Centipede Hz - Animal Collective
Metascore
75 out of 100

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 34 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
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  1. Magnet
    Sep 26, 2012
    95
    Although the quartet might not have topped Merriweather Post Pavillion, it did the next best thing: make an album that's entirely new and just as exciting. [No.91 p.52]
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  2. Beats Per Minute (formerly One Thirty BPM)
    Sep 4, 2012
    91
    Centipede Hz is dense and unforgivingly full-throttle--you'll find no "Loch Raven" or even "Chores" here – and home to some of the band's best and most involved lyrics to date.
  3. Delusions of Adequacy
    Nov 15, 2012
    90
    Each song is impactful and memorable, with a fantastic approach to songcraft that focuses on minimal gestures, mixed with tremendous layers and layers of sounds.
  4. Sputnikmusic
    Sep 10, 2012
    90
    Centipede HZ is a reaffirmation. It reminds us that Animal Collective plays interactive, now and forever.
  5. Clash Music
    Sep 4, 2012
    90
    Centepede Hz is somehow both futuristically innovative and welcomingly accessible. Amid the obscurantism caused by white noise and radio interference are strong choruses likely to get any form of life dancing.
  6. The Boston Phoenix
    Aug 28, 2012
    88
    It's perhaps overly long (53 minutes) and hard to penetrate, but Animal Collective's creativity glows brighter than Ric Flair's hair.
  7. Under The Radar
    Aug 28, 2012
    85
    A magical album that takes the listener on a wondrous journey into a party where love is found, lost, and ultimately sublimated into an unsurpassable catharsis. [Aug/Sep 2012, p.108]
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  8. Filter
    Sep 5, 2012
    82
    As usual, though, the group are at their best when trying to come to terms with grace and beauty.
  9. Absolute Punk (Staff reviews)
    Aug 29, 2012
    82
    When the band puts their best foot forward ("Monkey Riches," "Father Time," "Applesauce," "Mercury Man," and "Pulleys,") they sound like an outfit deserving of all the hype and praise bestowed upon them.

User Reviews

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User Score
7.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 86 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32
  1. Indiekid39
    5
    I love this band and even though their more experimental stuff can be hard to listen to, I still appreciate most of their music for its innovation and originality. With this album, you can strip away all the noises and gunk that soak the songs and find yourself with an unimpressive foundation. Most of the songs have somewhat interesting sonic ideas, but these ideas never go anywhere. The first song, moonjock, for instance starts off with a jolting beat that gets you excited to hear it and then the song just overwhelms itself with too many sounds that it becomes musical mush. its like wanting to have a smoothie and adding every fruit in existence into it and while it may seem good, when you're done making it you're just left with a smoothie that has too much in it and its not enjoyable at all. I think animal collective should go back to making strawberry banana smoothies.… Full Review »
  2. JoeVotaw
    9
    This a really cool record, definitely one of their best. Noisy like Here Comes the Indian, but poppy like Strawberry Jam. If Avey Tare's Down There had a baby with Strawberry Jam, it would be this album.… Full Review »
  3. dolph
    7
    7.4 out of 10 because listening to it was like a burrito on my windshield. Above all I thought their back-nature ethos could really use a step up and the result is like a splatter-jacked beach boys fantasia, it was jolty, splaying underwhelming ataraxia ataxia noise synth reverie oscillating burrito from taco time on my windshield. 7.4/10 would not pollinate… Full Review »
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