perhaps one of the most talked-about aspects of the eighth animal collective album, 'merriweather post pavillion', is its optical illusion cover art - oddly acting as a pre-cursor to the sonic invention within. ever the experimentalists, the new york-based indie troupe decamped to mississippi for this offering, resulting in the usual lush avant-folk jams, but with a definite focus and a more accessible vibe. a true contender for 2009's album of the year!