Animal Collective- The Painters EP (2017)

Animal Collective have established themselves as the Salvador Dali's of the musical world. The images their songs create may seem absurd and nonsensical at first, but you soon see the deep message that is always laced in the insanity. Not to mention, this album cover looks like something the famed Spanish surrealist would paint.

Coming of off their 2016 album, Painting With, the Baltimore trio wasted no time in dropping this brand new EP, seemingly a continuation off of their latest project. For those of you whose ears are untouched by saccharine mayhem that is Animal Collective, their music is best at its most absurd.  The first song, "Kinda Bonkers", serves as the epitome of this absurdity, as can be seen in the opening line, "Life is so French Toast to me." I have no idea what Avey Tare is referring to, and yet I feel it perfectly describes my attitudes towards to world I inhabit. The rest of the lyrics speak directly about the absurdity that occurs in everyday life, and how beautiful it is that we as humans all get to play a part in the silly pandemonium. This song also contains one of the most infectious choruses I have ever heard in an Animal Collective song. It feels so jumpy and stagnated, yet undeniably fun.

The EP continues with a much more subdued track in "Peacemaker".  The echoed vocals layered over extremely psychedelic samples, make for a hypnotic listen. For the past week, this track has been my relaxer; I challenge anyone to listen to it and feel completely washed over with waves of synth. "Goalkeeper" sounds like it came straight off the band's 2007 seminal classic, Merriweather Post Pavilion. It contains the same amount of zaniness we've come to expect from an Animal Collective track, and yet contains so much composure. It proves that these DJ's are in the business of writing serious music, not a bunch of silly songs.

The Painters finishes up with a cover of "Jimmy Mack", originally performed by Martha and the Vandellas. Animal Collective completely reinvent this Motown classic, dragging out the quick and catchy lines into an assortment of squeaky keys, that are almost overwhelming in their frequency. The whole tone of the song changes, from a very matter-of-fact demand to a wistful plea. They have sucked out all of the authority in the song, and replaced it with a complete helplessness that anyone in a fractured relationship can relate to.

What makes The Painters so great is that it manages to encapsulate the wide range of emotions that can be found in all of Animal Collective's songs. If you have never come across this group before, I highly recommend starting with this EP in order to get a taste of what they have to offer. I guarantee that it will be a musical experience like you have never had before.