Animal Collective – Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished

Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished is the first album by Animal Collective, a group of experimental musicians from the United States. The album was originally released in August 2000 under the names of Avey Tare and Panda Bear, the two members who created it. It was later reissued in 2003 and 2023 by different labels, and retroactively recognized as Animal Collective’s debut album.

The music is a blend of psychedelia, electroacoustic, and experimental rock, featuring acoustic guitar, piano, drums, synthesizer, and feedback loops. The lyrics are mostly sung by Avey Tare, and deal with themes of childhood, innocence, loss, and fantasy. The album has a distinctive sound that is both melodic and noisy, often creating a contrast between soft and harsh elements.

The album was recorded at Avey Tare’s parents’ house in Maryland, using a Tascam 48 eight-track reel-to-reel. Avey Tare wrote most of the songs between 1997 and 1999, inspired by his move from Baltimore to New York. Panda Bear played the drums and added some electronic sounds.

The album received critical acclaim from music critics, who praised its originality, creativity, and emotion. The album has an average score of 8.9 out of 10 on Pitchfork, based on 25 reviews. Some of the positive comments from the reviews are:

• Pitchfork: “A far more deliberate, ambitious, and even sophisticated album than a listener working their way backward through their catalog might expect.”
• AllMusic: “A stunning debut that reveals more with each listen.”
• Tiny Mix Tapes: “A beautiful and haunting record that stands as one of the most unique and influential albums of the past decade.”

Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished is an album that showcases Animal Collective’s talent and vision as artists. It is a challenging but rewarding listen that explores the complex emotions of growing up and leaving behind a magical world.