Animal Collective - Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished FIRST REACTION 

Ayyyyy this is one of my favourite albums of all time, definitely the best anco release

Great reaction! Also, to add context to the ringing sounds and high frequencies, the idea behind them was that as a kid, your ears can hear more, and as you grow older, your ears worsen. This album uses these high frequencies to basically made to never be the same as you grow up. The album will never be the same as you grow older, kind of like childhood in a way. That's how I and a few others see it, at least.

The Untitled track to me feels like the musical embodiment of a group of wild animals watching one of their wounded friends dying. They can't say anything, but they feel the same grief that a human would. That's why there's no lyrics. And Alvin Row is one of those songs that has a slow start, but once it really gets going you never want it to stop. The structure of the song is almost like raising a child in a way, it starts out chaotic, NOISY, and hard to manage, but gets more emotional and mature as it progresses Anyway, next AnCo project I recommend you listen to is "Fall Be Kind". It's an EP and one of their most amazing deeper cuts imo. It's sound is very similar to Merriweather but more earthy, if that makes sense

really liked this reaction cause it signifies how broken my brain is for noise. love the first and third tracks especially, they might be my favorites these days. never heard anything quite like the 3rd, just evokes the most depressed anguish. i do tend to prefer instrumental music rn maybe that has something to do with it

Penny Dreadfuls is one of the most beautifully written songs ever. Glad you enjoyed the album man, one of my favorites

I recommend listening to the remastered version that just came out, it smooths out all of the jarring abrasiveness and lets the songs breathe a little more. Always interesting to see people's first reactions to weird music, and I'm glad you've covered so many Animal Collective albums! ❤

This is one of my favorite albums ever, HIGHLY UNDERRATED imo. And the last song, Alvin Row, is my fav song of all time 🔥 it’s just the perfect mix of pop and experimentation for me.

Alvin Row is one of those songs you know is gonna hit so much harder the older you get

my favorite album!! glad you got around to it. i didn’t like the noise at all either when first getting into it, but it grows on you very slowly. the way it’s implemented is very purposeful, especially when given the context. it’d be impossible for me to listen to the album without it now. the recent remaster/reissue of it from this year improves the eq and it’s way less harsh now, i’d highly suggest it, along with the bonus tracks :)

the point of the high pitched sounds is that you hear them less and less as you listen to the album more. in the same way that older people can hear wayyyy less high frequencies. losing the ability to hear those frequencies can also be seen as the album reflecting the jadedness that can come with age, the tendency to only hear the things you're there to listen to. this album is broadly about becoming an adult and realising you don't want to grow up. avey is a deconstructive surrealist, both as a lyricist and a composer. there's always a sincere emotional core to his writing but it's easy to miss, because he's always being as playful as possible to retain the spirit of the inner child

Yesss!!! This album has some amazing moments. You should do centipede Hz next!

Alvin Row : definitely one of my favorite closing songs ever!

Fun reaction! Correct top two faves. I discovered the album a few months ago and I can't say Ive ever been so infatuated with every single nook and cranny on every song and just desparately wanting to know more about the inspiration behind it. A magnificent experience through and through, probably the closest an album will ever get to a 10/10 for me lol

I’ve been waiting so long for this…. This album consumes you, devours you whole. And it’s magical

I know a lot of people have trouble understanding untitled and see it mostly as a troll song that they put on the album just to mess with people, but I have a very personal relationship with it. It’s been a song that I run to when life gets overwhelming and I love to play it extremely loudly in my car when that happens. It’s taken me through from when my dad got diagnosed with cancer all the way to his passing a little over a month ago and was especially helpful at the height of things, when it felt like everything that could go wrong was going wrong. I think it speaks to me mostly because of the juxtaposition between the beautiful piano and the harsh synth. It’s a good reminder that even during the most challenging and difficult times there’s still beauty in this world that’s worth seeking out. Not sure if anyone else sees it that way, but if you ever find yourself wanting to scream and cry but you’d prefer someone else do it for you then pop this track on and let it wash over you. Very cathartic experience each time

this album has clicked for me multiple times since 2016 it's crazy

perfect music

yooooo i’m a lil late but i’ve missed seeing your videos popping up in my feed, glad you uploaded

You are the first person to react to this album on RU-vid!

