I listened to The Campfire Headphase really loud in my car on the way home from the record store today, and holy shit, it is really good. It doesn't quite have the same impact on my home stereo, even at high volumes, but that may be because the sun was setting as I was driving home and the sky was entirely a brilliant pink color, which definitely suits the mood of the album. I think that this may be my favorite album of theirs, but I haven't listened to Music Has the Right to Children or Geogaddi in my car, so I can't say for sure yet.



I'd listened to the new Boards of Canada about 3 times a month ago (I didn't want to get worn out on it so I stopped there), but I held off on hearing the new Animal Collective until today because it was probably the album I've been looking forward to the most all year.

I'm only halfway through it right now, but I can definitely tell that it's their most accessible release so far, which is a bad thing coming from this particular group. However, the songs sound really good and all of their albums grow on me over time, so this still could be one of their best. It's impossible to tell yet.



But the reason I created this thread was to see what everyone else thinks of these two albums, so post your thoughts here.

If you liked Sung Tongs, you'll probably like Feels. That's a good thing in my book. I listened to it a whole lot back in August, but then kinda got worn out on it myself.

Have not listened to the new BOC.

I need some MP3s of the Animal Collective. I listened to Sung Tongs a few times, and it wasn't for me. But this whole "more accessible" thing might be enough for me to tolerate them.

I was only able to buy Feels, as Borders didn't have Campfire Headphase for whatever reason, I might still go out to the record shop and buy it in a few minutes. I like both. As for Animal Collective, I think it's arguably their best work to date, for BOC, so far it has me less excited than any of their other releases, but Music Has The Right To Children is my favorite electronic release that I know, so eh.

After a couple of listens, I decided that the BoC was pretty dull and not really worth buying for me.

Bought the Animal Collective today and listened to it for the first the first time just a little while ago. I loved it. Hard to say how it compares after only one listen, but I'm thinking that I like the second half and the closing tracks much more than those on Sung Tongs. The only problem that album had, IMO, was a weak ending.

This is what made me like the album too - hearing it in the right setting. For me it was napping on a sunny Sunday afternoon.

I did not believe I will buy The Campfire Headphase. Saying that shocks me. Maybe I haven't listened to it in the right setting, but it currently bores the shit out of me. I'll be in the car all day tomorrow, so I'll take the blasting it in your car suggestion and try that out. I found that worked pretty well for Takk.

it works well for this. just tried it.

My one question about Animal Collective:

My only exposure to them is "Leaf House" from Sung Tongs and the Prospect Hummer EP. I like the former alot, but I adore the latter, and I want to know where to start in their (tricky) discography....

this album is a good place to start.

Do a search for Boards of Canada and you'll find plenty of opinions on it. It's like an old friend. When you sit back and really listen to what they're doing with sound on it, it's fucking brilliant. They age everything, so it's like an old song that you heard on a tape when you were a kid but can't remember how. Sound that comes at you and surrounds you in ways that many artists don't even think about.

Feels is decent, but I'm not returning to it that often.

So, I see that Animal Collective has furthered its paedo-cred.

... But, when will the tour with Poopoo Bear vs. Ticklemonster happen?

I love "Feels". I've listened to it a lot and it hasn't waned on me at all. "The Purple Bottle" is an incredibly crafted song, and it's jubilance always wins me over. I like the dynamics of it, and the sequencing, the patience of its B-side to balance the outbursts of first. It's instrumentally and compositionally a more cohesive record than "Sung Tongs" though less quirky and spontaneous, inarguably the greatest charms of that record.

Unfortunately, The Ticklemonster violated parole again....

But both these groups will be on tour with Poopoo Bear and the Mung Mongers come the fall...you can count on it.

I agree with this completely. I may have to give them another shot, but just never "got" it the first couple times I tried. The Boards of Canada album is fucking incredible though.

I'm very much digging the new BOC, but as you've already discovered, the location and timing for when you listen to this album make a big difference. This album is reccomended for the outdoors, preferably at from dusk till dawn. If I were to put it on right now, as I'm at my office in the morning, i wouldn't really get into it. But if I listen to it while walking around sunset, or just kicking it in my apartment latenight, it completely entrances me. It's not a groundbreaking record, it's just incredbily well crafted, subtle and effective. I agree with Dalen in that it was intentionally made to remind you of melodies and songs from your youth that you know where there, but can't place. Anyway, keep listening and you shall dig more.

The Animal Collective disc is my favorite album of the year, so far. I kinda doubt that anyone else will touch it for me, but then again, I'm kinda a whore for psychedelic pop music. And in the end, 'Feels' is just a bunch of good psychedelic pop songs stretched and pulled like Silly Putty.

As for the BoC disc, I've got it on right now and it's sounds great coming from the next room over in the apartment as I surf the web/work from home. I can see myself using this disc to get a lot of work done. Sure, I'll listen to it on a long drive or late at night, but it's primarily going to end up being sonic wallpaper when I've got people over or if I'm trying to get stuff done around the house.
That's not necessarily a bad thing, and it might be a grower for me, but it's not something I'm going to be playing a lot to actually 'listen' to it.