in some extents, but this ep is anything but cashing it in.

I think in general forums are becoming a thing of the past, which is why I really appreciate this one, and its endurance. The majority of the bottom half long term posters don't have any interest in discussing the band, though, which is pretty significant. I'd also say that while a minority do really enjoy CHz and PW, the overwhelming consensus seems to be that they reached some sort of endpoint with MPP, in terms of their creative trajectory and gradual progress towards accessibility. Much of what has followed has felt much more prescriptive, deliberate and -
dare I say - overworked, i.e. attempts to engineer the conditions for inspiration, with the 'desert space rock' brief in Deakin's mum's basement or the 'Ramones manifesto'. I don't get the sense from listening to Sung Tongs that they needed to 'get back to basics', so they decided to play the acoustic guitar for an album. It still feels spontaneous and full of little ideas, never to be repeated, emblematic of the fertile period.

"The majority of the bottom half long term posters don't have any interest in discussing the band, though, which is pretty significant."

this is pretty true; i'm not sure why it is. there are a lot of long-term posters who do populate the new album threads, but there is a significant proportion that seems to ignore them altogether. it's particularly surprising for this release, which seems like it'd appeal to all schools of AC fans.

half the time I'm a lurker, or too lazy to type. but I love following the discussion of new releases.

Meeting of the waters is such a refreshing piece of work. I'm in the camp of people that haven't been ultra excited about the direction AC has been going, something just doesn't connect with me as much in the PW era, not that I don't enjoy the music. I've been waiting for a more laid-back minimalistic experimental thing from them for a while. Love it!

Good post, Stan. I feel they're on the cusp of something great again. I think they definitely felt the effects of increased fame post-MPP, one way or another.

Even the idea of 'no bullshit' songwriting on PW seems suspicious and I'm not sure I entirely bought into it. Felt they were betraying a core part of their ethos. 'Let's write shorter songs because we usually write long-ish songs'. Fair enough if they wanted to put themselves outside of a comfort zone and experiment with mainstream ideals. It just came off a little unnatural and forced to me.

But the flip side to all this is it almost feels like a weight has been lifted off of them. I can't say how much I think they're actively conscious of this but I do think we'll start to see a significant shift in the sounds they're putting out. They're no longer the band trying to follow MPP, or the band trying to follow that follow up. PW seems like a sweet release to build on. Almost seems like a fresh start, like they've created a gap for themselves to move into. And one would assume they have a re-energized Deakin coming back into the fold. Exciting times.

The new Avey boots reek of authenticity. And I feel Panda has his finger hovering over a doomsday button of sorts. Feels like anything could happen going forward.

And I feel Panda has his finger hovering over a doomsday button of sorts..

how do you mean? like anything he makes next could be total shite for his solo stuff, ac, or both?

or is it just a grim reaper reference?

Wasn't there an interview in which Noah said he was interested in composing music for a choir?

^he already did pandachoir (tomboy)

jk idk

Tropic of Cans wrote:

And I feel Panda has his finger hovering over a doomsday button of sorts..

how do you mean? like anything he makes next could be total shite for his solo stuff, ac, or both?

or is it just a grim reaper reference?

By doomsday button I mean he's gonna fuck shit up (in a good way). Could see him dropping the moniker and going off the wall with something really different.

well pitch did a review, nice for them, it will put the album on the map a little bit for non AC fan.

real slippi wrote:

Tropic of Cans wrote:

And I feel Panda has his finger hovering over a doomsday button of sorts..

how do you mean? like anything he makes next could be total shite for his solo stuff, ac, or both?

or is it just a grim reaper reference?

By doomsday button I mean he's gonna fuck shit up (in a good way). Could see him dropping the moniker and going off the wall with something really different.

In a recent interview (for PP reissue t think) he said PBVSGR wrapped up a three album cycle exploring sample based song writing/performance so expecting something looser

well pitch did a review, nice for them, it will put the album on the map a little bit for non AC fan.

this review refers to Avey's singing as snippets of a woman vocalising....
its all going back in time, cue your fav band pic

Tropic of Cans wrote:

real slippi wrote:

Tropic of Cans wrote:

And I feel Panda has his finger hovering over a doomsday button of sorts..

how do you mean? like anything he makes next could be total shite for his solo stuff, ac, or both?

or is it just a grim reaper reference?

