Collected Animals

damn, that quote makes me sure we won't see ben allen working on this

that's a super interesting interview

Wow, that's cool. Isn't the sweeping consensus that they got Monkey Riches kinda wrong though?

We have a tendency sometimes to pull too hard in the other direction. So there will be times when we’ve worked on something and the song seems very clear and very focused to us, but then we’ll play it for Ben — or for friends or whatever — and they will respond by saying, “I don’t even know what this is.” Ben is great for saying things to us like, “If you make this choice, which is yours to make, a lot of people are not going to get it. But if you make this choice, which might seem a little uncomfortable, you are much more likely to connect with people.” There is always a push and pull.

This is a really telling quote of the MPP era onwards

I don't want to say Ben Allen did this or that, but Wide Eyes studio versus the live shows really sounds toned down, restrained. I can't imagine it was the boys that decided to hone it in either. Like you said, it would be interesting to hear some of these songs SJ-era. It doesn't sit right with me that the the producer wasn't 'getting' the best song on the album either. But whatever

you dudes are all so gloomy, just love it like it is, not what you want it to be

Nothing we said was gloomy. We're simply talking in hypotheticals. Jesus some people on here are allergic to discussion that goes against the grain

i do think think that was a problem with ChZ, it was like 'i'ma gonna go crazy!!" but then the production wasn't even that in your face burrito about it. the songs they wrote would've been terrific with less restraint, like just threw everything in there and held nothing back. would've been a spicy enchilada

Sorry Tropic the discussion just feels a bit accusatory, which I personally am not a fan of. Also I don't think disliking CHz is really against the grain

Apologies if I came off as ratty, didn't mean to. I certainly don't want to seem like I'm pointing fingers either. I hold Chertz in the same regard as I hold all their other albums, and I'm not a Ben Allen conspirator. Just enjoy exploring other angles

The quote basically proves that Ben is a fucking shit show of a human being who doesn't get Animal Collective. It exemplifies everything that is shit about their music after the glorious MPP shows. The guy is total fucking AIDS. MPP wasn't half the record it could have been and CHz was auditory famine. The guy is bowel cancer via Gnarls Barkley. I'm just glad that one day both him and I will be fucking dust, we will be nothing. A fading memory of a hypothetical reality, the only difference being that he completely fucked up the chance that some wonderful human beings had at changing the world for the better. He is the Pol Pot of human creation. The spina bifida of progress. I hope he reads this and leaps straight into an active volcano. He is opposed to wheelchair access of the soul.

Hahahahaha

Stan the man

Lol

stan you are a fucking poet

I never ever imagined people disliked the album this much before I came here. Kind of makes me depressed.

Speaking of ben allen not "getting" Monkey Riches/NTB... How the hell does he not get those but gets Mercury Man, Applesauce, Moonjock, and all the other strange songs on CHz? I'm guessing he was talking from a production standpoint.

Call me a madman but I still love this album, despite the negativity getting to me sometimes

I think the sometimes sharp treble gets to people, something which is more tolerable on certain speakers/headphones than others, and something which may be a failing of the production (but I know little about that aspect of music). I think it sounds great overall but on the wrong set it can sound crappy. At least the people that think it sounds bad can agree that the core songs are amazing... I hope.

I don't know why I care so much. Maybe I like the idea of others enjoying this album along with me

it's alright roark, I <3 CHz too

Sorry mate, not my intention to make anyone feel bad. There was a lot of positivity about this record when it was first discussed on this board. Probably just that fewer of the longer term posters are still motivated to talk about it. I'm sure that the next set of songs, whether live bootlegs or whatever, will see a resurgence in discussion, much of which will no doubt be positive.

I think my personal opinion on it is nowhere near the ludicrous nonsense I've posted about it at times. I don't think it's their strongest set of songs and I was never much into the boots, apart from NTB. That said, I'll never forget waking up at 3am to listen to the first broadcast on CHz Radio when I was on holiday in Rome. There was no free WiFi so I ended up paying about thirty quid to stream it! I couldn't believe how amazing Applesauce was and most of the album was so exciting. Great times.

