ANIMAL COLLECTIVE - Merriweather Post Pavilion

With this latest, Animal Collective seem to have allowed themselves to relax, or at least unwind a little. The result is a buoyant, sunny-sounding album, with hints of highlife, Caribbeana and Tropicalia, which seems to reflect the lush textures of member Panda Bear's recent solo efforts. Fans have been anxiously awaiting this release since "Brothersport" started circulating online, and it doesn't disappoint. Merriweather is likely to be criticized by some for being too poppy, but others will agree that AC have managed to craft their most listenable album to date without sacrificing their distinctive sound.