Animal Collective Songs Ranked

Animal Collective is an American experimental pop band formed in Baltimore, Maryland in 2003. Its members and founders are Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz). The band’s music is characterized by studio experimentation, vocal harmonies, and an exploration of various genres which include freak folk, noise rock, ambient drone, and psychedelia.  Records released under the name “Animal Collective” may include contributions from any or all of its members. In the case of Dibb, who often takes breaks from recording and performing with the band, his time off does not constitute full leave. In 1999, they established the record label Paw Tracks, issuing what is now considered their debut album, Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished (2000), as well as work by other artists. In 2009, the band released their most commercially successful album, Merriweather Post Pavilion. Its rich, reverb-heavy sound proved influential to much subsequent popular music. Here are all of Animal Collective’s songs ranked.

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15. Animal Collective (Merriweather Post Pavilion, 2009)

“I feel so much when I listen to this song. I want to cry, run, dance, sing, fly, scream. I want open fields. And all of the sudden all the emaciated bimbos around me don’t matter. And the way I am doesn’t matter. And the heat on the street doesn’t matter. And everything’s better, better than ever before.”

14. What Would I Want? Sky (Live at 9:30, 2015)

“I love the line “When the point of horizon is hiding from you. What would you want sky?” I think that has something to do with not being able to see the finish line. Because the horizon is where the land hits the sky. if you can’t see where they meet it seems as though the land goes on forever.”

13. Turn Into Something (Feels, 2005)

“I think that AC allows a little abstract-ness in their lyrics. You can obviously spend a day analyzing meaning, but often a song writer will just piece together lines from old lyrics, poems, journals, etc., until a complete set of lyrics is had. Ultimately it just has to sound pretty, and AC always does. Some newer lyrics are much more relatable, and more interpretations may abound, which I think is kind of the point of art. In this case, I like to isolate the chorus line and derive the meaning of the entire song from the lovely lyric “we should turn into something.” I really try to turn into something every time I hear that song.”

12. For Reverend Green (Strawberry Jam, 2007)

“The growly voice, in the beginning, says “Whether or not you believe it, you are listening to true recordings of bigfoot creatures in their natural environment. We know these are naturally– “

See more: Animal Collective Albums Ranked

11. Brother Sport (Merriweather Post Pavilion, 2009)

“”Brother Sport” sounds fantastic on this 10″. I haven’t been a huge fan of the song as part of the album, as I own that on CD, but it does take on a new irresistible dance quality on this single.”

10. Fireworks (Strawberry Jam, 2007)

“There’s nothing quite like this song, although I’ve observed that some people tend to qualify this song as kind off happy or nostalgic, I couldn’t disagree more with those statements, as the lyrics, which are of the same excellent quality that the instrumental is, clearly represents something so familiar and quite ironically, cliche. I say cliche because love is a theme that’s been brought up so many times that you wouldn’t expect such a unique experience to come out of a song whose topic is that.”

9. Daily Routine (Merriweather Post Pavilion, 2009)

“This is absolutely one of my most favorite songs by animal collective. It makes me feel like I want to start a family. Well, either that or reminds me of being a kid. I’m not sure. Maybe getting the feeling from a child that you’re a child again? In any case, love it.”

8. Guys Eyes (Merriweather Post Pavilion, 2009)

“I am almost positive this is about being away from Kira and having the urge or the option of cheating on her but he resists by using his mind and takes charge by using his hand instead. well, that’s the end of it the beginning is slowly losing control and fearing he might cheat, He loves and needs her far too much to do that, it is actually really sweet in a weird ass way. I could probably go line by line but this is what I think the song is about”

7. Loch Raven (Feels, 2005)

“I think he’s trying to tell someone that he can make her happy and all she has to do is come with him. Come into his life. Then he feels possessive of her and I think he’s a little critical of himself in calling him a bear who will chase her and eventually bring her back to his den. He’ll be charming and take her home with him and be loving and then he’ll never let her go. It’s either that or: He’s telling her that he’ll love her forever and that he’ll always be there to get her back and that she can be safe in his den. This is how I interpret it.”

6. Taste (Merriweather Post Pavilion, 2009)

“The “things” outside of him, are literally all the “things”, material subject, outside of him… He’s speaking of taste as style whether it be clothing, art, or anything at all. He is just tired of everyone being so judgemental. and his response is “Am I really all the things that are outside of me?””

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5. Bluish (Merriweather Post Pavilion, 2009)

“I think it’s about falling in love for the first time with a girl just right for you.. but then you break up and have to deal with all the memories. Beautiful love song.”

4. Banshee Beat (Feels, 2005)

“This is an amazing set of lyrics that speaks to the meaning of the song, as well as life itself. Even though everybody is destined to experience pain and unhappiness in life, the ability to be able to feel these things is always better then the alternative (death)”

3. Grass (Feels, 2005)

“Spring music is better than summer music, because the former has none of the latter’s self-consciousness. Summer music can be wonderful when it’s done right (Since I Left You, “Feel It All Around”, etc.), but whether it’s trying to be the Song of the Summer or trying to evoke that particular last-day-before-school-starts wistfulness, you can always tell what it’s aiming for.”

2. Summertime Clothes (Merriweather Post Pavilion, 2009)

“Great song off the album. Its about living in the city, everything being humid and hot and not being able to sleep. He calls his girlfriend and luckily she picks up the phone, as its the middle of the night. They go out and walk through the city alone window shopping and dancing to music they hear from car stereos. Great imagery and a great concept.”

1. My Girls (Merriweather Post Pavilion, 2009)

“This is my favorite song on the new album. Great, catchy feel to it. I think it is about love. How he doesn’t care about what she has or what her status, But her heart is important. Great meaning and song.”