OK, should I give the new Animal Collective album a try?

[mvd]

Noise-rock is not my thing, and I'm not sure I'd like it from the samples - but I've heard nothing bad about it and many call it a masterpiece. This certainly wouldn't be the first time I've disagreed with the critics on an album. But it is a complex album, and I thought I'd ask opinions of those who have heard the whole album (which is called Merriweather Post Pavilion.) Should I take a chance and purchase it?

[Richardo]

1. Heard it reviewed on NPR this afternoon - I liked it.

...and I've never heard them before.

[mvd]

2. You've probably read about my taste on the boards here..

do you think I'd like it, too?

[Richardo]

3. I confess I have not -

...and I didn't even know 'noise rock' was a thing.

It was very pop-oriented to my ear (with some complexity) and, as the reviewer said, the harmonies are like the post Pet Sounds Beach Boys, if Brian Wilson had gone more psychedelic.

[mvd]

4. That does sound good

The samples had a lot of electronic blurps and kind of spacey singing - but samples can't really tell me a lot.

[mvd]

5. It just might be an album that grows on me, unlike their others

I'll see one more time if there are more opinions.

[SteppingRazor]

6. As with most Animal Collective, it's a pretty trippy sound.

I put 2005's Feels on my best-of list for that year. As I recall, I wrote something like "it would be a great disc to do acid to." Animal Collective's work general falls in that category, and Merriweather is no exception. I'd hesitate to call it true noise-rock, as it doesn't have noise's atonality -- Animal Collective boasts good melodies and some finely crafted tunes. Often, the songs seem like noise, but a poppy melody suddenly comes rising from the discordance.

Buy the album if you dig Pink Floyd and Sigur Ros.

[mvd]

7. I do like those two artists

Thanks for your reply.

[deutsey]

8. I'm like you, the samples don't seem like my thing, but it's getting good reviews

Two views in in The Quietus:

http://thequietus.com/articles/00838-animal-collective-...

http://thequietus.com/articles/00991-animal-collective-...

[ghostsofgiants]

9. I've been meaning to check that out myself. Thanks for the reminder.

But then, I loves me some noise.

[bif]

10. allmusic gives it 4 1/2 stars

And you can sample all the songs on the disc. I thought it was okay. It didn't blow mw away or anything. Have you heard
"The Acorn"? They're an excellent Canadian indie group with nice vocals.

[Shakespeare]

11. I was very intrigued with their music on the NPR piece last night.

I may have to check that out, too.