I'd first heard of Animal Collective around 2005 and had not really listened to them until 2007 and was blown away by their latest album at the time, Strawberry Jam, and was instantly blown away by their use of extensive vamping and harmonies as well as their versatility. One song would sound like nothing I'd ever heard (Fireworks) and another would sound like something that would've appeared on The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band had it had a fourteenth track (Cuckoo Cuckoo).
After first hearing Animal Collective for the first time, everything I thought I knew up until that point about the number of possibilities within the creation of music instantly became a form of doubt similar to questioning the existence of the Tooth Fairy or God for the first time.
I must admit that the use of an open mind (whether achieved through guided meditation, religious experiences or various psychedelics) is almost always a prerequisite to truly understanding the art forms the members of Animal Collective create. Some of the first music the members had ever recorded was inspired or, at least, influenced by the use of LSD during improvisations. I firmly believe that most of the music within the experimental genre is related in some way to the use of psychedelic and/or dissociative substances. Perhaps it's called "experimental" not solely because of the uniqueness and originality of the song structure, but also because of the widespread use of experimental substances by the artists.
On numerous forums consisting of endless FAQs, written experiences, debates and suggestions involving psychedelic trips, one can find long lists (often posted by long-time subscribers to the LSD culture) that all claim to be the best lists of music to listen to while under the influence of psychedelics. As an open-minded person (although I am open to the possibility that I'm close-minded), I acknowledge that opinions differ when it comes to art appreciation. One will argue that Shpongle is the best music to listen to while tripping. Another will claim it's Pink Floyd. Another will say Brian Eno. One thing I've found is that, on almost every list I've ever come across related to this subject, Animal Collective is written and, more often than not, the only description the author will give is as follows:
... Animal Collective - Extremely trippy music ...
It's quickly approaching 2011 and I'm very much an avid listener and appreciator of Animal Collective. One could possibly construe from this that I'm very much an avid user of psychedelics and facilitator of LSD culture, but I will neither confirm or deny these things since, as an open-minded person, I accept the possibility that I either am or I am not... or that I'm neither or both of those...
More often than not, while using LSD or other psychedelics amongst peers, there will be someone (never named Dave) cursing the establishment, hypothesizing methods of improving the world, delving into quantum theory, recognizing every instance of unnecessary evil including television commercials and reality shows, proposing the abolition of a monetary system, proving the existence of God, extraterrestrials and alternate universes, stripping themselves of ego and delusions leading to materialism and greed, criticizing musicians and other celebrities of being "sell-outs" and finding inner truths within the music they're listening to. The next day, that same person will be talking about how great the visuals were and how great the music was, watching television and proposing plans to become a sell-out, realizing the music heard the day before no longer has an inner meaning, but still sounds cool. Don't worry. I'm going somewhere with this.
After a "friend of mine" listened to Animal Collective's song My Girls from the album Merriweather Post Pavilion while on LSD, the lyrics really made sense. This song actually proposed demands that go against everything that seems so evil to most during an acid trip. "I don't mean to seem like I care about material things like our social stats. I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls". I believe the song is a cry of my generation and should be one of all generations explaining that we know that we don't want needless bullshit in this world, and we also know that we definitely don't want them. As long as we have a place to live and the ones we love, what's the point of all the other crap? If there's any song within the genre of modern music that has a positive message, this would be it.
When I'd first heard Animal Collective's groundbreaking 2009 album Merriweather Post Pavilion, I really didn't know how to feel. I knew I definitely didn't hate it because I listened to the album in its entirety. I knew chances were that I liked it because I immediately wanted to listen to it again.
After the second and third listen, I drew the conclusion that it might've been my favorite album of all time. The fact that it's been almost two years since my first listen and that I'm still very much into the album pretty much guarantees that my conclusion was correct. It's rare that I find an album that has one song that appeals to me. This album has eleven masterpieces on it. I was unsure at first about how I felt about this album as opposed to the other albums I had listened to, but it's pretty much how I feel every time I hear a song I'd never heard by them. It's completely different from the others, but still very much the same at the same time, in some way I don't understand but don't question. When compared to their 2004 album Sung Tongs, you might as well be comparing bacon to pork chops. They're totally different but made of the same things... and wayyyyyyy too good to be kosher.
More often than not, while using LSD or other psychedelics amongst peers, there will be someone (never named Dave) cursing the establishment, hypothesizing methods of improving the world, delving into quantum theory, recognizing every instance of unnecessary evil including television commercials and reality shows, proposing the abolition of a monetary system, proving the existence of God, extraterrestrials and alternate universes, stripping themselves of ego and delusions leading to materialism and greed, criticizing musicians and other celebrities of being "sell-outs" and finding inner truths within the music they're listening to. The next day, that same person will be talking about how great the visuals were and how great the music was, watching television and proposing plans to become a sell-out, realizing the music heard the day before no longer has an inner meaning, but still sounds cool. Don't worry. I'm going somewhere with this.After a "friend of mine" listened to Animal Collective's song My Girls from the album Merriweather Post Pavilion while on LSD, the lyrics really made sense. This song actually proposed demands that go against everything that seems so evil to most during an acid trip. "I don't mean to seem like I care about material things like our social stats. I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls". I believe the song is a cry of my generation and should be one of all generations explaining that we know that we don't want needless bullshit in this world, and we also know that we definitely don't want them. As long as we have a place to live and the ones we love, what's the point of all the other crap? If there's any song within the genre of modern music that has a positive message, this would be it.