I think it would have been stronger with Honeycomb, Gotham and Crimson, which seem to fit the original concept more, to my ears. I also simply don't much like Wide Eyed, though the acoustic version they did was great. I never liked the chorus/hook of Father Time, from the boots, and the 'love, it's not real' bridge kind of irritates me, like it doesn't resolve the melody, just keeps winding in different directions. I also find that squiggle on Monkey Riches to be really irritating, always did from the boots. I just don't understand why it doesn't change at all. It's just such a dry noise.

That aside, I think Moonjock is a brilliant opener, really gets me going and nails the concept straight away. Today's Supernatural almost falls into irritating hook territory but the middle section with 'see me in Baltimore' is up there with the highest highs on the record, absolutely love it. Applesauce is pretty much all as good as that section, glorious. So, not too far off their top tier for me, with a couple of substitutions. Like all their music, it does create a world, maybe not as iconic or original as much of what they've done previously but yes, it's very good.

I have no ill feeling towards Ben Allen at all.

:deakweep:
thanks stan

I keep forgetting to ask this but does anyone else's LP of this have some weird bleed through of some other song towards the end of Moonjock (during the transition to TS)?? I'll try to record it

Yes! I think I know what you're talking about. Is it a subtle noise a little less than a second long?

Yeah, it's like a split second of some other song that kind of fades in and out really quickly

I'm gonna check this out when I get home. never noticed anything before so now I am curious.

here https://vid.me/ctXj

Sound is from about :32 to :33. It sounds like it might be from Moonjock itself or from some other thing entirely. no idea.

hmmm that's really strange. I've never heard it before so I don't think my pressing has it. pretty subtle though so I may have just never noticed it

Oh, I hear that. That's weird, and I don't think it's on my CD rip.

Sell it on ebay and call it rare

edit: wait 10 years after everyone realizes this is a masterpiece

When I first listened to this album it was a bit strange, it did sound like aliens making music in a way. It's really growing on me though. I've been listening to Wide Eyed for a while now.

Whoa. Can't wait for the non Ben Allen 4 part band mix in 2022.

It's really your favorite ?

This album is the AC album that I had trouble getting into, and I have memories of how I finally "got" some of the songs because of it. For example, I didn't like today's supernatural until I saw its video and was able to view the song as their version of a fucked up, deserty, dystopian rock song. New Town Burnout didn't work for me until I listened to it high and all the layers made sense. Rosie Oh was the only song I loved insantly

I didn't like today's supernatural until I saw its video and was able to view the song as their version of a fucked up, deserty, dystopian rock song.

That's a great way to describe it. TS has terrific energy and is one of my favorites.

First time I heard CHz I was somewhat disappointed with it like others have said. The only songs that clicked were TS and NTB. It took a couple more times listening to fully realize and appreciate what they were going for.

It's my favorite AC album because the songs are great, the sound is unique, and it has enough energy that I can put it on throughout the day to soundtrack my life. Every other AC album, maybe with the exception of Strawberry Jam, moves too slowly or draws me too far into a world I don't always want to go in. As an example, I think Feels is their "best" album but I don't always want to listen to it because the potency of their soundscape draws me too far into that world. CHz is mostly just fun and wacky, which is what I usually prefer. Applesauce is pretty close to being my favorite song by them.

their best album tbh
its like having 10 cds of mpp playing at the same time

Let's do this and then compare

add the 3 extra songs and it's also my favorite

i was exploring an abandoned factory in the woods the first time i listened to CHz. i didn't even intend for that perfect combination to happen but i don't think i could ever hate that album after that.

sometimes you just need a change of scenery!

Uploaded this today. Love monkey riches into brothersport

[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdRez8nhAMs&feature=youtu.be[/youtube]

I'd hardly call it my favourite, but I seem to like it more than the general consensus. Sure it's overproduced and the arrangement is cluttered TO THE MAX (and there a more skip-worthy tracks than usual), but Avey never lost the ability to write incredible melodies and create irresistibly upbeat moods. For all its faults, it was still the perfect soundtrack to a wonderful summer and never fails to make me smile whenever I listen to it.

But strip it back a little more next time round, OK guys?

Listening to this again thanks to Live at 9:30 while eating fruit by the foot and watching Pee Wee's Playhouse

yeah, i decided to revisit my lp again today after listening to 9:30 this week as well (not that it's been too long since ive listened to it). album is such a weirdo jammer.

Ben Allen