Animal Collective
Painting With
On Painting With, everything echoes and vibrates with an experimental pop feel, and the lyrics are nothing short of picturesque.
“Dinosaurs” and “Golden Girls” are evocative of not only ancient civilizations, cave paintings, and tribal warriors, but feminist issues, too. David Portner (Avey Tare) said, in an interview with Billboard, that this interest was sparked by a TED Talk about universal figures seen across civilizations. “Usually you think about the animals, but there are actually other things that seem confusing but are in every cave painting,” he said.
?Avery Tare, Panda Bear, and Geologist piece their ideas together to make a very synthetic collage — if you see it as a whole, the thrash can sound overwhelming. The key is to listen for the creative details in each layer — for example, an audio clip of a reporter saying, “While you’re out and about on the freeways, there are no dinosaurs to worry about,” amongst powerful, dinosaur-like synths and ambient jungle creature voices on “Hocus Pocus.”
?“Golden Gal” pulls a quote from “Golden Girls,” and calls out how the ideal “Golden Gal” is “complex and brave, a powerful lure without showing some legs.” Whether or not you agree with feminist values, Animal Collective argues that society values superficial issues, and the way they lay out real, complex topics in their tracks is beautiful: “You’d think the gals should feel so comfortable these days / But sex and gender bring some troubles to the fray / And trouble tears apart another golden heart / So I want to be the reminder that she’s stronger than the bulk on other days.”
Jordan Klassen
Javelin
Jordan Klassen stays mostly the same in his latest release: the same melodic and melancholy tones permeate the entire track list. Usually much more reserved, Klassen explores similar emotional themes to his other records, yet in Javelin they hold a raw and confident power that he has not previously exhibited.
Klassen sings of his mother’s struggle with cancer and delves into deeply personal territory with the same delicate passion of Sufjan Stevens, attempting to pin down his worries, failed relationships, and emotional tribulations. Yet through it all he finds time to smile and dance on “Baby Moses,” and indulge in ‘80s-like sounds on “Light in the Evening.” Javelin is confident, emotional, and heartwarming. The most significant change from his past records is the pop vibes that layer over much of his dreamy atmospheric soundscape.
Villagers
Where Have You Been All My Life?
An atmospheric, acoustic, folk-like rhythm and a soothing voice: that’s exactly what Villagers’ new album, Where Have You Been All My Life sounds like from beginning to end.
While listening to the album, I was captivated by its melodic and harmonic components — the synthesis of bass, keyboard, guitar, vocals, and various other instruments are mystical and enticing.
My favourite song on this album is “The Wave” because of its simple yet intense composition; the variety of sounds, progressions, and basic rhythms used in this particular song is enchanting. Another great little encouraging tune I enjoyed was “Courage,” which was catchy, incredibly atmospheric, and engaging.
Band leader Conor O’Brien’s easygoing yet poignant lyrics and unique instrumental arrangements all worked to make Where Have You Been All My Life? an absolute delight to listen to.
Simple Plan
Taking One for the Team
While scrolling through Facebook, I realized that the band that influenced me the most growing up had a new release out. For nostalgic reasons, I had to check it out. When I heard the first track, “Opinion Overload,” I immediately smiled to myself, the same as if it had been released over a decade ago.
I recognize that Taking One for the Team is not Simple Plan’s greatest work. It essentially follows the same formula as their previous releases: the songs feature the same topics in lyrical content, and they still only work on maintaining catchy hooks and the pop-punk roots that made them famous, yet this works in their favour, as it doesn’t alienate older fans. Features from Nelly, Rock City, and Juliet Simms update the band’s sound, though. The songs I continuously gravitated to were “I Don’t Wanna Go to Bed” and “Boom!”
As if that’s not enough, to wrap up the album, “I Dream About You,” fades out into a dream-like mixed-sports game. (The members of the band are the players.) Play-by-play announcer Bob Cole, known from his spot on Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts, closes things out with this modest sign-off: “Simple Plan have won the game. Oh baby.”
Regardless of the 17 years since their inception, Taking One for the Team shows Simple Plan still know how to fulfill fan expectations well.
