In January 2009, Animal Collective released Merriweather Post Pavilion, a kaleidoscopic burst of psychedelic pop that felt like a cultural detonation.

Named after a Maryland venue steeped in hometown nostalgia for two of the band’s four members, Avey Tare (given name: David Portner) and Geologist (Brian Weitz), the album crystallised years of experimentation into something transcendent.

With Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) and Tare trading vocals over Geologist’s shimmering synths and samples, tracks such as My Girls and Brother Sport married ecstatic hooks to a reverb-drenched, electronic sprawl.

Merriweather wasn’t just critically acclaimed (Pitchfork crowned it Album of the Year), it was the band’s commercial peak. The album hit #13 on the Billboard 200, selling over 200,000 copies by 2012. For a group born in the DIY ethos of Baltimore’s underground, this was a leap into the zeitgeist. It was the most accessible album they had ever made.

The eight albums that came before were either too avant-garde for their time, or pushed the boundaries of experimentation a bit too hard, and appealed only to a sharply focused cult of fanatical followers, not the mainstream.

Animal Collective’s eventual success wasn’t an accident. Since their early days as teenage collaborators, Tare, Geologist, Bear and Deakin (Joshua Dibb), all now in their mid-40s, had been crafting a sound that defied easy categorisation — part freak folk, part noise, part electronica, all wrapped in a hallucinatory haze.

Their discography, from the primal yelp of Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished (2000) to the uneasy pop of Strawberry Jam (2007), built a cult following that thrived on the band’s unpredictability. Fans didn’t just listen; they immersed themselves in a sonic universe where boundaries dissolved.

Merriweather distilled this ethos into its most accessible form, proving that experimental rock could resonate beyond niche blogs and basement shows.

The band's collaborative spirit is truly its essence. Each member adds their unique flair: Tare brings an intense energy, Geologist crafts intricate textures, and Deakin offers a steadying influence; together, they form a cohesive unit. Even though Merriweather heavily featured Bear’s ethereal melodies and Tare’s dynamic vibe, the album felt like a collective achievement.

This collaborative vibe goes beyond their main albums. Tare’s solo project, like the 2010 release Down There, explores deep, swampy introspection. Geologist and Deakin have also played key roles in the evolution of their live performances. Their label, Paw Tracks, which started in 1999 as Soccer Stars, has become a gathering place for quirky artists, solidifying their impact on the more unconventional side of indie music.

Within this creative mix, Bear has forged his own journey. He kicked off his solo career with the 1999 album Panda Bear, but really found his groove with 2007’s Person Pitch. This album, a sunny blend of looped samples and rich harmonies, is often regarded as a classic. It feels like a meeting between Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and DJ Shadow at a chill resort, showcasing Bear’s talent for merging avant-garde ideas with catchy pop elements.

Following that, he released albums like Tomboy (2011) and Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper (2015), each one darker, more dub-influenced, and deeply personal. His reverb-laden croon became a reference point for artists ranging from Daft Punk to Solange.

Now, in 2025, Bear has released Sinister Grift, his first solo album in five years. Recorded in his home studio in Lisbon and co-produced with Deakin, it offers a warm, relaxed vibe, leaning less on experimentation than his earlier works but still packed with emotional richness.

For the first time, all four members of Animal Collective have contributed to this album, along with guests like the Canadian band Cindy Lee and Rivka Ravede from the US indie rock group Spirit of the Beehive. Tracks like Praise and Ferry Lady groove with a reggae-rock feel, while Elegy for Noah Lou drifts into a more somber, abstract territory.

The album serves as a midlife reflection, delving into themes of divorce (his marriage to designer Fernanda Pereira ended a few years back) and fatherhood (his 19-year-old daughter Nadja Lennox lends her voice in Portuguese on the track Anywhere but Here). Critics are praising it as his most beautifully straightforward work, marking a departure from the intricate polyrhythms of his earlier music.

This change mirrors the journey of Animal Collective. While Merriweather was a vibrant collective effort, Sinister Grift feels more personal, showcasing a solo artist leaning on familiar faces. Still, it holds onto its signature sound: psychedelic pop infused with a human touch, grounded in technology yet never feeling remote.

Bear takes on most of the instruments himself, infusing the band’s DIY ethos with a garage-rock flair. It may not be as trippy as Person Pitch or as frenetic as Merriweather, but it unmistakably carries the essence of Panda Bear: melodic, layered, and bittersweet.

Fans of Animal Collective, those dedicated listeners who analyze every release, will find much to appreciate here. They’ve remained loyal through lineup changes and shifts in sound, from the raw energy of their early work to the introspective vibes of 2022’s Time Skiffs.

Bear’s solo endeavors provide a unique intimacy, offering a direct glimpse into his inner world. Sinister Grift doesn’t seek to recapture the youthful exuberance of Merriweather’s peak. Instead, it presents a mature, sunlit release, demonstrating that even in middle age, both Panda Bear and Animal Collective can still deliver surprises.

As Bear embarks on this new phase, his bandmates continue to be his grounding force, with their collaborative history remaining as significant as ever.

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