Bearcast Media | University of Cincinnati
  • Home
  • Team
  • Radio
    • Featured Shows
      • Podcasting– Coming Soon!
    • Radio Show Schedule
  • Video
  • Reviews
    • Music Reviews
    • Film Reviews
  • Sports
    • Football
    • Basketball
  • Social
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    • Snapchat
    • Facebook
  • Join Us!
  • Listen
Music, Pop 0

Animal Collective’s Latest EP is ‘Kinda Bonkers’

By Juan Fernandez @og___juan · On February 20, 2017

One year after the release of 2016’s ‘Painting With’, Animal Collective returns with a new quick four-song EP to accompany last year’s vibrant jambalaya of a record. With every new AnCo record, a fellow EP of unreleased B-sides must follow. I’m not complaining however, even with being a little dissatisfied with ‘Painting With.’ After I heard the first song off the EP, (‘Kinda Bonkers’) I was hooked.

You know, its just AnCo doing their thing on this track. The multi-structured spacey drums mixed with layered harmonic vocals from Avery and Noah Lennox were complemented on this track. The spacey loopy synthesizers plus the tribal-like drums bounce off Avery and Noah’s vocals almost like they’re finishing each other’s sentences. The samples conjured are skewed and distorted as the lyrics, “Don’t you feel me feel your heart shine/ unity of all kind.” This song is bombastic and the sitar-like synths polish a ‘Revolver’ like vibe from The Beatles.

The track ‘Peacemaker’ definitely sounded like a left over track from ‘Painting With’. The overuse of looping layered vocals resembles a Janga game being played by both Avery and Noah. The third track, ‘Goalkeeper’ is a poppy, clustered but not frail in execution. This song sounds like something that would’ve appeared off their 2009 hit record, ‘Merriweather Post Pavilion.’ On the final track of the record, AnCo plays tribute to the Motown classic, ‘Jimmy Mack’ by Martha Reeves & The Vandellas. Fused with the synthetic Animal Collective formula and powered by that classic spastic Motown groove. The drippy swampy keys complement Avery’s piercing voice. It’s sharp and unorthodox, as one would expect from an Animal Collective cover. The EP ends the same way it began, in a colorful kaleidoscopic ornamentation of wholesome romantics.

Furthermore the EP is clean. The production is great and polished despite the swampy take on it. The ‘painters’ increase their winning streak with their eleventh project to date. This experimental indie psych-rock diminutive is worthy of accompanying EPs such as ‘Water Curses’, and ‘Fall Be Kind’ on the AnCo wall of fame. Above all else my sole question remains…where was this on ‘Painting With’?

Animal Collective’s Latest EP is ‘Kinda Bonkers’
Juan Fernandez
February 20, 2017
7.5/10
B-sides and leftovers never sounded so good.
7.5 Overall Score
The 'Painters' are back with a new four-song EP

B-sides and leftovers never sounded so good.

Juan Fernandez
7.5
Experimentalindie
Share Tweet

Juan Fernandez

UC'19 PhotoJournalist major, freelance photographer <3

You Might Also Like

  • Alternative

    9 New Indie Tracks For Feb 2021

  • Music

    The Weeknd performs the Super Bowl Halftime Show

  • Music

    “Life is Good; Who’s Asking”: An Introduction to ‘Napkins’, and its creator Riz La Vie

No Comments

Leave a reply Cancel reply

Subscribe & Follow Bearcast Media

Follow @bearcastmedia
Follow on Instagram
Listen to Sports

Search Bearcast

Featured Posts

  • LISTEN: Cincinnati vs. Houston: AAC Basketball Event (March 14th)
  • 9 New Indie Tracks For Feb 2021
  • The Weeknd performs the Super Bowl Halftime Show
  • 4 Games to Get You Through The Rest of 2020
  • “Life is Good; Who’s Asking”: An Introduction to ‘Napkins’, and its creator Riz La Vie
  • Home
  • Meet Our Team
  • Video
  • Reviews
  • Sports
  • Queen City
  • Contact Us
  • Credits
  • Radio

©2013 - 2021. Bearcast Media All Rights Reserved.

Site developed by Dave Berning & Brett Valls

University of Cincinnati: College-Conservatory of Music

Electronic Media Division