Mister Trend's Random 10

Panda Bear is one of the key members of Animal Collective. This year, he released his second solo album, Person Pitch, which has "Bros". As good as Animal Collective's new album (Strawberry Jam) is, I like Person Pitch even more. Panda Bear (AKA Noah Lennox) doesn't lose any of the eclecticism, playfulness, and sonic explorations of Animal Collective when he's on his own, but he does indulge a bit more with his Brian Wilson tendencies. However, while most artists who engage with the Brian-Wilson soundalikes are disgustingly sweet and follow a "paint-by-numbers" mimicry of Pet Sounds, Lennox avoids the trap. "Bros" is a perfect example of this, employing the Wilson school of harmonics and multi-instrumentation, but also keeping the vibrant, trance-inducing repetition and beats of Animal Collective over the song's 12 minutes. The song evolves, going from dreamy sounds to a driving, pulsing, almost-psychedelic driving rhythm over the last 6 minutes that are absolutely transcendant. It's probably one of the best songs on the album, but the whole album is really good. Anybody who likes Animal Collective or who enjoys well-crafted, well-thought "pop" music that stretches well beyond the traditional limits of the pop song structure should check out Person Pitch.

1. "Bad Feelin' Blues" - Blind Blake
2. "Delta Blues" - Son House
3. "Na Cadência do Samba" - Cássia Eller
4. "Broke and Hungry" - Blind Lemon Jefferson
5. "Water" - PJ Harvey
6. "Bad Luck Blues" - Big Bill Broonzy
7. "Bros" - Panda Bear
8. "When Will You Come Home" - Galaxie 500
9. "The E Street Shuffle" - Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band
10. "Her Majesty" - The Beatles