From
Slate:
Animal Collective
How the art-pop-noise-rock-freak-folk-jam-band became the biggest indie act of the year.
In 2004, the art-pop-noise-rock-jam-band-freak-folk-whatzit act Animal Collective released Sung Tongs, a bewitching record full of loopy acoustic strumming, jarring harmonies, and electronic gurgles that would all periodically arrange into something resembling familiar songform, fall out of step, unspool outright, and edge back into partnership. Sung Tongs was a minor breakthrough, making the Brooklyn-via-Baltimore band's small but devoted following a little less small and a lot more devoted. Reviewing the record, Pitchfork noted, "musically, Animal Collective sound more 'pop' here than they ever have."
Ever since, critics have cast each new album from this ecstatically confounding band as a teasing tussle between the avant-garde and the accessible, with the latter steadily gaining ground. The Times called 2005's Feels "some of their lushest, most decipherable music so far." Rolling Stone said that 2007's Strawberry Jam flashed even "more shards of tune" than its predecessor. This year's Merriweather Post Pavilion has sold a remarkable 140,000 copies and recently topped year-end-best lists at Spin, Pitchfork, Entertainment Weekly, and the Times (where it came in at No. 2). Blender called it "their sunniest, most likeable record." Going by the blurbs alone, you might assume that, in a few years, Animal Collective will complete its career-long metamorphosis into ABBA.
More at the link....
Animal Collective is probably my favorite band at the moment.
For the speeding mix:
In the Wild by Hoodoo Gurus
My brother gave me files of Rolling Stone's Top 50 songs of the decade - and the files don't have artist info. I hate having to label after import and then I'll have to figure out dupes.
Does anyone have a link to that parody of Octopus' Garden that was posted a while back?
I had quite the musical adventure weekend. I saw the Bouncing Souls four times, about a dozen other bands as opening acts and after shows, played pinball at Asbury Park's pinball museum (pretty 'dingy' music that), and general merriment.
Thanks to one of my besties writing a killer setlist and winning the contest we got to be VIP on night four. Watching them play it from the side of the stage was fantastic. Hanging out back stage at the Stone Pony was somewhat awkward (didn't want to be in the way, eat the last slice, seem like you're staring when the musicians begin to whip of their stage clothes...) but mostly rad (getting fussed over by the band, smacking the All Access Passess Only Beyond This Point sign to open the door, putting my bare butt where Springsteen's bare butt has surely been...)
And as a capper, I appear to have purchased a second state Butcher Cover in wear-and-tear-and-one-small-peel condition for ten bucks. So far it is surviving what authentication Debet and I have managed. I'm sort of delirious as I've always wanted one and never imagined I'd have such a thing.
My speeding ticket bands/artists: Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, 50 Foot Wave (Kristin Hersh's band), the first Keane album, Ladyhawke, Matchbox 20's album 'Mad Season'...
Albums of the week: Sara Bareilles with 'Little Voice', Florence & The Machine's 'Lungs'.
The mashup album Best of Bootie 2009 is pretty awesome.
If nothing else, you need to hear the "Single Ladies"/"Andy Griffith Show" mashup, which I sent to buffistarawk.
I just played NirGaga for FAQWife the other night. It is indeed awesome!
