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Editorial Reviews
Centipede Hz, the 10th Animal Collective album, follows the widely celebrated Merriweather Post Pavilion (2009) and it's the first since Strawberry Jam (2007) to feature all four original band members: Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Geologist and Deakin. As the album's opening drum crashes and radio interference immediately make clear, Animal Collective have made their most widescreen and fully realized music to date. The album is a panoramic set of songs that shimmer with the confidence and wonder of Animal Collective's unique inner logic and the luminous warmth of their sound world.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
By Frisbee
Format:Audio CD
If you like Merriweather Post Pavilion but are finding this one a bit 'difficult' here's some rules to make this album work as a listening experience for you.
1. This is an album in all senses of the word, to really get the right kick out of it listen to it from start to finish.
2. Listen to it loud with a good set of headphones. It's the only way to really experience the amazing sound pallette.
3. If you don't get it on first listen, listen to it lots of times before dismissing it.
When I first listened to the album I was a bit disappointed, then on 2nd listen I became a bit intrigued by it, now after 5 listens through, the latter with headphones, I'm convinced it's a masterpiece.
Don't expect another Merriweather Post Pavilion. This is a different record. If MPP was Animal Collective's Sgt. Peppers, this is their White Album. It's like The Beatles moved to 21st Century America, got into modern electronic music and melded Revolution No.9 as a background to the rest of the tracks on the White Album!
I really think Animal Collective are pushing music now in ways equivalent to the Beatles in their heyday. They're our modern day Fab Four.
If you like Panda Bear more than Avery Tare (as I did) you'll probably be disappointed that Avery gets way more vocal time. But I've really got into the versatility, wildness and passion of Avery's singing on this and Panda Bear's contributions are excellent, particularly the drumming that drives the record.
After my last listen to the record, by the time Amanita morphed into its ecstatic finale I experienced a rush that I can only imagine is like being on some mad pyschedelic high. I don't do drugs so I'm just speculating!
There's so much going on on this record, so many strange noises. The song structures are wild, unpredictable. There's loads of really catchy sing along bits, they're just not done in the obvious way like regular pop songs.
I love Merriweather and rank it as one of the best albums I've ever heard, this isn't as accessible or catchy, but it's probably a better overall record. A real artistic high point.
I'm not going to single out songs because I think this is a bit like a symphony, the whole is so much more satisfying than the parts. It's just not the same listening to Amanita in isolation as it is going through the whole album and then the end of Amanita just hits you like a wall of rapture.
Their upcoming live shows are going to be unmissable. Best band in the world at the moment.
1. This is an album in all senses of the word, to really get the right kick out of it listen to it from start to finish.
2. Listen to it loud with a good set of headphones. It's the only way to really experience the amazing sound pallette.
3. If you don't get it on first listen, listen to it lots of times before dismissing it.
When I first listened to the album I was a bit disappointed, then on 2nd listen I became a bit intrigued by it, now after 5 listens through, the latter with headphones, I'm convinced it's a masterpiece.
Don't expect another Merriweather Post Pavilion. This is a different record. If MPP was Animal Collective's Sgt. Peppers, this is their White Album. It's like The Beatles moved to 21st Century America, got into modern electronic music and melded Revolution No.9 as a background to the rest of the tracks on the White Album!
I really think Animal Collective are pushing music now in ways equivalent to the Beatles in their heyday. They're our modern day Fab Four.
If you like Panda Bear more than Avery Tare (as I did) you'll probably be disappointed that Avery gets way more vocal time. But I've really got into the versatility, wildness and passion of Avery's singing on this and Panda Bear's contributions are excellent, particularly the drumming that drives the record.
After my last listen to the record, by the time Amanita morphed into its ecstatic finale I experienced a rush that I can only imagine is like being on some mad pyschedelic high. I don't do drugs so I'm just speculating!
There's so much going on on this record, so many strange noises. The song structures are wild, unpredictable. There's loads of really catchy sing along bits, they're just not done in the obvious way like regular pop songs.
I love Merriweather and rank it as one of the best albums I've ever heard, this isn't as accessible or catchy, but it's probably a better overall record. A real artistic high point.
I'm not going to single out songs because I think this is a bit like a symphony, the whole is so much more satisfying than the parts. It's just not the same listening to Amanita in isolation as it is going through the whole album and then the end of Amanita just hits you like a wall of rapture.
