retired_fineat42

Apparently they mostly play stuff that they've only recently written and then "practice" the songs in concert. That's really gutsy.

Most bands would stick to known material and at least get a song well rehearsed before playing it live. I suppose it all adds to the unique experience Animal Collective seems to be.

retired_sarahlatham425

They have done since the Sung Tongs album at least. As soon as their album is released, they will tour, but the tour will be new material that they created while recording the new album. Of course, they play older songs too, it's not just all new songs.

Thats why I say most songs are better live, I hear them live first and to be honest, Peacebone is a hundred times better live. When I got the recording of that I was extremely disappointed, it lacks the punch of the live version. However, it is still a good song.

retired_sarahlatham425

For anyone who hasn't heard their old stuff and enjoys the poppier side of AC -

April and the Phantom

And for anyone who hasn't heard the b-side to the excellent Grass single -

Fickle Cycle

I have to apologise. I get a little excited when it comes to Animal Collective.

retired_fineat42

I've been reading through a few of their interviews and they say they hate the way many bands keep releasing the same sound and never try new things, so there is the reason why they keep pushing out new material and going in different directions.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see that Panda Bear was first influenced by Orb, and found a lot of inspiration in Daft Punk.

DP started out really well (too well) with Homework and just seemed to nosedive after that. All that Japanese Hentai crap took over and ruined their sound imo. Still better than 98% of modern day electronic music though, which shows what a terrible state the genre is in. The 90's were full of great electronic bands/artists. They're all dead and buried or stagnant now.

retired_assy22

I still maintain that I cannot bring myself to listen to their early stuff along with bands like Deerhoof and Xiu Xiu (both equally ****ing terrible) which appear to be the sole reserve of utter music geeks such as those populated in great abundance in places like Pitchfork.

That being said I haven't heard Friend Opportunity, wouldn't seem fair to lambaste Xiu Xiu on an impression formed almost entirely by The Runners Four and Milk Man. As far as I can remember Runners Four was the watershed of my abiding dislike of Pitchfork.

addendum: Just watched Fickle Cycle, deliberately zany!! I love Grass, but by god is that unlistenable

retired_heidus17

Deerhoof are one of the most fun live bands ever.

And Pitchfork can ****.

retired_heidus17

Can easily understand people not liking Deerhoof/AC though.

retired_sarahlatham425

Nothing wrong with Pitchfork. It's a good source for finding new music that I generally enjoy. I'll usually check out a band or two on it every few days. Don't have to take the reviews to heart.
It's also useful for the news section, as I've found it more or less keeps me up to date with all the bands I enjoy.

I don't get how the song is deliberately zany? It's a song that obviously sounded good to them and it certainly sounds good to me. There is barely any difference between it and Grass to be honest.

No point anyway, you've made your thoughts on it clear about three times now.

retired_gulkis

yeah pitchfork is alright, any problems with it tend to epitomise music reviewing as a whole rather than being an ingrained pitchfork problem. i get the feeling it used to be worse back in the day though which i suppose is where most of the snob snobs get their hate. i mainly go there for the news and mp3 blog, but will read a review if it catches my eye.

that fickle cycle is great btw, hadn't heard that before. "zany" jesus, the video maybe, in which case who cares.

retired_fineat42

If you want "zany", listen to early Aphex Twin

"Derek" the newest AC song to grow more and more on me. I love the build-up to and climax.