The band has released fourteen albums: "Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished" (2000), "Danse Manatee" (2001), "Campfire Songs" (2003), "Here Comes the Indian" (2003), "Sung Tongs" (2004), "Feels" (2005), "Strawberry Jam" (2007), "Merriweather Post Pavilion" (2009), "Centipede Hz" (2012), "Painting With" (2016), "Tangerine Reef" (2018), "Crestone" (2021), "Time Skiffs" (2022), and "Isn't It Now?" (2023). They also composed and performed the soundtrack for the 2022 film, The Inspection, directed by Elegance Bratton and produced by A24.
Prior to "Here Comes the Indian", the group's albums were not credited to the band name "Animal Collective" but instead to "Avey Tare & Panda Bear" (for "Spirit"), "Avey Tare, Panda Bear & Geologist" (for "Danse") and "Campfire Songs" (for "Campfire Songs").
The band members met in school and started recording together in various forms of collaboration from a young age. Although the band is often classified as psych folk or noise rock, it is hard to define the Animal Collective sound as they often experiment with diverse styles and ideas from album to album. The group also runs the record label Paw Tracks on which they have released their own material as well as material by artists such as Ariel Pink, Terrestrial Tones, and The Peppermints. Paw Tracks' latest signee is Tickley Feather, with whom the band recently toured.
Mr. Fingers
Animal Collective Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is perfection a place or just a glimpse at hard work's face
Pop on some music trapped in its time
Mad men muse, brought tears to my face
Dressed in the form of classical rhyme
Light the dawn, electrical graze
Man your shoes are hard to replace
Top off a brew that brushed like a tie
Here are days when friends passed away
Accept the news, the weather is mild
Grandma used to love how you'd play
Blued from the bruise but able to smile
Bag your blues and sink in the way
Pop on some music trapped in its time
Mad men muse brought tears to my face
Dressed in the form of classical rhyme
Light the dawning electrical graze
In Animal Collective's song "Mr. Fingers," the lyrics paint a picture of someone searching for perfection and questioning whether it's a place or just a fleeting moment of hard work paying off. The first stanza suggests that there might be one thing that the singer needs to reach for before they can consider themselves done. The second stanza takes a turn back in time, recalling music that's "trapped in its time." The reference to "Mad Men muse" is likely a reference to the TV show Mad Men, which was set in the 1960s, and suggests nostalgia for that era.
The third stanza mentions "kicking at the fuse," which suggests a sense of frustration, and the reference to difficult-to-replace shoes may imply a sense of loss or longing. The fourth stanza mentions accepting mild weather, recalling the singer's grandmother, and being able to smile despite feeling a bit blue. The final two stanzas repeat the second stanza, reiterating the idea of being trapped in time and finding solace in music.
Overall, the song seems to explore themes of nostalgia, the search for perfection, and the power of music to transport and heal. The lyrics might resonate with people who are feeling a little lost and seeking comfort or meaning.
Line by Line Meaning
Is there one sweet one that I must reach for then I'm done
Is there a perfect moment or achievement that I must strive for before I can rest
Is perfection a place or just a glimpse at hard work's face
Is perfection an actual place to arrive at or just a fleeting moment when hard work pays off
Pop on some music trapped in its time
Put on some music that's stuck in a certain era
Mad men muse, brought tears to my face
Advertising from the TV show Mad Men made me emotional
Dressed in the form of classical rhyme
Presented in the style of traditional poetry
Light the dawn, electrical graze
Illuminate the morning with an electric charge
Kick at the fuse that laughed like a mime
Jostle the explosive device that remained silent like a mime
Man your shoes are hard to replace
Your shoes are valuable and difficult to replace
Top off a brew that brushed like a tie
Finish a drink that had a smooth and sophisticated taste
Here are days when friends passed away
There are days when we remember friends who have died
Accept the news, the weather is mild
Acknowledge that the news is not good, but not as bad as it could be
Grandma used to love how you'd play
Your grandmother enjoyed watching you play
Blued from the bruise but able to smile
Feeling sad or hurt, but still able to show a positive attitude
Bag your blues and sink in the way
Put away your sadness and accept the present moment
Pop on some music trapped in its time
Put on music that's stuck in a certain era
Mad men muse brought tears to my face
Advertising from the TV show Mad Men made me emotional
Dressed in the form of classical rhyme
Presented in the style of traditional poetry
Light the dawning electrical graze
Illuminate the dawn with an electric charge
Contributed by Makayla R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BranFlakesForYou
Is there one sweet one that I must, reach for then I'm done?
Is perfection a place, or just a glimpse at hard work's face?
Is there one sweet one that I must, reach for then I'm done?
Is perfection a place, or just a glimpse at hard work's face?
Is there one sweet one that I must, reach for then I'm done?
Is perfection a place, or just a glimpse at hard work's face?
Is there one sweet one that I must, reach for then I'm done?
Is perfection a place, or just a glimpse at hard work's face?
God...
Pop on some music, trapped in its time.
Mad men muse, brought tears to my face.
Dressed in the form of classical rhyme:
Light the dawn; electrical graze.
Kick at the fuse that laughed like a mime,
"Man, your shoes are hard to replace..."
Top off a brew that brushed like a tie:
Here are days when friends passed away.
Accept the news, the weather is mild.
Grandma used to love how you'd play.
Blued from the bruise, but able to smile--
Bag your blues, and sink in the way...
Pop on some music, trapped in its time.
Mad men muse, brought tears to my face.
Dressed in the form of classical rhyme:
Light the dawn; electrical graze.
Gumbee
Is there one sweet one that I must
Reach for then I'm done
Is perfection a place, or just a
Glimpse at hard work's face
(repeat)
Out amongst the music trapped in its time
Mad men muse brought tears to my face
Dressed in the form of classical rhyme
Light the dawn, electrical graze
Kick out the fuse that left like a mine
Man your shoes are hard to replace
Top off a brew that brushed like a tie
Here are days when friends passed away
Except the news the weather is mild
Grandma used to love how you'd play
Brewed from a bruise but angled we smile
Bag your blues and slip in the way
Out amongst the music trapped in its time
Mad men muse brought tears to my face
Dressed in the form of classical rhyme
Light the dawning electrical graze
elgoodo5
One of their most underrated songs!
BranFlakesForYou
I can never listen to it just once.
avedic
Man...something about that deep vibratory bass synth that comes in towards the middle and connects the two main parts....something about that sends massive shivers up my spine. It just makes me feel so alive...
Dominick Guerra
AC is a prodigy to me and their music is too good to be true in many ways. Seen them live too!
Tabitha Timbuktu
I just got into them a few months ago. I will go anywhere to see them live. Their music just... well I'm sure you know
Pawl2
i wish they would play some of the oddsac songs live
A C
@BranFlakesForYou you guessed right, they did do a 10yr anniversary
chris riley
@BranFlakesForYou I just read this comment in 2020 what a Hoot !
Tofu Baba
@Jon Cowell Cheers.
Jon Cowell
@Tofu Baba Your comment made me lol so thanks. Here's to 11 year anniversary!