Animal Collective — Merriweather Post Pavilion

It's probably time to give in to the hype. Animal Collective's eighth studio album is the culmination of the band's creative output culled into their own experimental/neo-psychedelic/indie rock masterpiece. Every note falls into place, fitting just like a puzzle, on the follow-up to 2007's excellent Strawberry Jam. Merriweather Post Pavilion's tracks subtly weave into one another, from the opening notes of "In The Flowers" to the final buzz of "Brother Sport" 55 minutes later. While it might be too early to declare Merriweather 2009's best album, "Summertime Clothes" will definitely be one of my favourite tracks of the year. In the iTunes era where the single reigns supreme, it's refreshing to hear a complete album with no filler or lulls that you'd be content to listen to again and again from start to finish.

Get it from