Tag: Animal Collective

Album Review: Animal Collective – ‘Time Skiffs’

Posted on by GuestBlogger

Let’s be real with each other… Even the most dedicated Animal Collective followers can’t hide that the critical tide had turned drastically poisonous across the ’10s after seemingly being unable to follow up a wave of acclaim. Their run of albums and EPs from 2004’s Sung Tongs through to 2009’s era-defining Merriweather Post Pavilion (and let’s not forget the outstanding companion EP Fall Be Kind released later the same year) proved to be legendary.

The Baltimore based neo-psych darlings could practically do no wrong in the eyes of indie-alternative bloggers, journalists and music obsessives. 2012’s follow up to Merriweather saw the quartet pushing into noisier and more dense sonic chaos, finding the spiritual successor to their true masterpiece, 2007’s Strawberry Jam.

Even though Centipede Hz is an incredible album – one that desperately needs reappraising – it seemingly wasn’t what fans and critics wanted after the blissful, melodic psych-pop gems that defined its predecessor. 2016’s Painting With pushed back into the opposite direction; their most outright sunshine pop sounding record seemed to be too lacking in their striking experimental flourishes.

To give you an idea of how harshly the critical perception turned, The Quietus’ Lee Arizuno described Painting With as “absolute dogshit from start to finish”. Unscathed, AnCo entered a prolific phase afterwards, exploring much less accessible sounds with a series of trippy experimental droney works and a couple of film scores.

As a dedicated fan myself since the release of Strawberry Jam, I’ve certainly not heard any dogshit in their discography – even during the past decade’s “rough patch”. Animal Collective have always been prolific and have always changed up their sound and methodology.

From the freak-folk of Sung Tongs, the largely synth and electronic leaning Merriweather, and then finding instruments again on Centipede Hz (with Panda Bear doubling up as drummer and vocalist), Animal Collective’s constant reinvention of their sound and bold desire to experiment has always been one of their most exciting assets – even if it doesn’t always land.

If any long standing band has deserved the tides to turn back in their favour, it’s Animal Collective, and fortunately this 13th full length (depending on how you count them) is the album to do it with…

Continue reading on AudioTrail (where review was first posted)

Top 10 Indie Songs, January 2022 – Band of Horses, Yard Act, Beach House, Animal Collective

Posted on by flytrap

IRC’s first Top 10 Indie Songs (January 2022) for the new year presents the best new indie rock tracks we’ve heard so far this year.

New singles are dropping left and right – we’ll keep doing our best to bring you the best music you know and don’t know about.

This installment includes amazing songs from a mixed subgenre bag from rock to pop and folk to punk featuring Band of Horses; Yard Act; Black Country, New Road; Animal Collective; Beach House; Beirut; The Wombats; Metronomy; Broken Social Scene and Local Weatherman.

Enjoy and plz share and follow so we know you want more of these.

Top 10 Indie Songs on our Spotify channel.

 

 

Top 2022 Indie Music Videos, Vol. I – The Kooks, Band of Horses, The Smile, Big Thief & AC

Posted on by IRC Staff

With the new year off to a roaring start in the way of popular new indie rock releases, songs and Already this year, there’s been a steady and growing flow of new music video single releases from indie rock artists and bands.

In This Installment (Vol. II and III in next few days):

The Kooks – “Connection” from 10 Tracks To Echo in the Dark (July 22nd)
Band of Horses – “Crutch” from Things Are Great (March 4th?)
The Smile – “The Smoke” (single)
Big Thief – “Simulation Swarm” from Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You (Feb. 7th)
Animal Collective – “Strung with Everything.” from Time Skiffs (Feb. 1st)

British indie-pop trailblazers The Kooks released the first of three EPs this week to accompany the announcement of the band’s sixth studio ablum – 10 Tracks To Echo in the Dark, set to drop July 22nd in its entirety via Lonely Cat/AWAL Recordings.

Following a trend lately in how new albums are released, the first two parts of The Kooks’ new material each consist of a three-track EP, while the final EP will unveil another four tracks from the LP.

The first EP, titled Connection: Echo in the Dark, Part One, offers the following new tracks: “Connection”, “Jesse James” and “Modern Days”. The video for “Connection” is the first music video to promote the new album. It will be the band’s first album since 2018’s widely-praised Let’s Go Sunshine.

