Animal Collective - The Painters EP

At this point in the game, what is there to even say about the legendary experimental pop band known as Animal Collective that hasn't already been said.  There was a time where Animal Collective were Gods of the indie world, creating vast, Psychedelic, experimental pop atmospheres like nobody else.  "Sung Tongs", "Feels", "Strawberry Jam" and the near perfect "Merriweather Post Pavillion" are juggernauts of the indie/electronic world, and for good reason.  There was such a fun, youthful sound to Animal Collective, with Panda Bear, Avey Tare, Geologist and Deakin all contributing wonderfully.  Recently though Animal Collective have hit a rough patch, releasing the sloppy "Centepede Hz" as well as last year's "Painting With".  Neither one of these were necessarily terrible albums, but Animal Collective seemed to be playing things so safe overall (a word I was hoping to never use when describing them).  Here we are now with a new, companion EP to "Painting With", "The Painters EP"

( Can we go back to THIS please guys)

This short EP starts off with “Kinda Bonkers”, and let me just say that mere seconds into it and already this sounds like a much lesser produced and more drugged out version of a track from their classic “Merriweather Post Pavilion”.  I mean it’s a far cry from that caliber of a song, but this is much looser sounding than anything on “Painting With”, which is a huge plus.  The atmosphere is much hazier and drugged out, but as Animal Collective have done in the past they work with that fantastically.  Hell, even as far as the lyrics go this is much more memorable, mostly that opening lyric about life being like french toast (“if you wait too long it gets black and weak”).  Overall “Kinda Bonkers” is far from perfect, but it’s bouncy, and a little more on the serious side of things.  I mean I don’t think I’ve ever really heard a more serious track from Animal Collective, but if that’s what this is I’m certainly ok with it.  So many moments on “Painting With” floated by without leaving any sort of affect on me, Panda Bear and Avey Tare most of the time sounded like they were trying way too hard.  Here, Panda Bear sounds so much more comfortable and in his element.  I wouldn’t say “Kinda Bonkers” is a 100% return to form, but it’s a start.  Just when I thought Animal Collective were getting back on track, I hear “Peacemaker”.  Instantly this just sounds like more of the same overproduced and heavily structured indie pop that we got on “Painting With”.  Ok maybe that’s being a little harsh, this is far from THAT watered down and this isn’t nearly as robotic, but I’m seriously not feeling these vocals at all.  This is the epitome of everything I couldn't get into about “Painting With”, all of these tracks show Animal Collective desperately trying to be weird.  While the harmonies are passable at best, the beat here sounds like it was made in about 5 minutes on FL Studio by some teenager.  Even the atmosphere on this one is off.  While the first track here focused on that hazy, drugged out atmosphere that worked wonders, the atmosphere on “Peacemaker” just seems so forced.  Overall this one is just so agitating.

“Goalkeeper” at the very least acts as a little pick-me-up.  While I’m not completely sold on this one, it does have a more bouncy instrumental.  But in about as much time it took me to type that sentence, “Goalkeeper” takes a nose-dive and quickly it becomes very obvious that Animal Collective haven’t given up on this very polished, oversaturated sound.  There are some good elements here and there, but the rest of the track comes off as woozy and the farthest thing from experimental or adventurous, and certainly isn’t fun.  Animal Collective within the worst moments here sound more lost and convoluted than ever.  When they’re on their A Game, the music Animal Collective produce is some of the most beautiful textured electronic music out there.  This however, is not their A Game.  However, I do give credit where it’s due.  The vocal harmonies here on “Goalkeeper” aren’t bad at all.  As a matter of fact, the chorus here as delusional as it is it so damn catchy and lovable that it ends up being one of the most memorable moments of this entire EP.  If you haven't caught on already, this EP is all over the damn place.  But, let me tell you, Animal Collective finish this bad boy off insanely strong with their cover of “Jimmy Mack”.  As soon as this track starts it sounds so much more vast and adventurous compared to everything else I’ve heard from them in the last year from them.  It certainly wakes you right up, and dare I say this may be the most legitimately fun sounding Animal Collective track I’ve heard in years.  The band used to have this great, youthful element to them that used to give me such a wonderful feeling.  “Jimmy Mack” gives me that feeling, and I honestly can’t even remember I felt that way listening to an Animal Collective song.  Despite it being a cover, it really comes off well, maybe going as far as coming off as some long forgotten B-Side.  The verses and just so bouncy and joyous that I can’t say no, with each member of Animal Collective doing their thing nicely.  Now take this last thought of mine with a grain of salt, if it meant more legitimately fun tracks like this, I don’t think I would mind an entire Animal Collective covers album.  Until then, they're slowly getting back on track, lets see how they keep it up in the future.  

Rating : 6.9/10

Overall Thoughts: Sure, it's a good start.  I'd even go as far as to say that this has some of the best material Animal Collective have done in years.  But at the same time, there are too many moments on here that are a grim reminder of the very safe path that Animal Collective are heading down.