Their upcoming live shows are going to be unmissable. Best band in the world at the moment.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The pressure has well and truly been ramped up in anticipation of this latest Animal Collective release following as it does the commercial breakthrough album 'Merriweather Post Pavilion' and the equally impressive 'Fall Be Kind' EP. The expectations are different this time out, the last album was considered more accessible and even contained a genuine indie hit in the form of 'My Girls' - it goes without saying that many listeners will be hoping 'Centipede Hz' follows a similar path to its predecessor. After living with this album for a week I'm not convinced everyone is going to be won over by the direction the band have taken, this is abrasive, dense, busy - some will baulk at the seemingly cluttered and slippery arrangements. The closest recent parallel for me would be someone purchasing 'Embryonic' by the Flaming Lips hoping to find another 'Yoshimi', both albums are clearly the work of the same band but where the earlier album applies a smooth and clean approach to the production and keeps the writing concise the later release revels in throwing up an alien sound palette of initially perplexing and jarring noise which it marries to far looser song structures. It goes a long way to explaining why I awarded this album 5 stars when you consider I actually rated 'Embryonic' my favourite album of 2009 ahead of 'MPP'!
'Centipede Hz' really is a full on sensory assault right from the off - after a quick snippet of radio noise 'Moonjock' jumps straight in with pounding drums and distorted vocals, as a standalone song perhaps not the band's most focused composition but it works perfectly as an extended intro here particularly because it is followed by the incredibly tight tribal meets carnival intensity of 'Today's Supernatural'. I suppose it is at this point I should point out that this album is somewhat dominated by Avey Tare vocally which is fine by me, I've always favoured his style but Lennox fans may be slightly disappointed by the lack of Panda lead vocals. This leads us neatly to track 3, a short number sung by Noah which to these ears has a touch of early Talking Heads to the guitar parts - it is a pleasant diversion but ever so slightly insubstantial.
Luckily the album gets back on track with the simply phenomenal 'Apple Sauce' that has just got to be considered one of the band's best ever moments - the composition contains so many separate parts it is unbelievable! The chorus when it arrives for the first time (at the 1:50 mark no less!) is just so perfect for the band melodically and in particular listen out for the added detail provided by the backing vocals which take it to that extra level. Even better, just when you think they may be losing their way and milking the chorus a little too much an outro brilliantly bursts in - 'One, the eagle!!... two, the nobel!!...'. Great stuff.
'Wide Eyed' is up next and is a bit of an Animal Collective oddity as it is sung by the returning guitarist Deakin (he sat out MPP) and it does a good job of keeping the momentum going, sounding refreshingly different to all that has preceded it. In a way it is a shame the band haven't incorporated his lead vocals in any of their past material as the only gripe I have is it does have the feel of a guest spot, especially as the rest of the band don't provide any backing vocals - perhaps this won't be a one off going forward? 'Father Time' is a classic Collective composition, it sounds vaguely tropical and is another highlight. I'm always surprised no one ever compares Portner's vocals to Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction, there are some huge similarities in tone and inflection there - a good thing in my book!
'New Town Burnout' is a decent Panda Bear number that builds slowly and comes into its own as the layers of samples build, by the end it has created an intoxicating atmosphere and allowed for a little respite from the full on assault of beats and harsh effects found elsewhere...although this respite proves to be a short lived as a repeated sample of machine noise heralds the start of 'Monkey Rich', a singalong Avey number with a tribal meets industrial feel and chanting vocals in the chorus - one of the more instantly catchy songs and likely to be a live favourite. 'Mercury Man' has a creepy edge with disembodied vocals somewhat rescuing the track at the end, 'Pulleys' is more satisfying and similar to 'Father Time' in being a more typical Animal Collective tune. The disc is rounded off by the excellent and suitably grand 'Amanita' which adds a touch of Eastern flair to the mix, the song gets increasingly psychedelic and distorted as it races to its conclusion.
I can see why this album might get a bashing from some quarters and I can also agree that 'Centipede Hz' may not be the certified improvement/refinement of 'Merriweather Post Pavilion' we perhaps expected but as a fan of Animal Collective at their most intense and discordant and as someone who really enjoyed the challenging 'Strawberry Jam' and similarly no holds barred releases from other artists ('Embryonic' and Sufjan Steven's 'Age of Adz' spring to mind) I have to applaud the band for releasing such a uniquely different recording once again - as always essential.
'Centipede Hz' really is a full on sensory assault right from the off - after a quick snippet of radio noise 'Moonjock' jumps straight in with pounding drums and distorted vocals, as a standalone song perhaps not the band's most focused composition but it works perfectly as an extended intro here particularly because it is followed by the incredibly tight tribal meets carnival intensity of 'Today's Supernatural'. I suppose it is at this point I should point out that this album is somewhat dominated by Avey Tare vocally which is fine by me, I've always favoured his style but Lennox fans may be slightly disappointed by the lack of Panda lead vocals. This leads us neatly to track 3, a short number sung by Noah which to these ears has a touch of early Talking Heads to the guitar parts - it is a pleasant diversion but ever so slightly insubstantial.
