REVIEW: Panda Bear – ‘Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper’

Artist: Panda Bear
Album: Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper
Label: Domino Records
Genre: Indie, Chillwave

By now, if you’re not into the whole Animal Collective scene, I’m not sure you ever will be, unless you start from the beginning and you work your way to this point, which I totally encourage. The innovation and importance that the four distinct members of this group bring to each effort is outrageous and game-changing in a different way on each album.

Up to this point, Panda Bear‘s releases have strategically (as it would seem) progressed to where he ended up on Tomboy. Not only that, but his solo releases seemed to progress and follow that of AnCo, but take it to the extreme. Young Prayer touched on the folky side that was there with Sung Tungs, Person Pitch delivered the fluidity that was seen on Feels and Tomboy stretched the psych feel that Merriweather Post Pavilion had on it to the point of droney, and maybe even religiously, chanting.

But that all kind of ends with Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper. It seems if Mr. Noah has found the spot where he wants his solo efforts to stick and progress in his own manner – which is not a bad thing. In fact, I think it’s rather exciting. Although, depending on how you look at it, it could possibly get to a point of redundancy. We’ll have to see as time progresses in the next few years. But as a fan, it’s an enjoyable spot.

The album starts off seemingly right where Tomboy leaves off. “Sequential Circuits” sounds like it could be the older brother of “Surfer Hymn.” And honestly, most of the record doesn’t stray from this path. Songs like “Butcher Baker Candlestick Maker” reminisce closer to Person Pitch more so, but it’s very apparent that his niche is found. The first single, “Mr. Noah,” may be the most overwhelming, and far-left track on the album. But it doesn’t sound like something you wouldn’t expect from him.

Lyrically, as always, it’s nearly impossible to tell what he’s saying, as the melody and effect of his vocals sometimes carry more importance to the song structure than what he’s actually saying, as is the repetition. A perfect example of this is “Come To Your Senses.” It’s got a spaced-out beat and drone accompaniment, and over and over again, Panda Bear chants “Are you mad?” It’s very obvious that the content and whole experience is supposed to reflect on death and facing it. It makes you wonder, especially in the tone and vibe of the album, how awful Noah Lennox feels like the experience itself is.

“Tropic of Cancer” is absolutely dreamy; feels like he’s singing, with an angel floating on a cloud, following him, playing a harp with him. “You can’t come back, you won’t come back to me.” To me it speaks about the peace of it, and acceptance. “Lonely Wanderer” is real spacey and peaceful too, but Panda begs, singing, “What did you do? What have you done?” and there is periodic dark moments that reek of the ’80s and foreshadow the last part of the album, which does the exact same thing.

Because I’ve drank the Kool-Aid, I love this album. But I don’t know if I love it more than Person Pitch or Tomboy. I see this fitting in very well soon, as Tomboy was also an album that I had to let grow on me; some tracks stronger than the others, but all worthy of praise, and each periodically becoming my new favorite track on the album. If you’re an AnCo fan, make sure you listen, and if you’re not, I’d say it’s a fine time to become one. Take a week or two, and spend a whole day with each album.

SCORE: 8/10
Review written by Corey From

Corey From
Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Comments are closed.