Fall Be Kind [VINYL]

Animal Collective | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (December 15, 2009)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Domino
• ASIN: B002RD4V08
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,567 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Graze

2. What Would I Want? Sky

3. Bleed

4. On A Highway

5. I Think I Can

Editorial Reviews

To close out an incredible 2009 for Animal Collective that saw the release of their most critically and commercially successful album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, comes the Fall Be Kind EP. The EP features 5 brand new studio tracks that are every bit as lush and beautiful as those found on Merriweather. The year of Animal Collective continues.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Let Me Begin..., November 24, 2009

By 

Tony H "tonycollective" (Lenexa, KS) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fall Be Kind EP (MP3 Download)

Animal collective have struck gold again. Not only are the three leftover tracks from MPP great (Graze, I Think I Can, and On A Highway), but the entire EP is a brilliant and a wonderfully new style for the band, who have put out their best EP to date. With its run time of twenty seven minutes, Fall Be Kind has almost enough substance and style to be called an album of its own. The dark, cold, and vibrant textures are brilliantly contrasted with Animal Collective's ability to bring out their inner-jam. As accessible as their music has become, they've lost only a very small amount of psychedelia along the way; and this is coming from someone who thinks Here Comes The Indian is just as good as Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Graze (10/10): The beginning two minutes and a half of the song is a light, ambient vocal showcase which starts with Avey Tare backed with a beautiful violin and is followed by a nice solo from Panda Bear, both backed by hardly a rhythm but more of a texture. It's all really a perfect build up for the second half when it all fuzzes out until BAM! the most kickin' flute solo most will have ever heard. Then the avey and panda duo kicks in with: "Comfort, comfort,/ why do you run for it?/ why can't you keep doin/ what you're supposed to do? / Why can't i reach you/ when i most need you? / you're at the beach and/ i'm in some strange bed." And the rhythm takes you in while you find yourself nodding your head to the beat.

What would i want? Sky (10/10): Again showing the band's flawless method of blending two different jams into one great song. The first three minutes is just pure jam-tripping with Avey's mysterious "good genes?" looping in the background with crashing cymbols until the trip slows down, but quickly you find yourself venturing new territory before "Sky, What would i want? Sky," the notorious first legal Grateful Dead Sample, followed by some nice booming bass, and the jam begins. Though Avey's voice sounds a little production-y here, it all works nicely.

Bleed (8/10): A perfect middle-song. The darker side Avey spoke of in interviews is clearly present here. Mostly texture, juxtaposing Avey's slow droning-voice style with Panda bear's almost echo-y, smooth backdrop. It's short, sweet, and dark, and a perfect transition between the two halves of the EP.

On A Highway (9/10): A perfect opportunity to ride on the highway with David Portner (Avey Tare). The slow, ambient, highway-like sounds work perfectly behind Avey's inner thoughts as he rides down the highway, smoking hash, looking out the window, and just thinking about how although he should feel lucky for all the places he gets to go, he really just can't wait to be home.

I Think I Can (9/10): Perfect example of the band's fearlessness and progression; the song explores new styles while becoming one of their most intense songs to date, featuring a nice ensemble of layering vocals via Panda and Avey. The fire is eventually put out, though, when the song shifts tones quickly in the form of a dazzling Beach Boys-type vocal performance by Panda Bear followed by a repeated "I think I can I think I can I think I..." This one you will just have to hear for yourself.

I have to admit, though, my review is biased because I'm a huge fan. (and no i'm not a hipster, just a regular dude)

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What would I want? Nothing more, February 13, 2010

By 

Ged - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fall Be Kind (Audio CD)

To tell the truth, this is probably one of the best EPs I have ever heard. Most of the people probably would get shocked. Animal Collective? EP? The best? Yeah, sounds crazy. It is, actually.

While being the fan on Animal Collective even before 'Merriweather' (which is also very surprising), I got to listen to this, as soon as possible. I was very anxious and excited about it. I saw some first reviews on amazon here which were not really positive, but I still was hoping for at least something good.

When I finally started with 'Graze', I got a bit disappointed and thought that pessimistic people were right.. But then 'What Would I Want? Sky' came up. I literally fell on my knees. I have not heard such beauty of the song, since probably I met with 'Katy Song' by Red House Painters. I dare to say that 'What Would I Want? Sky', 'Bleed' and 'I Think I Can' are one of the best songwriting examples. It's hard to believe it, but it's alternative; it is not Coldplay, Backstreet Boys or Lady Gaga were you fall for melody easily, you don't need effort to like it, the song makes you do it (in my case, it's just Coldplay, but I see how big were/are the others). Animal Collective requires time. I cannot imagine a person who would jump from Diana Krall, Black Eyed Peas or something straightly to Animal Collective. It's just not that it. And if you do put effort in liking Animal Collective, it is very rewarding, now myself I want sky more than anything else.

Just 27 minutes, but minutes I spent greatly and I don't regret. Please, don't listen to negative reviews, because they failed to do what I've already mentioned - to listen. This is no Pink for you guys, it's way more better. Better is always more complicated.

It is hard to recommend it to someone, because I believe that anyone can like this, but does anyone want to do it? People may better stay with what's easier.. Anyway, any indie fan should listen to this.. Any Merriweather fan, though 'Fall Be Kind' is a bit different. Just don't throw this away after a few listens. You may waste way more than six dollars.

Key tracks:
- What Would I Want? Sky
- I Think I Can

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Rounds out AC's Merriweather era sound., December 5, 2009

By 

s.t. (Philadelphia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Fall Be Kind EP (MP3 Download)

I hate to say it, but I'm starting to look forward to Animal Collective's upcoming EPs and singles more than their proper albums. Where their LPs are becoming ever more conventional, these side releases still pay attention to texture and space. That said, the sound of "Fall be Kind" is fairly similar to the songs on Merriweather Post Pavilion, and as such, plays as a nice companion piece to that album.

Tracks 2-5 are all excellent, but "Graze" keeps this from being a 5 star recording. With a dramatic vocal by Avey Tare and a loopy pan flute jig, it almost resembles Animal Collective doing Gilbert & Sullivan--something I never thought could be possible (nor would want to).

Still, there's some great stuff on here. In truth, the inclusion of some of these tracks on Merriweather would have given that album some much-needed variety of mood. Worth a listen.