Animal Collective: Some People Really, Really Like Them!

Every so often, we like to take a look at the closing lines of the week’s biggest new-music reviews. Today’s candidate for appraisal is Animal Collective’s Merriweather Post Pavilion, which—after some of the craziest pre-release anticipation this side of a Jonas Brothers album—comes out on vinyl tomorrow:

• “Animal Collective have spent the decade following their own path, figuring out what their music is capable of while also working to bring more listeners into their world. On Merriweather Post Pavilion, their commitment has paid off tremendously.” [Pitchfork]

• “In years past, Animal Collective have been cast as perpetual Peter Pans, forever stuck in childhood fantasias. But beneath the body-moving throbs and coruscating noises of Merriweather Post Pavilion, themes of domestic duty and devotion abound. On the resplendent closer, ‘Brother Sport,’ Panda consoles his older brother after their father’s death, advising him to follow his own voice. As the beat grows increasingly joyous, the song sends a message to family and fans alike: ‘Open up your throat,’ sings Panda, and rave on.” [Spin]

• “Maybe the overwhelming, full-throated joy of it all sounds particularly radiant in the fluey gloom of winter, but right now Merriweather Post Pavilion doesn’t just seem like one of the first great records of 2009, it feels like one of the landmark American albums of the century so far.” [Uncut]

• “Fuck me, this is brilliant.” [The Quietus]

INDIE TEENS IN HAVING NO SENSE OF HUMOR SHOCKER aka animal coLOLctive: what happened? [C:E:L:E:B:R:A:T:I:O:N] Animal Collective [MySpace]