Animal Collective: Fall Be Kind

Jesse Jarnow on February 4, 2010

Domino

On Fall Be Kind, a five-song 30-minute EP epilogue to Merriweather Post Pavilion, Animal Collective perfects the formula of the woozy anti-epic. With “What Would I Want? Sky,” the band almost buries a winning R&B melody in diffuse weirdness, including a sample of the Grateful Dead’s “Unbroken Chain.” But the bounciness bounces through and lyrics like “I should be floating, but I’m too busy thinking” enforce the band’s status as rave-psych Gods. On “I Think I Can,” Avey Tare and Panda Bear throw harmonies over a clattering, cavernous beat. Two other tunes, “Bleed” and “Graze,” surrender to the drift. At least until “Graze” turns into something like a triumphant tropical jig. Animal Collective: always giving ‘em what they want.

Artist: Animal Collective
Album: Fall Be Kind