Each day in December, I’ll be reflecting back on a song from the 2000’s. The decade saw the return of post-punk and the popularization of folk music, all while some of music’s biggest acts gained their indie footing. Thankfully, it’s a period that I can look back at fondly without cringing. #31DaysOf2000sSongs
For several decades, various bands have often been compared to the creme de la creme. Are you progressive enough like early Floyd? Can you combine various genres like Hendrix? Can you write melodies and experiment instrumentally like The Beach Boys? The latter comparison seems to be one of the most common ones. Seems like the minute Pet Sounds was released, critics wanted to see who could match it or even exceed it. Merriweather Post Pavilion certainly has earned a right to be in those discussions. It’s like a modern-day Pet Sounds and “My Girls” is Animal Collective’s own “That’s Not Me”.
The song opens with an audio sample from the Cassini-Hyugens spacecraft which explored Saturn, its rings and its moons. From there, the iconic and mesmerizing synth hook trickles in like a waterfall. The percussion elements are sparse, but powerful with every hit. The primary strength of “My Girls” is undoubtedly the vocals. The verses are sung in rounds. The buildup into the chorus features these background falsetto blips. And the chorus is anchored by Panda Bear and Avey Tare’s harmonies. A song about family and settling down, “My Girls” is experimental to the bone, as evident in its instrumentation, vocals and song structure. It is truly deserving of the lofty Pet Sounds comparisons it drew.
“I just want four walls and adobe slabs for my girls.”