By doomsday button I mean he's gonna fuck shit up (in a good way). Could see him dropping the moniker and going off the wall with something really different.

In a recent interview (for PP reissue t think) he said PBVSGR wrapped up a three album cycle exploring sample based song writing/performance so expecting something looser

That's actually very very good news for me. As much as I loved Tomboy, the fundamental approach and structure felt formulaic very quickly, and although it's arguably a more refined and cohesive set of songs, that approach has led to the somewhat stale sound of Grim Reaper and the Ramones manifesto of PW. The looseness and sense of exploration is a big part of what brings Person Pitch to life, not the loops.

I had forgotten that quote. Indeed exciting. Maybe we can expect "Middle Aged Prayer"-esque material from Noah next released under the moniker Mr Noah

I'm just waiting for Panda to drop some house bangers

Very pleased with this release, especially after the underwhelming and downright disappointing post ODDSAC material. The Painters EP did give me a little bit of hope they'd come back around just based on the first two tracks. Hope the next album is more like this, it's a clear winning formula for them.

Very pleased with this release, especially after the underwhelming and downright disappointing post ODDSAC material. The Painters EP did give me a little bit of hope they'd come back around just based on the first two tracks. Hope the next album is more like this, it's a clear winning formula for them.

While you're rolling your eyes think about why opinion surrounding post oddsac material is so polarizing among fans and critics. Maybe just maybe it's because there's actual merit to the criticism. I know life is tough in an echo chamber and all that, I understand.

While you're rolling your eyes think about why opinion surrounding post oddsac material is so polarizing among fans and critics. Maybe just maybe it's because there's actual merit to the criticism. I know life is tough in an echo chamber and all that, I understand.

currently rolling my eyes and thinking about why opinion surrounding post oddsac material is so polarizing among fans and critics

i think the main thing that's worth noting is that most people who are posting here, while some are arguing, still agree that meeting of the waters is a fine release from animal collective and it is making people excited for things to come.

a lot of people (me included) LOVE AC playing acoustic guitar a ton. refer back to pulleys and wide eyed live 2012 radio session. I know i would be down for a Live in the Studio Animal Collective Plays Nirvana Covers album. or just another album with acoutic guitars and percussion

i think the main thing that's worth noting is that most people who are posting here, while some are arguing, still agree that meeting of the waters is a fine release from animal collective and it is making people excited for things to come.

im glad to see the guys all be on the same page (maybe not panda bear but hopefully he'll come around) about the next direction being more spiritual and meditative. selection of a place is my favorite avey song since probably laughing hieroglyphic, or anything from down there

Eh there's no way to know for sure that their next album will necessarily sound like MotW or Sleep Cycle or Coral Orgy, etc. Even some ppl on this board have been saying that this is like a renaissance of their more ambient/chill style of music, I don't think those releases were meant to act like a test run of the sound they'll use for their next album or something. Coral Orgy was a one-off performance specially created for that event, MotW was recorded in a unique location with necessarily limited instrumentation...these factors played a major part in deciding the style of the music, but that effect may not transfer to the next AC album. Also if the next AC album features all 4 dudes, I think it's very possible that it will sound way different from MotW or Sleep Cycle, for example

Painting With didn't sound anything like New Psycho Actives. Those were solo tracks so not a perfect comparison but I think it shows that the dudes are easily capable of switching between vastly differing musical mindsets within a short period of time... although Tape Player Chants for Winter was recorded back in 2013 so that makes things more complicated too

All this to say that I don't think we can assume that AC is returning to their ambient roots or something like that. Plus if they're about to head into another solo album cycle, then it could be a couple years before any more full band stuff, so even harder to predict what style/sound they'll be interested in creating by then. If anything, I think their tendency to intentionally change their sound with each subsequent album is the thing that most convinces me there'll be more ambient/chill moments on the next album since PW was the opposite of that. But also really I have no idea, I think probably none of us can predict what their next move is

that's assuming there IS a next move!!

Exactly, I like the way you're thinkin Vovenarg

except actually I don't like that idea at all. pls never stop making music AC