When I first tried to get into Animal Collective, I had listened through Merriweather Post Pavilion after receiving numerous recommendations from various reddit users. I'll be honest and say that it didn't really blow me away at first, mostly because I think it had been overhyped for me (I had heard it was the next Dark Side of the Moon lol) and I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. Both of those factors combined made me not think much of the album.

It did however catch my attention enough that I decided to try listening to Centipede Hz. And holy shit did this one do it for me. I worked a terrible fast food job over the summer while home from college and to get myself hyped up on the drive there, I would usually either turn on Hail To The Thief by Radiohead or this album, and man it just got that itch I needed. If this album isn't a banger I don't know what it is haha.

I love the concept of feeling like I've just tuned into some alien radio station, and I think the execution was spot on. It's interesting though because there are still moments on the album that come across as very human despite the dense production like New Town Burnout or Rosie Oh. There is not a single song on here that I dislike. Father Time was my early favorite but as time has gone on and I've listened more and more, almost every song here has taken a turn being my favorite on the album. There are some songs that are kinda blunt and in your face with effects, wide eyed in particular is the one that feels a little forward to me. But I think that's part of what makes the experience feel so alien. It's kinda like what they do during the title track of STGSTV, but not near as grating in my opinion.

My only criticism is that I think it could use a bit of breathing room. My music taste in general favors subtler, more subdued typed albums so it is a bit of a change of pace for myself to have something so densely produced. However, that doesn't stop me from listening to this album cover to cover.

Is it my favorite Animal Collective album? As I've branched out in their discography more and more, that title would probably have to go to either Feels or Strawberry Jam. However, I think this album honestly stands tall among other Animal Collective albums and is severely underappreciated.