By Nikki Bordokas
Staff Writer
Over the past decade, Animal Collective has created experimental music that crosses countless genre boundaries. The band’s unique, versatile sound has helped it gain a surprisingly large fan base. However, Animal Collective’s new album, “Centipede Hz,” ultimately fails to meet expectations.
“Centipede Hz” marks the ninth album released by Animal Collective, made up of Avey Tare (David Portner); Panda Bear (Noah Lennox); Deakin (Josh Dibb); and Geologist (Brian Weitz).
“Centipede Hz” provides an enjoyable listen at times but does not compare to the brilliance of the band’s 2009 album, “Merriweather Post Pavilion.” Although the album continues to feature the experimental pop Animal Collective is known for, it also features some surprisingly boring moments in an otherwise highly energetic album.
Over the past 10 years, the band has been widely dubbed as a leader in experimental pop. After breaking into the mainstream with their eighth album, “Merriweather Post Pavilion.” Animal Collective has been considered extremely influential to many popular indie acts like Yeasayer and MGMT.
Though not a complete change from their previous sound, “Centipede Hz” features a much more energetic, jovial tone, different from the more calming, sometimes even ambient music they have produced in the past. This provides for an interesting listen, but, unfortunately inconsistent tones hurt the album.
Album opener, “Moonjock,” sets the album off with an excited tone by combining intense keyboard riffs, bass drum and symbols with Avey Tare’s characteristically overbearing vocals. The song provides the context for the album: an over-modulated, old-time radio show, with an experimental twist. The fuzzy radio tuning in the background carries “Moonjack” directly into the next track, “Today’s Supernatural.”
The spazziness of “Moonjock” is shocking at first, but by the end, the listener feels like a seven year old on a sugar-high. This mental state serves as the proper state of mind necessary to enjoy the next three songs.
However, the track “Wide Eyed” doesn’t produce the same energy and intensity the preceding songs do and seems misplaced. The track is an interesting divergence from Animal Collective’s characteristic vocals. It is the first vocal performance by Deakin in the band’s history. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit with the tone of the album.
Similarly, Panda Bear’s “New Town Burnout” fails to capture the intensity of the album; it is boring and insignificant compared to the other tracks. Not surprisingly, it was originally meant to be on Panda Bear’s 2010 album “Tomboy,” which portrays a more dreamlike tone. Like “Wide Eyed,” “New Town Burnout” is a good song but provides nothing extra to the album.
The final songs on the album revert back to the jovial energy of the introductory tracks, featuring three of the best songs on the album. Both “Monkey Riches” and “Mercury Man” feature a tropical sound with echoing, distorted vocals, and the album closer “Amanita” features chirpy, Asian-influenced guitar, complimented by Avey Tare singing of adventure and fantasy, providing for a fantastic end to an otherwise somewhat mediocre album.
Overall, “Centipede Hz” is an enjoyable album and worth a listen but comes nowhere near the perfection and talent exhibited in “Merriweather Post Pavilion.” “Centipede Hz” is available on iTunes for $9.99 and in most music retail stores.
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