Animal Collective - Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009)

Ok...honestly, if you don't know about Animal Collective by now, then I don't even know where to begin. Ridiculously catchy yet super weird in outer space, these guys do what they want, how they want it...and it's fantastic. This is definitely their "poppiest" and most "accessible" album yet but it's still got all the quirky things that make AC so great, as well as new-found pop sensibilities that made Pitchfork soil itself and now every hipster worth his salt loves AC. I'm sure almost everyone who comes here has, at least, heard of this but it certainly was one of the very best albums of the year even though it came out right at the beginning of it. If you somehow haven't heard this yet, give it a listen for sure.

01. In The Flowers
02. My Girls
03. Also Frightened
04. Summertime Clothes
05. Daily Routine
06. Bluish
07. Guy's Eyes
08. Taste
09. Lion In A Coma
10. No More Runnin'
11. Brother Sport

Merriweather Post Pavilion

Animal Collective - Water Curses (2008)

I guess this leaked recently. I really enjoyed it, maybe even more than their last LP (yeah I know, I'm crazy). Anyway, this is a damn good EP and you should check it out for sure. Also, I don't even know if this is the artwork but it's cool anyway.

1. "Water Curses" - 3:25
2. "Street Flash" - 6:48
3. "Cobwebs" - 4:14
4. "Seal Eyeing" - 3:38

Water Curses

Sung Tongs - Animal Collective (2004)

Despite the name 'Animal Collective' attached to this album, only two of the band's four members play on it: Avey Tare (David Portner) and Panda Bear (Noah Lennox). As a result, Sung Tongs is a more stripped-down affair than other Animal Collective releases. On the album, Avey and Panda both utilize acoustic guitars and tribal-like drums rather than the electronic instruments of previous and following albums.

1. "Leaf House" – 2:42
2. "Who Could Win A Rabbit" – 2:18
3. "The Softest Voice" – 6:46
4. "Winter's Love" – 4:55
5. "Kids on Holiday" – 5:47
6. "Sweet Road" – 1:15
7. "Visiting Friends" – 12:36
8. "College" – 0:53
9. "We Tigers" – 2:43
10. "Mouth Wooed Her" – 4:24
11. "Good Lovin' Outside" – 4:26
12. "Whaddit I Done" – 4:05

Sweet Road is one of the happiest sounding songs ever made. Listen to that and try not to smile.

Sung Tongs