Animal Collective

Add Date: January 20

Artist: Animal Collective

Album: Merriweather Post Pavilion

Label: Domino

Genre: Experimental, noise, pop

Comments: I could write hundreds, if not thousands, of words about the brilliance of this album--about how it ensnares you from the opening melody of "In the Flowers" and doesn't let go until the powerful denouement of "Brother Sport;" how "My Girls" is the best pop song in a string of great ones from this band (see "Fireworks" and "Peacebone" from Strawberry Jam, as well as the title track from 2008's Water Curses EP); how "Guys Eyes," "Taste" and "Lion in a Coma" prevent this album from tailing off in the slightest; how, while time will tell if this is the best record of 2009, it's certainly set an almost impossibly high standard for the music year--but for the sake of format, I'll limit myself to this one paragraph of effusion. An absolutely stunning record from one of the few bands out there that is doing something truly unique.