Tomboy is finally here. Panda Bear's 4th record reaches another dimension in his creative mind.
The album starts off majestically, like something out of Lion King, with the song "You Can Count on Me" in which Panda Bear assures the listener to be in a safe journey. The next track, the title-track, "Tomboy" showcases the new instrument in Panda Bear's arsenal: the guitar. Guitar riffs are blended into organ tones. It then sets a dark mood for the rest of the album. "Slow Motion" is fast and very hip hop-ish, definitely badass. Another killer track, "Surfer's Hymn" is the closest example to the similarity between The Beach Boys and Panda Bear. It's filled with ups and turns, surely to bathe the listener in waves. "Last Night at the Jetty" is the end of the triple combo of awesome tracks in Tomboy where Panda Bear is highly reminiscent of his time at the Jetty back in his hometown, Baltimore, Maryland.
"Drone" breaks the progress of the album. It leaves irritation and confusion with its droney lyrical repeats but is then forgotten by the elusive and unreal, "Alsatian Darn" which puts things back into perspective. It definitely has the greatest pace. "Scheherazade", another mood breaker, is something between a dream and a nightmare. The best track to appear is "Friendship Bracelet". Utter godly. Ethereal melody. Beautiful. "Afterburner" is the endurance test of the album. The longest track is backed with heavy samples and the heaviest Panda Bear vocals ever. Finally, the closer "Benfica" brushes everything away. Everything seems fulfilled but still lost due to its loose elegance of football crowd chants.
All in all, Panda Bear's goal was to create a mood with this album and he succeeded. It's dark but always hopeful. A feeling found within most of Animal Collective songs. A feeling that cheers you up.
Trial track:
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