User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 627 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 537 out of 627
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Mixed: 35 out of 627
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Negative: 55 out of 627
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LeeM.Jan 21, 2009Their best album. Fuses what's so good about so many other more inconsistent bands into a euphorically brilliant whole.
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NickRJan 20, 2009A giant sonic ball of pure beauty that fills you with all of God's love.
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nashDec 15, 2009The most overrated album of the year. Was bored after a few listens and the album is now gathering dust in the back of my collection. No doubt I will one day give it yet another listen much to my annoyance.
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DylanWJan 20, 2009
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AdamR.Jan 21, 2009This album, from the first track, makes you realize that Animal Collective could be the band that takes weird, experimental indie music and turns it into a movement of new pop. My only complaint is that after listening to this album 3 or 4 times, I am so infatuated with the sounds and melodies and addicted to the journey of the album that I want another album. Now.
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AaronS.Jan 21, 2009I doubt that I will hear a better album in 2009. A pivotal work for the Collective-it serves as a summation of their fascinating career to date as well as points to a new direction for the future. An important record that also happens to be catchy as hell.
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jimbojJan 20, 2009Boring. I don't get it. Am I listening to the same album as everyone else? It just sounds like a bunch of random noise to me. Where's the melody?? Is that not a requirement in good songwriting anymore? Just make a bunch of random noises, and sound like a 16-bit nintendo soundtrack, and you got yourself a classic album.
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PatrickR.Jan 22, 2009An album whose rich melodies and harmonies show themselves over time, Merriweather Post Pavilion is an album that will certainly be talked about for a long time. Everything fits in its place, and nothing is there that shouldn't. Brilliant, beautiful and perfect.
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KyleNelsonJan 20, 2009This is truly great. yeah, that seems about right.
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KasperH.Jan 22, 2009It's a timeless, catchy and weird as hell. Great stuff.
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tombDec 20, 2009Animal Collective has an aversion to melody. It's all about placement of strange sound effects and the repetition of those effects instead of instruments. I can't handle the slicker-than-grease production. All the songs move at the same mid-tempo pace and feel slightly different from one another. Not for me.
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JohnSJan 23, 2009What is up with some critics today? This album is boring if you like hooks and rhythm, and don't care for uninspired Beach-Boy like singing. Seriously, it doesn't hold you attention, not unlike another very overrated group, TV On the Radio. On the plus side, AC have some fairly interesting ambient aspects which is why they earn a 4 instead of a 2 or 1.
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LeahT.Jan 24, 2009Brilliant, considering that I'm not a fan of the older work. If any of their albums will convert you, this one shall. The other eight fade in comparison. GENIUS. Buy it. Hear it. Love it.
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BillW.Jan 24, 2009Somewhere between the best of Strawberry Jam and Person Pitch.
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MarkC.Jan 24, 2009This band and its albums are extremely overrated. They make mildly annoying background music.
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AntonMJan 25, 2009The best album since Kid A.
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S.H.Jan 25, 2009
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abesJan 27, 2009I used to be 'with it', but then they changed what 'it' was. Now what I'm with isn't 'it', and what's 'it' seems weird and scary.
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MarcosBJan 28, 2009A record that begins and ends close to perfection, but with some obscure passages in between.
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RonaldMJan 28, 2009I hope those initially disappointed don't give up so easy... it takes a few listens to unravel this one. Layer upon layers are revealed with repeat listening. Each song feels like a gift. I haven't loved an album this much in at least 10 years.
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stefanobJan 28, 2009Simply perfect. A real masterpiece.
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DolceAddictJan 28, 2009This is what psych-pop perfection sounds like.
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ChuckNorrisJan 28, 2009For me it's AC's best album next to Feels, probably even better. Take some catchy tunes and lyrics, set them to electronic music, add a few avant-garde elements, and you have redefined the term "(neo) psychedelic". ten thumbs up!
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MattKJan 31, 2009I don't get whats so special about this album... it doesn't play well it feels awkward to listen to. It's also not as good as the No Age album released last year which was also on this new wave of weird music which I just don't see anything in but garbled music.
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BmanOct 30, 2009
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PedroCFeb 11, 2009
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PatNFeb 11, 2009Already chosen my top album of 2009.
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AdamPFeb 17, 2009
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HarryGFeb 17, 2009I hate voting 10s but when it is deserved, then it must be. Nothing else like it and more to the point not much near as good. This is one way to the future of music
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CMeezyFeb 26, 2009Love love love this album. Can't stop listening. I can't fathom that this won't make it on my top 5 list of 2009. If they added one more stellar track on here, it would be among my alltime favorites. As it is, this record is pretty high up there.
