Painting With
by Animal Collective
  • Record Label: Domino
  • Release Date: Feb 19, 2016
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 36
  3. Negative: 1 out of 36
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  1. Under The Radar
    Mar 31, 2016
    30
    Painting With is by a distance the most annoying album you'll hear this year, and not just because it sounds exactly how those people imagine the band always has.

Awards & Rankings

55
#55 Most Discussed Album of 2016
66
#66 Most Shared Album of 2016

User Reviews

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User Score
7.5

Generally favorable reviews- based on 103 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 79 out of 103
  2. Mixed: 17 out of 103
  3. Negative: 7 out of 103
  1. atmosphericrex
    Feb 19, 2016
    9
    First let me address two things that are irrelevant to this album's quality but seem to find into the opinions of others about this record.First let me address two things that are irrelevant to this album's quality but seem to find into the opinions of others about this record.

    1. The band's history - Yes, this record is a departure from the sound of previous animal collective releases. That is what they wanted it to be. It may be natural to compare this to their previous releases but doing so is irrelevant to the quality of the music on the album. Look at this release as what it is, a standalone record with its own unique sound.

    2. Dismissive Haters - There are a large amount of people who are extremely dismissive towards Animal Collective because they have an indie scene connotation to them. This is unfounded, Animal Collective has never tried to be anything but Animal Collective. They are not pretentious and are some of the personally most humble and kind human beings in the music business. Do not be dismissive of their music because you perceive them to be some hipster indie fad.

    The record explained on a no B.S musical level -

    This record is a very solid release. All of the songs are short yet effective, they all establish a unique auditory theme that is examined and climaxed in the course of 2-4 minutes. This is extremely admirable, there are 12 stories told on this record, all completely unique and interesting whilst retaining a cohesiveness that is rare on an album where each track is such a stand out statement. The vocals on this record are absolutely amazing, Avey Tare and Panda Bear take turns serving as each other's echo on various tracks, this seems like it may become a gimmick, but it is used sparingly and in a tasteful manner where it does not become intrusive and adds to the character of this record. The only time this seems to fail is on the track "Summing the Wretch", where the vocal trade off is delayed enough to cause a slight discourse in the listening experience. Alternatively, on the track "Hocus Pocus", the two vocalists seem to fuse into one powerful two-headed vocalist who delivers his lines as if he were a jazz musician scatting. Another stand out feature of this record is its unique striped down production style that in a paradoxical way appears both extremely full and empty at the same time. The electronic elements exist without reverb which leaves empty spaces, it feels like the music is aerated, it is very refreshing and allows a further exploration of various elements of the records. You can focus on a certain chime or ding or bing or bang without it being hidden by a cloud of reverb. This is some of geologist's finest work. The only part of this record that I feel is too cluttered is during "Vertical", when Tare sings "So high and still it sends a feeling to me", it's just a bit much but it doesn't exist for too long of a time to be any real distraction or impediment to the success of the song. Other notable elements of this record include the incredible beginnings of the tracks "Lying in Grass" for its unique repetition of what appears to be Avey Tare making unintelligible noises, "Golden Gal" for it's amazing sample and joyful "da da da da" and "Hocus Pocus" for its dinosaurs and great beat. The song "Bagels in Kiev" is the quietest song on the record, and most ambient and ethereal, it is a standout for this along with its overall mystical nature, it feels like a flashback which is what the subject matter of the song is, so it is effective in that sense and also in every other sense that a song can be successful in. "Recycling" is a great track, it feels like one of those factories in an animated movie that moves to the beat of a song, you know exactly what I mean don't pretend that you don't. "The Burglars" has perhaps Avey Tare's greatest achievement vocal wise, his vocal chords are running on a treadmill and he just keeps pumping up the speed to a sprint, but he does not fall, go him, it's great, so insane, seriously even if you hate this record go listen to this just to hear how fast he speaks it is insane like woah, man oh my god, are you alright? Should I call a doctor, like wow. The song ends a little abruptly though, I wish they would have just kept going with that for a little longer. The synths of "Spilling Guts" are pounding and infectious. "On Delay" will have you saying "like a double exposure, just waiting to happen" to yourself for days. "FloriDada" is sort of this record's banger, something you can really sing along to, it makes you want to find a friend to sing along to it with so each of you can do the two vocal parts, really twisty and tangly in that way. Once "Natural Selection" gets going it is very boingy, and very interesting in its stereo trade off.

    The only track that I don't really dig is "Summing the Wretch" not bad, just a bit much, personally just not my favorite.

    The record is really good, something new, something interesting, something UNIQUE. A true stand-out achievement for Animal Collective. Good job guys :)    … Full Review »
  2. vastfields
    Feb 19, 2016
    10
    Enjoy the new taste of Coke. Imagine, instead of being a critic, that you get a chance to be on safari with Anco. Maybe try actually paintingEnjoy the new taste of Coke. Imagine, instead of being a critic, that you get a chance to be on safari with Anco. Maybe try actually painting with "Painting With", as it might allow you to stop critiquing and start experiencing this new kind of music. The vocal acrobatics of "On Delay" and "Summing the Wretch" are instant spiral staircases leading us to some ineffable, cozy joy. The perspective shifting wiles of Golden Gals and Floridada provoke one to leap outside of convention and to abandoned the notion of what Animal Collective "is" and just allow yourself to be swept up in this growing energy. Finally "Recycling" explains our ride, once again presenting us with all the joys of the greatest pop albums, yet bending all those typical linear trappings. What they've managed to do with this album is to instill that familiar feel of a great pop album, yet examine it's lines and fine detail. They've spilled the guts of all pop music, for us all to see. Thank you for this new page to the story, Anco. This is a shining light!… Full Review »
  3. BrushedRed
    Feb 19, 2016
    5
    Love Animal Collective, but this album just wasn't worth all the hype it generated. I was excited after Floridada and Lying in the Grass, butLove Animal Collective, but this album just wasn't worth all the hype it generated. I was excited after Floridada and Lying in the Grass, but it seems I found this album to be quite boring as a whole and it lacks a lot of range and dynamics, or personality for that matter. Seems like they threw in a lot of electronics I'm guessing for no reasons. Even though the songs are short they tend to meander around and overstay their welcome. I mean it was a nice experiment, but this just fell short of my expectations… Full Review »
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