Collected Animals

This morning I got a text from a friend telling me she listened to Alvin Row for the first time. It was a pleasant surprise, cuz I didn't think anyone listened to the songs I posted on facebook.

I registered to post in this thread. I'm a new AnCo fan, having previously only listened to MPP (I know... I know). But over the last few weeks I've been working backwards through their discography, getting obsessed with one album at a time then moving on to the next, finally arriving at Spirit just a few days ago.

I wasn't really sure what to expect, but I had heard good things. I smoked a J then started up the album.

Holy shit.

The first track hit me like a ton of bricks. It sounded like a Flaming Lips song from another universe. I didn't understand what I was listening to or what could possibly be making those noises... it was absolutely overwhelming. I love when a song really strongly evokes a certain place or setting, and for me, Spirit They've Vanished immediately conjured up images of floating in space. There are songs that have a similar effect, like Spiritualized's "Ladies and Gentlemen We Are Floating in Space" but none do it as good as Spirit They've Vanished as far as I'm concerned. Damn.

I had a similar reaction to track 3, Untitled, which I'd absolutely never heard anything like before. That track is like a concerto for the world's ugliest instrument. The rest of the album didn't quite take ahold of me immediately the way those two tracks did, but I was still intrigued by the rest of the songs. After a few listens-through I started to really get into the other tracks too. Although admittedly my favorite tracks are still Spirit They've Vanished and Untitled.

There are so many little moments throughout the album that I LOVE... "She ran out of nature, AGH!!" ... "I'M NOT RIGHT, I'M NOT FAKIN!" ... "leave my BOOOOOY ALOOONE!!" ... "Can you hear me, troubadour? Alvin Row..."

I'd love to know more about the process of creating the album and what artists served as influences. I know from wikipedia that Panda's use of brushes was inspired by Love and Echo and the Bunnymen. But I'd really love to know about where Avey got the idea to use the screeching, horrifyingly beautiful white noise/feedback. It's such a crushing sound and I can't get enough of it.

Also, Avey Tare and Panda Bear might not be trained musicians but I never would have guessed it just by this album. The drumming is quite agile, and the piano and guitar playing are also impressive. Someone above mentioned that the album feels prog to them and I can pick up on that vibe. There are moments that remind me of Yes.

Sorry for the long post. Just had to pour out my feelings about this amazing album.

its a rite of passage

the kind of album that when it clicks, its like you can't listen to anything else for awhile, its world is so unique and perfect

Also I think now after making my way through their discography, I have to say how blown away I am by the fact that you can't oversimplify AnCo's discog as a natural progression in any sense.

I mean, of course they have changed their style over the years. But what I mean is that you can't outline their path very easily at all. It's not just "more accessible with each album", or "more simplified with each album", or "more use of samples with each album". Because there are songs on Spirit like Chocolate Girl or Bat You'll Fly that in my opinion are very accessible, as well as songs that are not as accessible. And already on songs like Spirit They've Vanished you have heavy use of unconventional instruments - it's not as if it took the band several albums before they experimented with those kind of sounds. They were doing it from the beginning.

Then of course you have the fact that Spirit was recorded by just Avey and Panda, so of course it's going to sound different from their other albums, but that's a whole other conversation. But anyway, my point is that not only are AnCo's albums amazing, but I'm also fascinated by the process(es) that created them.

the perfect band

I honestly wouldn't mind if the next AC album was just Dave and Noah.

for iko

so beautiful
wear it with pride my friend :')

Yo what's good with that hoodie for sale ? I'm sure we can work out a trade man.

My new phone background

naked dudes on yr phone lol

never noticed their monster abs

Yeah I'm probably not winning any points with women who don't listen to AnCo

archie wrote:

for iko

Did you use a site that lets you create your own design or something? I'd love the buy one of those.

go to the merch thread, the link to the site is there.

yea go to redbubble bro

oh man, no words can ever describe the feeling of falling in love to this

I remember Avey saying that when he sent Spirit to Southern Records they said it made their dogs run out of the room (I'm assuming due to high frequencies). Well I just played Spirit in front of my uncle's dog and she was perfectly cool with it. Anybody else try this. And if at any point she would've seemed bothered I would've turned it off immediately, in case you think i'm cruel. But no she was chillin

this one time guis i heard a music and i didnt think any thoughts in my head

i bet ur mad

COLIN FOOL. COLIN.

