Album Review: Animal Collective - Centipede Hz

Animal Collective
Centipede Hz
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It

Animal Collective's last record Merriweather Post Pavilion was one of those records that is the perfect culmination of a band's career, an instant classic that sets the stage for even higher expectations going forward. MPP took Animal Collective's creative experimentation and filtered it through a more traditional pop template; well as close as AC could ever get to something traditional. After taking some time off to release solo records, AC has returned with the highly anticipated follow-up Centipede Hz. For those expecting MPP Part 2, you will be highly disappointed, as AC shake things up again and revert to their more experimental beginnings, created a dense, cacophonous collection of whirly-gig tracks that eschews the more formal, almost minimalist compositions on MPP. Not that these tracks are in anyway "difficult" or experimental for experimental's sake, there is just more of an edge here than was on display during MPP.

The tracks that make up Centipede Hz function as the various body segments of the centipede, connected together and flowing as eerily hypnotic as watching one of the arthropods move. While the album is basically one seamless sonic exploration it gives up a sense of distinctive tracks at times, which can be frustrating when you are trying to remember a certain memorable part of a song. Thankfully, there are several tracks that do stand out amongst the swirl of electronics. First single "Today's Supernatural" swoops and dips and twirls as circus-like organ riffs force the track along.



Album highlight "New Town Burnout" slows things down a bit, parsing the electronics down to subtle drones over a clicking drum program, ending in a gorgeous coda of mourning strings,



before merging into the electronic workout that is "Monkey Riches" where Avey Tare's vocals almost go off the rail trying to keep pace with the swirling mass of keyboards,



while "Applesauce" is quite frankly the sweetest, lightest track they have ever put to tape.



The rest of the tracks are all uniformly good, utilizing interesting textures, samples, and time signatures, however, their lack of distinct individuality tends to make them get lost in a haze. "Pulleys" has a languid pull of pianos and underwater guitar effects,



"Rosie Oh" lurches and heaves over a backwards drum loop and spiky guitars,



and "Wide-Eyed" again submerges into a murky underwater world of liquidy electronics and guitar drones.



Centipede Hz is not a continuation of the masterful Merriweather Post Pavilion and really shouldn't be judged in that record's shadow, however, it is ridiculous to think that it isn't going to be. And no, it is not in MPP's league, but it has a lot of merits on its own. It's a rather fun record, full of interesting samples, asides, and tangents that always keep the record entertaining. It is essentially a minor work from the band, but finds them looser and goofier than they have been in awhile.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.