Panda Bear : Sinister Grift

Noah Lennox, aka Panda Bear, is the sunshine pop weaved into the art rock canvas that is Animal Collective. His Beach Boys-esque harmonies make even the busiest AC tracks feel just a touch more harmonious. Not throwing shade on Avey Tare or anything, but Panda Bear is the sugary coating to help even the most obtuse noise experiment on an Animal Collective album go down easier.

Lennox on his own recording Panda Bear albums has only proven to me that he’s the pop guy, but that doesn’t mean all of his work is sunlit and sugar sweet. On albums like Person Pitch, Tomboy, and Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper there’s plenty of experimentation and darker work, but he evens it out with his knack for melody and harmony, with his appreciation for dub music around every corner. And Reset, his 2022 collaboration with Sonic Boom gave us those Panda Bear harmonies and catchy melodies with some seriously steely, big beat tracks.

We now have Sinister Grift, quite possibly Panda Bear’s best record since 2011s Tomboy. Despite the album title, this is an album that uplifts with soaring vocals, finger snaps, and big rhythms that will have you hooked from the moment you hit play. Ironically it’s the most Panda Bear album yet, with his AC bandmates all stepping in to help out. Quite simply, this is an absolutely gorgeous album.

“Praise” opens on a reverberating snare bringing King Tubby to mind. But the dub-isms are few and far between here. Instead we’re presented with straight up beach vibes and sunshine harmonies for miles. There’s a timeless quality that is hard to find these days. “Anywhere but Here” has the feel of those classic vocal bands from the 50s and 60s, and an almost spiritual heaviness. That is if you worship long days on the beach and nights listening to the waves roll in. “50mg” has a reggae vibe to it with its swinging rhythm and hazy feel.

Sinister Grift is an album that can be playing in the background while friends converse in the backyard with beers in hand and the grill smoking. But it reveals deeper layers with repeated listens. “Just As Well” sounds like Lee “Scratch” Perry covering Joe Walsh’ “A Life Of Illusion”. “Elegy For Noah Lou” runs over 6 minutes and harkens back to the more experimental Young Prayer days, while closer “Defense” ends things on a slow groove guitar track with some six-string help from Cindy Lee.

Sinister Grift is an early contender for album of the year. An absolute joy to get lost in.