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DavidFeb 3, 2009Amazing; a masterpiece of psychedelic pop, and Animal Collective's best offering thus far. In a way, this is the Sgt. Pepper of our generation.
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LewisGFeb 3, 2009This album is awesome all around, but it takes a few times around to get it and love it. Don't just listen to it once and give up.
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GeoffGFeb 6, 2009
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WayneSMar 1, 2009Record of the decade!
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XMar 19, 2009All the average reviews are complete nonsense, believe the hype.
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weaveMar 2, 2009
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DeanBMar 27, 2009A thrilling roller-coaster ride of an indie-pop album, creating a maddening euphoric buzz in your head which stays with you - and grows.
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KurtCMar 27, 2009Exceptionally solid album from beginning to end. More melody and harmonies than past albums. They're venturing out into more uncharted electronic territory (while still carrying their guitars and floor tom along). Great listen.
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AiTMar 31, 2009I've continued to listen to this album for the last four days, the music is deep and overwhelming, in a really good way, this album keeps the mind and emotions on point.
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MattydigsMar 3, 2009
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VinceH.Mar 30, 2009
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JeremyKMar 5, 2009
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simlMar 5, 2009Pretty good. For me its pretty usual that a good album needs many listening so im not going to claim that again. Last time a heard a good album like this was Foals. Have a good time !
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AnthonyMApr 12, 2009
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DaveLApr 13, 2009Easily album of the year so far!
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PaulJApr 16, 2009Loved it at first, particularly the first track, but I've tired of it relatively quickly. It made me return to Feels which was a real slow burner - and which I now on balance think I prefer.
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JodieLApr 2, 2009
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RonanSApr 26, 2009This album has so many gorgeous little details it's very hard to get bored of it. While the lyrics are often hard to make out Of those I have heard I totally love. A slow-burning and ultimately very rewarding album
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KenDMay 10, 2009
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JustinLMay 19, 2009Good album, still prefer Strawberry Jam. It's just a shame that Metacritic allows ignorant people post stupidity, if you don't think it's music why did you buy the album. Best 20 bucks I spent.
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ChrisMay 23, 2009I'm sure buck and ken are douches who listen to top 20, or who think the new green day album is actually good. This album is unbelievable. You don't need guitars to make art fellas.
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JaySJun 14, 2009
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GraemeTJun 2, 2009Album of the year so far! Hands down! It's a wonderful album, joyous and interesting. I've been listening to it since it came out and ahh it's so pretty.
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EricCJun 28, 2009
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AndrewB.Jul 20, 2009Every song is amazing and all are VERY replayable. Best album of this year (I don't see anything topping it), and one of the best of the decade.
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JohnTJul 6, 2009
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mSAug 13, 2009
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JohnFSep 13, 2009I've really tried to like this album. After all, the gushing reviews have to be indicative of excellence, haven't they? However, after umpteen listens I've failed. I still think it's the most over-rated album I've heard in years. Yesterday, I consigned it to the garbage bin.
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VeeOct 11, 2009This music does not fit you if you love the mindless beat of the Jonas Brothers or Miley Cyrus or Nickleback. If you want to fill your mind with "baby babybabybaby" over thousands of time in a single album then you should go back to mainstream. To the people who bought this album because of the reviews: people who review musics have something that you don't: mind, brain, thoughts.
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JohnnieT.Nov 12, 2009There is some fantastic stuff here - when they nail the blissed out 22nd century Beach Boys style(particularly on Bluish, Guys Eyes, My Girls), then it plays like a dream. Infuriatingly however, at times its undermined by its own exuberant eclecticism and the need for sonic experimentation can occasionally get in the way of those melodies. If only we could hear them!
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CurtisB.Nov 24, 2009Amazing. Beautiful. Incomparable. Fresh. Fun. Ahead of our time.
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JTNov 27, 2009
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timmydNov 29, 2009
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SDKJan 21, 2009It's near perfect a record as any for this day and age. Like an accumulation of all things natural, MPP is the essence of universal likeness of being.
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JY.Jan 21, 2009They have evolved as musicians and made their most accessible album to date. Definitely their most "pop" sounding yet, and I don't think it's a bad thing with the way they structure melodies and especially harmonies behind Panda Bear and Avey Tare. Exceptional record.
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KarstenS.Jan 21, 2009For the love of all things beautiful in this world, don't just listen to this album. Put on your headphones and let it take you over. This album makes other music not sound like music at all. If you are not smiling throughout the entire album, it is possible that you have no soul.
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KevinS.Jan 21, 2009A career-heightening album from an amazing band. This will mark the explosion of this already popular group of musicians
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[Anonymous]Jan 21, 2009Simply astonishing. Woozy, hazy, ecstatic, melodic, filled with eccentricity and wonderfully produced. 11 incredible tracks in a row, each one of which works as a standalone piece and add up to a masterpiece when taken as a whole. One of the best albums I've ever heard, and possibly the best of the '00s.
