When experimental indie rock trio Animal Collective announced that the name of their forthcoming record would be Merriweather Post Pavilion, their fans responded with a variety of reactions. Some showed excitement that the band was paying homage to its Maryland roots, others questioned whether this title signaled a move toward a more amphitheater-accessible sound, and a few were just relieved that they didn’t name their album after Nissan Pavilion (we kid, we kid.) In fact, Animal Collective has just announced that they will be opening their American tour this May with a show at the 9:30 Club, not the title’s namesake. But if any album in their catalog could inspire a massive growth in their fan base, it would be Merriweather Post Pavilion.

Although Animal Collective’s music has been panned by some as inaccessible and raucous at best and an exercise in patience at worst, the band has not completely rejected every last building block of popular music. In the midst of the maniacal screams, jarring ambient noises and incomprehensible lyrics, they have juxtaposed catchy melodies and masterfully beautiful sonic layering. On Merriweather Post Pavilion, Animal Collective perfects the pop elements that they’ve always incorporated into their music while using their freakier sounds as more of an accent than a focal point.