The Daily Tar Heel
Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893.
Friday, March 29, 2024 Newsletters Latest print issue

We keep you informed.

Help us keep going. Donate Today.
The Daily Tar Heel

Barebones LP's emotion too obtuse

It'll take more than a prayer to save this album.

Panda Bear's solo debut, Young Prayer, was produced by the Animal Collective member in the wake of the death of his father. But he creates an album that is almost too prayer-like: experimental and psychedelic, but ultimately lacking likability.

He pours his heart into the tracks, which mostly consist of excessive wailing and little musical accompaniment, and the listener can appreciate the feeling with which he performs. But his benediction is long and drawn out and fails to allure the audience.

Tracks one and two, which are unnamed, as are all of the tracks on the album, sound almost exactly alike. While the vocals have pleasant qualities and are moderately interesting ---Panda Bear's raspy, airy voice does not disappoint - there is entirely too much wailing.

The listener expects these hollers to be just an introduction - the organic qualities seem characteristic of nothing else -- but this type of music continues across the album.

There is some acoustic accompaniment, which does improve the sound, but it does not play a large enough role to save the tracks.

Track three, however, provides a diversion. It consists of a very appealing opening melody, and though it sounds a bit childish, it is enjoyable. As the song continues, it becomes faster and louder, until it climaxes and then dies down.

While this track is noteworthy, it proves to be the only one on the album that even has a melody.

The lack of structure in the songs, if we can even call them that, is clearly a choice. Perhaps it is intended to convey certain emotions of the singer, but ultimately it leaves the listener lost and makes the album a chore to get through.

Track five is particularly difficult, as the entire track consists of hand-clapping and chanting with no music whatsoever.

Who knows what Panda Bear is trying to convey, but the ritualistic chanting leaves the listener desiring something a bit more melodic and little less cultish.

The songs are completely unrestrained, but they lack buildup and interest. And, of course, the absence of distinguishable lyrics also leaves something to be desired.

The wailing and whining, which is supposedly moving, sounds more like the whales from "Finding Nemo" than anything else.

Panda Bear should be congratulated on what seems to be a very genuine and emotionally real album, but little else is to be admired about this trance-like LP.

Contact the A&E Editor at artsdesk@unc.edu.

To get the day's news and headlines in your inbox each morning, sign up for our email newsletters.