Nearly a decade since the height of their success, Band of Horses has returned with a hit song, “Crutch,” marking the band’s first entry ever into the Billboard Adult Alternative Chart.

The accompanying music video is a bit freaky but it’s great if you love cats. If you don’t love cats, and freaky combined, probably best to let your eyes do the reviewing here.

The release date for the band’s first album in a decade – Things Are Great – was moved by BMG from January 28

Radiohead’s Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwood, and Sons Of Kemet’s Tom Skinner have returned with another single as The Smile.

The new ghostly, reverb-soaked single, “The Smoke,” is accompanied by the lyric video above and directed by BAFTA-winning writer/director Mark Jenkin.

This marks the supergroup’s second official single. In January, The Smile dropped their debut track, “You Will Never Work In Television Again,” praised by critics and fans alike.

The marathon of advanced singles from Big Thief‘s new double-album, Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe in You. So far, the band has dropped seven singles and today, “Simulation Swarm” becomes No. 8.

The eighth single from Big Thief’s would seem like overkill if it wasn’t so transfixing. The song has long been a favorite at live shows but was never officially released as a single until now.

The track is a “positively hypnotic tangle of acoustic guitar and bass, with James Krivchenia’s percussion doing just enough to reinforce its insistent groove,” writes Paste contributor Scott Russell.

A verse-heavy arrangement gives Adrianne Lenker plenty of room to unspool evocative lyrics like, “Once again, we must bleed new / Even as the hours shake / Crystal blood like a dream true / A ripple in the wound and wake.”

Friday marks the release of the first new Animal Collective album in a decade. The album, Time Skiffs, features 11 new tracks, including the nearly seven-minute track, “Strung with Everything.”

The colorful, artistic video that accompanies the song was directed by Abby Portner, sister of David Portner (aka Avey Tare) using a cut-out animatation technique with a raindrop-speckled pond and for contrast in different sequences – a wizard battling a dragon.

Its abundant flow of colors and symbols is interrupted only by the occasional lyric throughout the track’s melodic sprawl: “Let’s say tonight you and me / We’ll watch the sky fall into pieces […] And even though all hearts are strange / We’re all Strung with Everything.”

Fresh Tracks from Animal Collective, Cat Power, The Raveonettes, The Helio Sequence, Wanderlust

Posted on by Rick Sosa

Not surprisingly, there is a lot of buzz around the expected release of Animal Collective‘s 9th studio album, Centipede Hz, which is streaming, complete with psychedelic visuals, on the band’s My Animal Home Radio website. Pre-order the Centipede Hz CD here, set to drop on Sept. 4th.

[zbplayer]

It’s been four years since a new album of original music was released by Cat Power. For diehard fans, the long wait is over. Catpower’s 2008 album, Jukebox, was her most successful ever, reaching No. 14 on the U.S. Billboard chart. Matador Records has already released two singles, plus a remix, from Cat Power’s upcoming new album, Sun, set to drop on Sept. 4th (pre-order via Amazon). The first track, “Ruin,” was released a couple of months ago. Now the legendary alternative label has released a second track, “Cherokee.” Stream or download it below, or get it from Cat Power’s official website, which also features her current tour dates.

Pre-order Sun on the Matador Store, iTunes, Amazon and/or grab the deluxe vinyl + exclusive 7″ at your favorite indie retailer on September 4.

“Cherokee” – Cat Power from Sun – Sept. 4th

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Nearly one and a half years since the release of the well-received LP, Raven in the Grave, The Raveonettes are gearing up to drop their sixth studio album, Observator, on September 11th. In June, the band released the first single, “Observations.” The second single from the LP, “She Owns The Streets,” is a summertime, feel-good pop track featuring layers of glistening guitars intertwined with upbeat vocals that echo bands like Galaxie 500 and The Cure, and amplifies the Denmark male-female duo’s ability to break out into new territory. Pre-order Observator on CD or MP3 in order to get it as soon as it drops. From the two tracks already released, anticipation is building for the September release.