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ChrisAJan 21, 2009Animal Collective have done it. They have won music.
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ZachA.Jan 21, 2009
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DanielJan 21, 2009Utterly brilliant album, their most accessible to date and not a dull track amongst these 11 new offerings.
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ErnestK.Dec 14, 2009
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TimmyD.Dec 15, 2009
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HagenM.Dec 16, 2009This music is ahead of its time by decades. Perfection has been achieved.
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kevinm.Dec 17, 2009How can this even be considered a musical composition? it sounds like a bunch of douche bags with way too many synths ripping off concept work brian wilson was doing back in the 60's and 70's. I guess im just not hip enough to get it.
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MaxWDec 19, 2009Best album of the year, top 3 this decade along with Is This it by the Strokes and Funeral by Arcade Fire. The way Animal Collective blends so many different sounds to create something exceptional continues to amaze me. Anyone who rates this below about a 7 has no idea what they're talking about
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Mr.ManJan 23, 2009Definitely a strong step above the pack of other artists circulating nowadays, yet when excellent track proceeded excellent track, repetition started to rear its ugly head. Very well made, almost hypnotizing, but comes to a point where listening to one song could give you the same general idea as the next.
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kalim.Jan 23, 2009Everything I've always loved about AC with none of the meandering filler. Sublime.
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MikeCJan 25, 2009This album has set the precedent of psycadelia.
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JohnD.Jan 26, 2009I fell in love with this album when I first listened to it and fell deeper in love with it after seeing it performed live 5 feet away from me.
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danJan 27, 2009
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RobertP.Jan 27, 2009Probably the best album of the last umpteen years. It doesn't really matter though, it's just good and fun to listen to. When does that ever happen?
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TomFeb 13, 2009I always thought Animal Collective were pretty overrated but this album has proved me wrong. Took a few listens to get into it, but know reckon its one of the best albums I've heard in years. Favourite tracks are Taste & Bluish.
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ShazZ.Mar 17, 2009Most of the people here suggest listening to this album more than once to understand it's impact. With me, unfortunately, it happened the other way round. The first listening if this album was so overwhelming for me, I was like, "Wow!", that the subsequent ones have been disappointing. Maybe, I will begin to appreciate it more later. Still "Summertime Clothes", "My Girls" are great tracks.
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RaifordMar 21, 2009This is not a bad album, neither is it as life-changing as the critics make it out to be. Definitely AC's most poppy. The sad thing is that AC has made two superior albums prior to this that received much less attention. The quirk that permeated Strawberry Jam is missing here, for better or for worse.
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WillPApr 12, 2009not as good as strawberry jam. but close, awefully close. more immediate and--unfortunately--more superficial. still beautiful music nonetheless.
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MikeDApr 13, 2009I like a bit a of wierd...but this album is just confusing, noisy and overated...and all the 'sheep' here would NOT have giving it 10/10 if the critics had slammed it!!!! It just aint Music people!!!!
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BuckApr 28, 2009For people who prefer to think about music rather than enjoy it.
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AndyMay 27, 2009Great album, although I have my doubts as to how well this album would hold up live after watching them perform on Letterman.
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SteveSJul 31, 2009
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JayPAug 25, 2009Terrible... hate it.
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JasonPAug 25, 2009
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patSep 23, 2009
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RayV.Sep 23, 2009
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GoodMusicLoverNov 14, 2009This is really a boring and annoying album, any other album, Mainstream or not, out there is so much better. I gave it a 3 because I still think it is better than other stuff like Radiohead or other "alternative" bands that really suck. Sorry if I offend anybody with this, it's just my opinion.
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DarkoDec 27, 2009The most overrated album of the year. Tried to listen to it several times, but just can't get it. Somebody called it "danceable"... what a joke!
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Aug 14, 2010Let's do this.
In The Flowers - 10
My Girls - 10
Also Frightened - 10
Summertime Clothes - 10
Daily Routine - 7
Bluish - 9
Guys Eyes - 9
Taste - 10
Lion in a Coma - 9
No More Runnin - 8
Brother Sport - 9
Personally one of my favorite albums. -
Dec 23, 2010
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Apr 12, 2011
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Jul 13, 2011
Awards & Rankings
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MojoBy far the most streamlined and purposeful Animal Collective record. [Jan 2008, p.98]
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In years past, Animal Collective have been cast as perpetual Peter Pans, forever stuck in childhood fantasias. But beneath the body-moving throbs and coruscating noises of Merriweather Post Pavilion, themes of domestic duty and devotion abound.
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It feels like one of the landmark American albums of the century so far. [Jan 2008, p.86]