Luckily the album gets back on track with the simply phenomenal 'Apple Sauce' that has just got to be considered one of the band's best ever moments - the composition contains so many separate parts it is unbelievable! The chorus when it arrives for the first time (at the 1:50 mark no less!) is just so perfect for the band melodically and in particular listen out for the added detail provided by the backing vocals which take it to that extra level. Even better, just when you think they may be losing their way and milking the chorus a little too much an outro brilliantly bursts in - 'One, the eagle!!... two, the nobel!!...'. Great stuff.
'Wide Eyed' is up next and is a bit of an Animal Collective oddity as it is sung by the returning guitarist Deakin (he sat out MPP) and it does a good job of keeping the momentum going, sounding refreshingly different to all that has preceded it. In a way it is a shame the band haven't incorporated his lead vocals in any of their past material as the only gripe I have is it does have the feel of a guest spot, especially as the rest of the band don't provide any backing vocals - perhaps this won't be a one off going forward? 'Father Time' is a classic Collective composition, it sounds vaguely tropical and is another highlight. I'm always surprised no one ever compares Portner's vocals to Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction, there are some huge similarities in tone and inflection there - a good thing in my book!
'New Town Burnout' is a decent Panda Bear number that builds slowly and comes into its own as the layers of samples build, by the end it has created an intoxicating atmosphere and allowed for a little respite from the full on assault of beats and harsh effects found elsewhere...although this respite proves to be a short lived as a repeated sample of machine noise heralds the start of 'Monkey Rich', a singalong Avey number with a tribal meets industrial feel and chanting vocals in the chorus - one of the more instantly catchy songs and likely to be a live favourite. 'Mercury Man' has a creepy edge with disembodied vocals somewhat rescuing the track at the end, 'Pulleys' is more satisfying and similar to 'Father Time' in being a more typical Animal Collective tune. The disc is rounded off by the excellent and suitably grand 'Amanita' which adds a touch of Eastern flair to the mix, the song gets increasingly psychedelic and distorted as it races to its conclusion.
I can see why this album might get a bashing from some quarters and I can also agree that 'Centipede Hz' may not be the certified improvement/refinement of 'Merriweather Post Pavilion' we perhaps expected but as a fan of Animal Collective at their most intense and discordant and as someone who really enjoyed the challenging 'Strawberry Jam' and similarly no holds barred releases from other artists ('Embryonic' and Sufjan Steven's 'Age of Adz' spring to mind) I have to applaud the band for releasing such a uniquely different recording once again - as always essential.
12 of 15 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Spastic and at times overly busy, Centipede Hz still rewards multiple listens
September 4, 2012
Format:Audio CD
Animal Collective have had a pretty epic four album run beginning with 2004's freak-folk 'Sung Tongs' and ending with their previous full-length, 2009's 'Merriweather Post Pavilion,' their most accessible (and most successful) album to date. Never a band to rest on their laurels, each album was a reaction to and near antithesis of the previous, and this trend continues with 'Centipede Hz.' Unfortunately it never quite reaches the heights of its predecessors, imo, though it's still an admirable--if a bit overbearing--effort.
Whereas 'Merriweather' was very Noah Lennox-dominated (he being the mellower, more traditionally "pop-friendly" of the two), Avey Tare's spazzamatazz songwriting and vocal stylings take center-stage here, and combined with the insanely kaleidoscopic and harsh noises coming from every which way, results in an overall vibe that's much more busy-sounding and, well....abrasive is the best word I can think of. Maybe "headachy" is more accurate. This tone is set early with opener 'Moonjock' and rarely lets up throughout its 54 minutes. There's some respite during Noah's handful of calmer, slightly more ambient tracks, but the assault on the senses can still be a bit much at times.
But if you dig through all the clutter, there are some lush melodies buried underneath; they just may take some time to unearth. "Wide Eyed," sung by multi-instrumentalist Deakin (back from his four-year hiatus), is a good example. It's an extremely well-written, oddly-structured song that has an infectious hook and bouncing rhythms reminiscent of Neu! or Faust, yet it's difficult to listen to on headphones with the volume turned up, due to the piercing noises constantly bombarding the listener. There are some truly impressive bits of intertwining melodies spread throughout the album, but it takes several listens to learn how to listen "through" all the other stuff. It's definitely not impenetrable, but it's not as easy to get lost in its psychedelic soundscapes as past albums.
