"Painting With:" A 2016 Album worth revisiting

Since many people (including myself) have declared 2026 as the new 2016, I thought it would be appropriate to share my thoughts on an album that came out in 2016 that people weren’t the biggest fans of. 

That album would be “Painting With” by Animal Collective. I firmly believe Animal Collective are legends in the indie circuit, as their output from the 2000s is nothing short of wonderful. Their albums from “Sung Tongs” to “Centipede Hz” are all exceptional releases, but while “Painting With” isn’t as great as that run, it isn’t as bad as I've heard others make it out to be. 

“Painting With” is filled with mostly textured synth lines and unique vocals that fill up space throughout the songs. To me, they feel like strokes of paint on a canvas, which embodies the title pretty well throughout the record. 

I see people criticizing these synth lines online, and while they may not be a pleasant sound to others, I feel like they have an interesting sound on their own. Some of the sounds they use for two types of melodies are different, but to me, they are so intriguing that it’s fun and engaging to listen to.  

The synth lines in “Lying in the Grass” and “Hocus Pocus” lean low and bouncy, which complement the ping-ponging vocals well to me. The contrast between the bounciness of the synth and the staccato and sharp edges of the vocals create an environment that feels like you’re seeing colors emerge from thin air. The synth in “Lying in the Grass” especially feels like someone is painting grassy hills and you’re seeing the color manifest in real time.  

Another song that is interesting texture wise is “Golden Gal.” The song has a crunchy sound to it that’s complemented byspaceship sounding melodies. The song’s lyrics reference “The Golden Girls” throughout, which wouldn’t be the lyrics I would use given the background, but Animal Collective still makes it work. 

I also see people talk about how boring the album is. To me, that is definitely not the case. “FloriDada,” “Vertical” and “Bagels in Kiev” all grab my attention and are great songs in their own way. 

“FloriDada” is such an energetic song that takes no time to start at all. The song presents itself like a large orange-hued painting of people having fun by the beach. “FloriDada” brings in a lot of parts to latch onto, like some of the synths in the backdrop that sound like frogs ribbiting.  

“Bagels in Kiev” is also very energetic, but it holds its energy in an effortlessly cool fashion. Listening to this song reminds me of someone sketching details in chalk on a cobblestone walkway by a café. 

“Vertical” is my favorite part of the album, and I am sure that’s due to how every piece of the track falls in place. The drums and the synth instrumental feel like you’re scaling a building realistically enough to know what you’re doing, but surreal enough to know you’re inside of a dream. The vocals complement the background in a way that makes the song just complete enough to hold your attention. 

Although the album does have its faults (I am not the biggest fan of “Spilling Guts” or “Summoning the Wretch”), I feel like it’s underrated overall.  

This album has a great amount of energy and interesting textures to hang onto. Next time you look back on 2016 with rose-colored glasses, give this album another try, and see if you like it. You may be surprised by how you feel about it.