Oh dang I was actually listening to Spirit when I saw this popped up, I didnt know it existed!
Spirit was my first AC album that I listened to. I wanted my best friend to show me more music and he showed me April and Bat. Those songs fucked me up man haha. I fell in love immediately. The next day while he was at work, I listened to the whole album alone in my dorm. It was the first time I listened to an album all by myself, without someone telling me to listen to it with them. It was a special experience.
The song that hits me most is Alvin. The first time I listened to it, I remember thinking that it sounded good, but it wasnt until the last verse came on when it all hit me at once. It was like all the built up feelings from the entire song punched me in the face at the very end. Its honestly the song I relate to most, and it was cool to find out that Avey wrote it when he was only a year older than I am now. Its nice to imagine that he went through some of the same feelings that I am, such as loss of friendships and trying to fit in while trying to live in a new place and juggling loads of work.
The entire album is just perfection, there is not a single complaint to be had about it. The instrumentals are phenomenal, especially Noahs perfect percussion and the piano (which I hope they do more of in the future Aveys so good at it!). And the lyrics and theme are just amazing. Even tho its great I dont like listening to it too often. Its really special to me, and I dont want to accidentally get tired of it ever haha.
I could go on about this album forever haha

April & The Phantom >>>>>>>

I like hearing the bong tokes during the acoustic interlude of La Rapet

I remember Avey saying that when he sent Spirit to Southern Records they said it made their dogs run out of the room (I'm assuming due to high frequencies). Well I just played Spirit in front of my uncle's dog and she was perfectly cool with it. Anybody else try this. And if at any point she would've seemed bothered I would've turned it off immediately, in case you think i'm cruel. But no she was chillin

My dog tilts his head to Untitled and the title track but that's about it.

Still waiting for them to do Alvin Row live. Most likely will never happen, but one can dream.

avey was talking about how he has changed his perspective on live shows and plays to the audience now, and its a little more about what they want to hear, so it may be possible!!

Think he's still got it in him?

yes

For whatever reason I never listened to this (or Danse, and I'll get around to it) until last night and it's great. The only part I couldn't dig was the high frequency on the opening track (and some of the same shit in the beginning of Alvin Row). Everything else is great. I wasn't expecting the drums at all, so April and the Phantom was a really nice surprise and got me pumped for the rest of the album. I'm listening to it again but from what I remember, Chocolate Girl and Bat You'll Fly really stood out (but the whole album is awesome and I'm excited to have it on repeat)

I notched out the high frequency in the first song/Alvin Row when I was bored... I might put it on my iPod as an alternate album of it in case I don't feel like getting a headache listening to it. I know I'm altering the album/intention, and Dave can call me a pussy all he wants and that's fine. If it makes me listen to the album more often then that's a win in my book.

Still waiting for them to do Alvin Row live. Most likely will never happen, but one can dream.

Yyyyyyyyyup ! Oh it will happen , just not sure when exactly.

I'm tellin yall the next ac album is gonna be a full-on prog rock magnum opus and that's when they're gonna start incorporating alvin row into the live set

For whatever reason I never listened to this (or Danse, and I'll get around to it) until last night and it's great. The only part I couldn't dig was the high frequency on the opening track (and some of the same shit in the beginning of Alvin Row). Everything else is great. I wasn't expecting the drums at all, so April and the Phantom was a really nice surprise and got me pumped for the rest of the album. I'm listening to it again but from what I remember, Chocolate Girl and Bat You'll Fly really stood out (but the whole album is awesome and I'm excited to have it on repeat)

I notched out the high frequency in the first song/Alvin Row when I was bored... I might put it on my iPod as an alternate album of it in case I don't feel like getting a headache listening to it. I know I'm altering the album/intention, and Dave can call me a pussy all he wants and that's fine. If it makes me listen to the album more often then that's a win in my book.

Listening it on things with decent bass definitely minimises the the 'ouch' sounds on this album (Danse too)

I'm tellin yall the next ac album is gonna be a full-on prog rock magnum opus and that's when they're gonna start incorporating alvin row into the live set

We all hope so. And they better not dare even think about reworking it ! I mean it.

avey was talking about how he has changed his perspective on live shows and plays to the audience now, and its a little more about what they want to hear, so it may be possible!!

yeah i remember after one of the 2011 solo avey shows he told a fan that he was toying with the idea of doing la rapet live with AC some day (also mouth wooed her). i would not be surprised if we get to hear at least one more spirit track live at some point

listening to the vinyl for the first time with my new system and it's never sounded this beautiful

I remember when we met them at a festival in 2013 and my friend said "Thank you for Spirit" to Dave and he said "oh man that was so long ago.

When I saw Noah play last May I took the little insert that comes with the Spirit CD for him to sign and when he saw it he kinda just went "what is thi... holy shit" and smiled
I was tempted to wrack his brain about it but figured he'd probably be the one of the two members who had the least to say about it

anyone else that has it on vinyl notice that funny little symbol in the middle of the record?

Im thinking about getting it tattooed on my forearm. I asked avey what it means on instagram, and he responded "Avey tare!!" lol

edit: also, when i saw noah live last may, i immediately told him how inspirational he is to me as a drummer, particularly on spirit. he said "i don't hear that very often. sorry i didnt do much drumming tonight. i guess i was... finger drumming..." then he tapped the air adorably

*siiighhhh*

Fuck me I keep forgetting how great this album is