If you do stick it out, you'll find that 'Centipede Hz' has it's rewards. "Applesauce" is probably one of their catchiest, just-plain-fun songs of their entire career, requiring hardly any work on the listeners part. Elsewhere, you'll hear plenty of layered, insane Krautrock rhythms meshed with paranoid lyrical musings and melodies; 80's-ish new-wave dance; even classic rock-style guitar riffs. "Amanita" closes the album, and, unlike it's lethal namesake (a highly poisonous mushroom often mistaken for the "magic" kind), is five and a half minutes of zoned-out bliss. It's a perfect, almost soothing end to an album that made it, at times, a chore to get there. When you do, you'll probably breath a huge sigh of relief. Not because you're glad it's all over, but because the whole album is like an hour-long schizoid journey, with highs and lows (and heavenly blows), and quite a few moments of near-madness, so it'll feel like a small accomplishment before you dive right in again.
And the next time it will all make a little more sense.
Whereas 'Merriweather' was very Noah Lennox-dominated (he being the mellower, more traditionally "pop-friendly" of the two), Avey Tare's spazzamatazz songwriting and vocal stylings take center-stage here, and combined with the insanely kaleidoscopic and harsh noises coming from every which way, results in an overall vibe that's much more busy-sounding and, well....abrasive is the best word I can think of. Maybe "headachy" is more accurate. This tone is set early with opener 'Moonjock' and rarely lets up throughout its 54 minutes. There's some respite during Noah's handful of calmer, slightly more ambient tracks, but the assault on the senses can still be a bit much at times.
But if you dig through all the clutter, there are some lush melodies buried underneath; they just may take some time to unearth. "Wide Eyed," sung by multi-instrumentalist Deakin (back from his four-year hiatus), is a good example. It's an extremely well-written, oddly-structured song that has an infectious hook and bouncing rhythms reminiscent of Neu! or Faust, yet it's difficult to listen to on headphones with the volume turned up, due to the piercing noises constantly bombarding the listener. There are some truly impressive bits of intertwining melodies spread throughout the album, but it takes several listens to learn how to listen "through" all the other stuff. It's definitely not impenetrable, but it's not as easy to get lost in its psychedelic soundscapes as past albums.
If you do stick it out, you'll find that 'Centipede Hz' has it's rewards. "Applesauce" is probably one of their catchiest, just-plain-fun songs of their entire career, requiring hardly any work on the listeners part. Elsewhere, you'll hear plenty of layered, insane Krautrock rhythms meshed with paranoid lyrical musings and melodies; 80's-ish new-wave dance; even classic rock-style guitar riffs. "Amanita" closes the album, and, unlike it's lethal namesake (a highly poisonous mushroom often mistaken for the "magic" kind), is five and a half minutes of zoned-out bliss. It's a perfect, almost soothing end to an album that made it, at times, a chore to get there. When you do, you'll probably breath a huge sigh of relief. Not because you're glad it's all over, but because the whole album is like an hour-long schizoid journey, with highs and lows (and heavenly blows), and quite a few moments of near-madness, so it'll feel like a small accomplishment before you dive right in again.
And the next time it will all make a little more sense.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
ballin
such a good album. Animal Collective is always bringing the heat. It's like they know my innermost thoughts and desires
Published 3 months ago by tank d
5.0 out of 5 stars
Aquired taste! Love it!
As with much of their music (for myself) I had to listen to this CD once or twice in it's entirety to really enjoy it. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Warden64
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful!
It took a couple times of listening to this album to win me over, but it has big time. Might be the best yet!
Published 5 months ago by E T
4.0 out of 5 stars
Not Merriweather Post Pavilion
This album is a great effort by our old friend AC. It's just so hard to top Merriweather Post Pavilion. This album has a totally different feel from any of their past stuff. Read more
Published 6 months ago by Kevin O'connor
5.0 out of 5 stars
AWESOME!
I'm a big Animal Collective fan and I'm so excited to have their now album on vinyl. One top of it being and awesome album, vinyl is the best way to enjoy it. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Carebare1420
4.0 out of 5 stars
Animal Collective goes Rock.
So far every Animal Collective album to date has been radically different the the last while at the same time introducing the listener to combinations of styles from all over music... Read more
Published 7 months ago by Logan O. Laurent
5.0 out of 5 stars
Outstanding!
This album is very far out self-actualized. It's remarkable that one band has been able to achieve so much in such a short amount of time. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Travis Christal
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rockin'! Jammin'!
The critics don't seem to understand this album - or, they have some conceptual need for balance between apparent contribution of the different band members. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Mark Twain
4.0 out of 5 stars
Better than I thought
I first listened to CH on myanimalhome.net when they had it streaming with video. I was initially very unimpressed. It seemed lack-luster and lazy, like they thought "Hey! Read more
Published 7 months ago by A. Gwilliam
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Exploratory Masterpiece
A lot of people are saying it took them a few listens to really get into Centipede Hz. I don't know what they're talking about. Read more
Published 8 months ago by Eric K. Bertha
