Label - Paw Tracks
BLURB - Panda Bear returned to the conversation a few weeks ago with his latest release, "Tomboy." Aside from being a member of the critically acclaimed Animal Collective, his solo career has been equally impressive. His "Person Pitch" record in 2007 was named best album of the year and went on to be be named as one of the top one hundred albums of the decade by numerous media outlets. So what does Panda Bear (or Noah Lennox) do for an encore anyway?
Rating - 6.5 out of 10
FULL STORY - For many, Panda Bear is, and always will be, a tough listen. He weaves artistic melodies and themes amidst a sea of hazy loops and ambience that can overwhelm your eardrums. Listening to a Panda Bear song is more of an auditory experiment. Don't let this deter you from his music though -- buried underneath the noise and repetition are very structured pop ideas and infrastructure. The vocals are generally filled with waves of reverb and delay, which gives the song a deeper depth and presence -- as if every song was sung by a choir of men. The best part of Panda Bear though, has got to be his lyrics. Panda Bear's lyrics are incredibly simplistic and basic, yet possess so much thought and innocence -- each track plays like a poem written by an eight year old. Honest and simple.
The album begins with 'You Can Count On Me,' which gently floats along. The pace is slow and careful, but comes off a bit dull. The lyrics mainly consist of Lennox pining for his audience to know that they can, in fact, count on him.
'Tomboy' picks up the energy as Panda Bear employs a series of looping distorted guitars and key changes. But it's obvious to me, right away, that this album takes on a completely different tone than "Person Pitch." The 2007 record was bright and warm -- while "Tomboy" has yet to establish much of a personality. Overall, 'Tomboy' (the song) comes off as monotonous and indifferent.
And so just as soon as I'm beginning to have my doubts about this record, we're hit with 'Slow Motion,' a breath taking track that brings us back in. The song has a great fusion of sounds and loops and some actual character. The vocal melodies that are present are intoxicating and synch perfectly to the music. The lyrics are an interesting take on advice as Lennox tries to convey how it's sometimes more important what people don't say, rather than what they do say:
"So they say practice makes you perfect. So they say you can't teach an old dog. So they say have an apple a day. So they say better safe than sorry. Everyone knows what they always say. And when I slow down, it's just clear how it's what they don't say that counts."
'Last Night at the Jetty' is another masterpiece that will casually sneak up on you. The song reminds me of "Guys Eyes" by Animal Collective, in that it has this old retro feel to it, but somehow also feels modern. The song mostly wades through some warm tones and calming ambience but does build to a powerful bridge halfway through the song. The melodies are also on point, and backed against a chorus of fuzz and reverb, sound like a slow Beach Boys track on acid.
A few other notable tracks are 'Afterburner' and 'Alsatian Darn,' but outside of those, the album really feels empty. There's something of a dark, industrial undertone that mires much of the record in apathy and carelessness. "Person Pitch" had so much color and positive energy, despite Panda Bear's repetitious recording style. "Tomboy" has the same production techniques and qualities, but is missing some substance and energy. It doesn't have any defining characteristics and just sort of exists. I am and will always be a Panda Bear / Animal Collective fan, but this album really doesn't do it for me (outside of a few key tracks).
Take a listen to 'Slow Motion.'
Tracks
1.) You Can Count On Me
2.) Tomboy
3.) Slow Motion
4.) Surfer's Hymn
5.) Late Night at the Jetty
6.) Drone
7.) Alsatian Darn
8.) Scheherazade
9.) Friendship Bracelet
10.) Afterburner
11.) Benfica
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