Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished by Animal Collective (2000)

Looking at their discography now, I think there at least four other full length studio albums from Animal Collective that fit the bill for this collection. Instead of posting each one (which I may do anyway in time), I figured starting with the start would be the best bet.

If you loved this album on first listen, congratulations to you and your patrician ears. For the rest of us, this is the definition of a grower. Both harsh mechanical and ancient faerie-coded, STGSTV is layer after layer of seemingly impossible contradiction.

Brush drumming inspired by (other album from this collection!) 'Forever Changes', intense feedback loops, toy pianos and screaming — this album is the auditory version of the scary boat tunnel scene in Willy Wonka and you would be forgiven for thinking that this was all put together as some sort of cruel prank. The band mentioned that sending the demo out, a record company called us back immediately and said ‘Is there something wrong with the recording? It makes our dogs run out of the room'.

And yet, they had made a small miracle. A truly unique sound that begs revisits and served as a starting point for one of the most unique sounding bands ever.

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