Instead of the typical pseudo-definitive ranking of the “Best Albums of 2016,” this December we’re trying something different. The Rutgers Review is bringing you 31 days of our writers’ favorite albums this year, from internationally anticipated releases to local debuts to a few guilty pleasures, without caring what critics have had to say.
On December 25th 2008, Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion was leaked to the public, and indie music was given its greatest Christmas gift ever. That album would go on to grab the attentions of music fans worldwide. It was a brilliant and influential cap to the band’s incredible run of albums throughout the decade. Since Merriweather’s release, though, the band has been working in its own greatest album’s shadow. Every release since has been compared to it, and, unsurprisingly, none have lived up to those expectations. So when the group dropped Painting With this year, it still wasn’t surprising that the same thing happened. People wanted another Merriweather Post Pavilion, and they didn’t get it.
But Animal Collective wasn’t trying to make another Merriweather Post Pavilion. They weren’t trying to take the indie music scene by storm, nor were they trying to tackle real world issues through layers of psychedelic synths and vocals. Painting With is a pop album, and a damn good one at that.
I would like to repeat that for all of the people out there who didn’t seem to grasp it (*cough* Pitchfork *cough*): Painting With is a pop album, and a damn good one at that.
The seventh studio album under the Animal Collective moniker pushes the band yet again in a new direction. The work is packed with uncharacteristically short pop songs (they called it their Ramones album) and feels more like a playful dance party than anything else. It opens with the single “Floridada” which sets the sunshiny tone that the album carries right to the very end. It’s danceable, it’s fun, it’s different, but most importantly it has incredibly interesting vocals. Avey Tare and Panda Bear trade lines, bouncing back and forth with exciting and enticing chemistry.
The next track, “Hocus Pocus,” is the first track on the album written by Noah Lennox a.k.a. Panda Bear, and the song furthers the unconventional vocals by utilizing the production tactic of “hocketing.” The technique, which Lennox first experimented with on his 2015 solo album Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper, essentially repeats every syllable twice. Every sound is first sung by Panda Bear and then repeated by Avey Tare. The sorts of songs that this creates are offsetting at first, but quickly become interesting and enjoyable. Additionally, hocketing adds a meaningful dynamic to seemingly simple pop songs. By having each sound highlighted through repetition, Lennox dissects language and makes it into something more than it otherwise would be. Each syllable is turned into a distinguishable entity, almost like a musical note. The human voice becomes less of a platform for conveying lyrics and more of an actual instrument that adds to the overall sound of the songs.
For the most part, the lyrics on these songs are irrelevant. Sure some of them are pretty great, “the walls of the future / connected by sutures” on “Floridada” is a favorite of mine, but overall they’re not nearly as important as the actual sound of the vocals. Listen to the second half of “The Burglars” (one of the best songs on the album and of the year). What the fuck is Avey saying?? I have no idea. Additionally, it sounds like Panda’s background vocals are saying “what you think you own / is ours / burglars,” which would make sense, but it turns out that what we might think is “burglars” is actually just Panda singing a note. Why, you might ask, does Avey Tare go rap god on us when he could have slowed down a bit so we could hear what he was saying? Why doesn’t Panda sing “burglars” despite it making so much sense for him to do so? Because, ultimately, the words don’t matter in the song. The exciting atmosphere that the franticly hastening synths and percussion create is beautifully complimented by Avey Tare’s speedy vocals, while at the same time, Panda’s soothing voice accents the hectic rhythms making less into more. The vocals aren’t there to convey words; they’re there to create a feeling.
This rule, like all rules, has an exception: “Golden Gal.” The penultimate track has the psychedelic group at the peak of their pop expertise. The beat and hook are infectious, sticking in your head for days at a time. The “Golden Girls” samples make the song even more fun, and the presence of two distinct halves almost gives the listener two songs for the price of one. “Golden Gal” even features Geologist, a member of the band who mostly works on samples and unconventional electronic sounds, as a vocalist (he’s the super high part of the beat, and his voice is so distorted it doesn’t even sound human anymore, but it’s still cool).
Despite all of this, what stands out to me most about the song is the lyrics. The song features Avey Tare singing to his “golden gal” with loving lyrics like “my gal you’re so strong you should hold your head above them / and you need not ask for much to get my praise.” It goes beyond that though, as the song is incredibly empowering from a feminist perspective. Just look at the bridge in the second half of the song: “You’d think the gal should feel so comfortable these days / but sexy genders bring some troubles to the fray / and trouble tears apart another golden heart / so I want to be the reminder that she’s stronger than the bulk on other days.” The words are simultaneously powerful and loving. Avey Tare manages to tie together the romantic love of a woman and her social empowerment. This unconventional take on a love song is truly beautiful, and it’s a great reason for the band to step out of its usage of the voice as an instrument.
Through and through, Painting With is a great, fun pop album that is worthy of praise. From hocketing vocals to feminist love, Animal Collective has yet again made quality music. Give it a spin.
P.S. Painting With was made to be played live. I saw them at the Starland Ballroom in May and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Their tour is over, but if you somehow have the opportunity to see them, do yourself a favor and get your ass to that show.
by: Adam Yawdoszyn