Animal Collective's reputation as one of the best bands of their generation has already been solidified, and at this point, nothing that they release is going to harm that legacy. The band has been doing something following every subsequent release that most musical acts are afraid to attempt; they are constantly reinventing themselves. To call Merriweather Post Pavilion the crowning achievement of the band's career undermines the rest of the Animal Collective's work. It seems that a lot of critics are emphasizing the magnum opus-like quality of their latest release, which to me, belittles the rest of what Animal Collective and its members are going to offer for years to come. Listening to Merriweather Post Pavilion is so liberating because it's not only a brilliantly executed album, but it has helped officially cement Animal Collective as the greatest band making music today. The album has helped flesh out the band's previous work by reminding the listener how the band has evolved so much over the past decade. Merriweather Post Pavilion contains some of the group's best work, most notably "My Girls", "Daily Routine", and "Brother Sport", the later being the best closing song to an album I've heard in years. The electronic loops and samples Geologist has been contributing over the past few years take front and center on this album. By synthesizing their music to a greater degree on Merriweather Post Pavilion, the band has become more earthy sounding in the process. This is their most natrual sounding album yet. The album is not by any means perfect. The songs following "Bluish" tend to drag on a bit, and none of the songs on the second half of the record are particularly memorable besides "Brother Sport". Still, Merriweather Post Pavilion is not a record meant to capture the highlight of the band's career. It's meant to complement the group's equally strong previous work and serves as a reminder that there are still musicians out there willing to take chances, giving the listener hope in the limitless possibilities music has to offer. And that is something to be proud off.
4.5/5
http://www.myspace.com/animalcollectivetheband
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