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Friday, January 16, 2009

Song / Album / Love The Post-National Anthem

Posted by Eric Grandy on Fri, Jan 16, 2009 at 11:25 AM

I just want to take a moment to heartily second a suggestion made by Dave Segal in his review this week of Animal Collective's stunning new album, Merriweather Post Pavilion:

Album closer "Brother Sport" exemplifies AC's balance between accessibility and innovation. Looped wheezes pulsate amid happy-hardcore keyboard parps and Amazonian, Kodo-like drum tumult; as it progresses, the song threatens to explode with sonic overload. It's as if Animal Collective are trying to rally the human race out of its imminent mental nadir through this song. If things don't improve this year, world governments probably should consider making "Brother Sport" their national anthem.

Hear, motherfucking hear, Dave! The whole album is pretty undeniably great—and, for my tastes, a welcome return after last year's fairly disappointing Strawberry Jam—but this song in particular has been burning a happy hole in my brain for most of the past week. I can't wait for the seemingly inevitable remixes—I keep hearing a Switch or Diplo reworking in my head so clearly that I'm semi-convinced I'm receiving mp3s from the future.

In any case, I would proudly stand and salute the unfurling of whatever psychedelic, optical illusion flag Animal Collective could come up with (or, uh, steal) for the post-World Order peace. And I would open up my throat and sing along.

Comments (7) RSS

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i, on the other hand, would be readying grenades. VIVA LA REVOLUCION!!

Posted by maura on January 16, 2009 at 11:50 AM

http://www.hipsterrunoff.com/2009/01/ani…

Posted by A on January 16, 2009 at 12:00 PM

Yeah, that post is great. If something from HRO doesn't end up in the next edition of DeCapo's Best Music Writing, I'll be totally surprised.

Posted by Eric Grandy on January 16, 2009 at 12:08 PM

"Brother Sport" sounds like a rip-off of El Guincho, among others. Which sort of diminishes it's greatness, no? Even if El Guincho kinda borrows techniques from AC, it still looks poorly for the Collective.

Posted by Chuck Adams on January 16, 2009 at 1:04 PM

@4
Not sure I follow you. By borrowing techniques do you mean emulating? I still don't follow you how " Brother Sport" is a lesser song because of how it was created or came into being or how it reflects poorly on AC.

Posted by LORD Summerisle on January 16, 2009 at 2:01 PM

there's something called email for these types of thoughts, eric. pretty sure dave has email.

Posted by boo on January 16, 2009 at 2:04 PM

why haven't you been fired yet, Eric?

Posted by hack reporter on January 16, 2009 at 4:32 PM