Hey, I don't know of often people request this, but I would love to see you reacting to some more Cocteau Twins albums, like Blue Bell Knoll or Treasure. I was also wondering if you've ever listened to public strain by Women? It seems like something you would enjoy. Anyway, keep up the great content because we'd all love to see more!

You would probably love the Flaming Lips album Embryonic

Nice to see you back my friend

Honestly my favorite Animal Collective album and one of the best albums of all time, on my top 5 easily. I dont think that exist any other albums or songs on earth that sound like this, even other AC albums doesn't sound even close to this, it's such an otherworldy sound. And also, hard disagree on the consistency of the album because everything sounds so coherent and even on a fairy aesthetic. The noise on the tracks are definetly essential and I fucking love them, even as a noise fan I never saw any noise artist do that pitch high noise like AC did, Untitled is such an gorgeus song. The songwriting, melancholia and nostalgia here is top noch, really love this album though I understand some people wouldn't dig the noise bits, but for me hearing the intro to Alvin Row after multiple relistens its just so beautiful that it cleans my soul. And speaking of Alvin Row, even as a Banshee lover that song doesn't come even close to Alvin Row, amazing song. Good video man thanks

ahhh April and the Phantom is so damn good!

Another banger reaction 🔥🔥

As a die hard fan and someone who loves this album, I just cant back some of the high frequencies. I cherish my ears and ability to hear and some of the tones are just more than I want to put my ears through most of the time. I don't really back that fan theory about hearing changing as you age and the album will never sound the same... I think they just thought it sounded good. It definitely fits, it's just slightly out of range of being comfortable to listen to at high volume. Album is still amazing though. Can't believe they were so young when it was made.

Incredible album . Alvin Row 🖤🎵

He's back!

Thats my Favourite of them, and like top 5 or 10 Albums of ALL time

The king is back

Finally back to the animal collective!

So which AC albums have you NOT heard/reacted to yet? Have you done either Centipede Hz or Painting With? Both were released after Merriweather and so had lukewarm reactions because how can you follow Merriweather, right? They both are a lot more "produced" and less lo-fi than their earlier stuff. Painting With is like a hyper in your face pop sugar rush that goes by super quick. Centipede Hz is this big huge epic noisy abrasive electronic rockish album with tons of cool transitions. I recommend doing one of those next!

chocolate girl is untouchable

Awesome reaction. This album is transcendent.

April and the Phantom and Alvin Row are two of the craziest songs ever recorded. Amazing.

Chocolate Girl ❤️ sooo pretty

YOOOOO

Best album ever imo Check out a band called chakra their self titled album is a hidden gem.

aw MAN, you shoulda listened to the remaster that came out this year

This was my fav album for a huge time but my gf left me after playing it constantly which was fair

Automine (pre-AnimalCollective) reaction!!!!

Did you listen to the remaster or original version? great vid btw

Are ypu doing Hollindagain next?

oh shit was not expecting this one, this is my second favourite of theirs next to sung tongs edit: fuck you're gonna hate this one edit2: oh nevermind :)

best album they did

I beg of you, if you haven't already please listen to: The Glow, Pt. 2 by The Microphones

I just imagine Animal collective were on drugs making most of their early music.

WE NEED ELLIOTT SMITH FROM A BASEMENT ON THE HILL REACTION PLEEEEASE WE NEED THE SERIES COMPLETE

Please listen to the remastered version instead. The harsh frequencies are much less. Also unfortunately this is an extremely overrated album. It’s good, don’t get me wrong, but they’ve moved on to better and bigger things. I even prefer Danse over this.