Michael Patrick Brady

My review of Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion ran today in the Boston Phoenix. From the tone of the previews I’ve read in other publications, I don’t think my review will fall in line with popular opinion on this album. While I appreciate its strengths, particularly “My Girls,” my overall impression of Merriweather Post Pavilion is not a good one. I think it represents a continued regression in the band, particularly the emphasis on synths and loops over organic instrumentation. Their music has become more polished, more professional, and less interesting.

Gone are the wild-eyed, explosive songs of Sung Tongs or Here Comes the Indian, and in their place are some very calculated, beautiful, yet unadventurous compositions. Again, I think I’m probably in the minority in feeling this way (and fully expect to see my review well at the bottom of the Metacritic roundup). I’m just representing a point-of-view I’m sure that many listeners who have followed the band since their freakier early days share.

[tags]Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion, Panda Bear, Avey Tare, Review, Indie Rock[/tags]