Artist: Animal Collective
Album: Merriweather Post Pavillion
File Under: Experimental
Recommended if You Like: Grizzly Bear, Beach Boys, Yeasayer
Featured Track: ‘My Girls’

Listen up boys and girls, this is important.  Animal Collective is releasing their much anticipated, acclaimed and uber-hyped Merriweather Post Pavillion next week on January 20th. (Well, technically it’s already out – make that sold out – on vinyl.  But if you’re like me, you’re not hip enough to own a turntable.) So mark your calendars and get ready.  Because if you want to be anyone in the music world, with any sort of indie music cred, you need to own this album and worship it like the second coming of Christ.  Animal Collective, deliver us from indie rock evil!

Okay, all kidding aside, this is a damn good album. And you should own it. It’s just a little hard to swallow all of this hype.  Pitchfork gave the album a 9.6 for christ sakes!  I didn’t know that was even possible.  Are they really reinventing rock?  Is their sound truly that innovative and unlike anything out there in the rock landscape? I don’t think so.  My best summary of their sound is classic prog rock syncopation mixed with a little techno and sprinkled with a heap of Beach Boys Pet Sounds all over it.  

Perhaps what’s most innovative and unique about them is that they don’t conform to one particular genre, which is refreshing and inspiring.  And their music has a joyful, playful and ecstatic quality that makes you want to grab your friends, drop some E, tune in and trip out. (Is that album art moving or is it just my imagination? Whoa.)

You’ve been given the kool-aid, now drink it. Then join the rest of the disciples for an exclusive stream of Merriweather Post Pavillion on Rhapsody. See you on the other side.