Panda Bear (Noah Lennox) has some big shoes to fill: his own. His previous album, “Person Pitch,” is widely considered to be one of the best of the 2000s. His newest, “Tomboy,” lives up to expectations.
The first track, “You Can Count on Me,” puts a change in tone up front. Where “Person Pitch” was blissful and joyous, this track is more reserved, even sorrowful. The first line is “Know you can count on me,” but you’ll hear “No, you can’t count on me.”
Panda Bear leaves many of the samples and sound effects behind, focusing on synthesizers and beats reminiscent of his work with Animal Collective.
Although the music tends to be darker, every song features beautiful melodies and carefully layered vocals. Perhaps it’s not music for a party, but then again, few albums with nuance are.
“Tomboy” makes a great companion to AC’s “Merriweather Post Pavilion.” That was a day album, full of light and joy. This is a night album, but it’s happy to dabble in the light now and then.
Nothing cute and cuddly about new Panda Bear
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