It sounds like somebody tamed the animals. Panda Bear and Avery Tare return with this follow up to the boundlessly overflowing Sung Tongs with a collection of songs that actually sound like, well, songs. Still, while they may have tempered their approach somewhat, the pair is far from domesticated. Their warped sense of self and the world around them still permeates every facet of Feels, and reining it in may just be an insidious plot to enter the unsuspecting minds of new fans before blowing it apart from the inside.
"Did You See the Words" contains the joyous verve that marks their earlier work, it's just a lot easier to discern. Animal Collective treats every word and note like a kitten treats a ball of yarn: fervently attentive, with each motion accompanied by a rush of endorphins that floods the mind. "The Purple Bottle" pulses along a thumping drum beat from which the jingling, jangling voices and instruments all swing from. It's nearly impossible to not allow the music to etch a blissed out grin on your face.
Animal Collective is cartoon-like without being childish or silly, happy without seeming cloying or false. While not as relentlessly artistic or experimental as their previous releases, Feels does break beyond the initial sounds of restraint. Each song sounds so happy to actually exist that it simply can't contain itself, spinning off arcs of energy that electrify the senses. |