“She Owns The Streets” – The Raveonettes from Observator – Sept. 11th

Double-shot: “Observations” – The Raveonettes from Observator

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And then there’s The Helio Sequence. Can’t forget them. Here’s the sweet new single, “Hall of Mirrors” from The Helio Sequence’s Negotiations, which will officially drop in two weeks.

“Hall of Mirrors” – The Helio Sequence from Negotiations -Sept. 11th

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Wanderlust Return After 15-Year Hiatus

Celebrating 20 years since their formation, Philadelphia alternative rock/power pop band Wanderlust made a big splash in 1995 when RCA released their full-length debut album, Prize. The band entered the studio to record their second album in 1997, but things didn’t work out and they were dropped. The unfinished second album was later released by a small label, Not Lame. Now the band is back 15 years later with their new album, Record Time, set to drop on September 25th via Zip Records. Having opened for bands like The Who, Ben Folds 5 and Collective Soul, Wanderlust is less of an indie band than a rock band. Here’s the album’s first single, “Lou Reed.”

“Lou Reed” – Wanderlust from Record Time – Sept. 25th via Zip Records

Bonus Track: “Blow Away”

Names in Songs, Mix II: Freelance Whales, Conor Oberst, The Kinks, Animal Collective, The Border Cops, The Fratellis, The Dodos

Posted on by Max Hammer

Song titles that include names in them are nothing new; there are literally thousands of such songs that span the history of music. This playlist focuses on mostly indie rock songs that fall into this category. This is the second Names in Songs mix (see Mix One featuring Throw Me The Statue, M83, Deastro and more).

The opening track in this latest mix is from Freelance Whales, one of the biggest “buzz” bands of the second half of 2009. In fact, Freelance Whales kick off a five-week tour with Fanfarlo tonight at Moe’s in Englewood, Colorado.

This mix also includes sweet tracks from Loney Dear, The Kinks, The Border Cops, Conor Oberst, Animal Collective, Yo La Tengo, The Fratellis, Gordie Tentrees, Red House Painters, The Dodos, Sunfold, Apples in Stereo and a double-shot from Travis.

“Hannah” – Freelance Whales from Weathervane (2009)

“Danny Callahan” – Conor Oberst from s/t debut (2008)

“Wicked Anabella” – The Kinks from The Village Green Preservation Society (1968)

“Derek” – Animal Collective from Strawberry Jam (2007)

“Allie & Donnie” – The Border Cops from Musical Beatings for Your Inner Metrosexual (2007)

“I Am John” – Loney Dear from Loney, Noir (2005)

“Madeline” – Yo La Tengo from And Then Nothing Turned Itself Inside Out (2000)

“My Friend John” – The Fratellis from Here We Stand (2008)

“Alfred” – Gordie Tentrees from Mercy Or Sin (2009)

“Find Me, Ruben Olivares” – Red House Painters from Shanti Project Collection (1999)

“Jodi” – The Dodos from Visiter (2008)

“Sara The American Winter” – Sunfold from Toy Tugboats (2008)

“Stephen Stephen” – Apples in Stereo from Stephen Stephen (2006)

“Sarah” – Travis from J. Smith (2008)
Double-shot: “J. Smith” – Travis from J. Smith (2008)

After Kanye West’s mention, IRC gets loved

Posted on by Kate Stevens

Almost two weeks ago we posted about Florida’s electronic unsigned duo artists called Blind Man’s Colour.

The posting received a lot of attention!

So much so that even big-time hip-hop musician Kanye West, in a post titled “Some Dope Shit for My Apartment” (why was he living in an apartment?) on his Kayne Universe City blog, linked to our review of Blind Man’s Colour.

Kinda cool, huh? Getting some love from Mr. West? In addition, indie blogs Gorilla Vs. Bear and I Guess I’m Floating wrote about Kayne’s post and the IRC discovery. Then more high visiblity blogs jumped on the BMC-IRC-West love wagon – although they conveniently failed (decided not to) to give the original attribution to us. That’s not cool in journalism or music journalism.

In his post, West also posted a link to our announcement of the lineup for this year’s Coachella fest.

Anyways, the latest word from Blind Man Colour’s is that the guys have been getting calls from record labels and a huge number of new friend requests on MySpace since our review posted.