Tomboy(album)

Tomboy
Studio albumby Panda Bear
Released	April 12, 2011
Genre	Psychedelia ambient pop bedroom pop electro-pop
Length	50:00
Label	Paw Tracks
Producer	Panda Bear Sonic Boom
Panda Bearchronology
Person Pitch (2007) Tomboy (2011) Mr Noah (2014)
SinglesfromTomboy
"Tomboy / Slow Motion" Released: July 2010 "You Can Count on Me / Alsatian Darn" Released: September 2010 "Last Night at the Jetty / Drone" Released: December 2010 "Surfer's Hymn" Released: March 2011

Tomboyis the fourth solo album by American musicianPanda Bear(aka Noah Lennox), released on April 4, 2011 initially as an online stream and later physically.It was mixed by UK musicianSonic Boom.In contrast to thesample-based composition of the previous Panda Bear albumPerson Pitch(2007), the recording ofTomboyfeatures a stripped-down sound built around guitar processed throughKorg M3-Mworkstationmodules.

The album peaked at no. 29 on theBillboard200.It was included on 2011 best-of lists by publications such asPitchforkandRolling Stone.

Background

Following the success of his previous albumPerson Pitch(2007) and Animal Collective'sMerriweather Post Pavilion(2009), Lennox was looking to move beyond the restrictions of composing with asamplerand record something "with a heavy focus on guitar and rhythm," influenced by bands likeNirvanaandthe White Stripes;he later qualified that these artists' influence should not be taken too literally, as "their sound is over-driven and buzzed out and that wasn’t something I was really into. But […] it was exciting to see that from a simple set up, these bands can crank out some really heavy jams. I think I just took inspiration from that kind of approach.”He also mentioned being inspired by the singing of "Frank Sinatraorcroonerguys. It’s a really singular thing, but really powerful, too. "

In contrast toPerson Pitch,which was recorded in his well-lit apartment overlookingLisbon,Tomboywas recorded in a basement studio where "there was no light, it was really dark and it was kind of lonely."During the sessions, Lennox ran his guitar through aKorg M3-Mworkstationmodule, which is commonly part of asynthesizer.He explained that he "had this idea of a triangle where the voice was at the top, some sort of guitar element on one side, and then some sort of really basic rhythm on the other side.The song "Benfica" is a reference to the Portuguese football clubS.L. Benfica.

Production

In an interview with NYCTaper in September 2010,Josh Dibbof Animal Collective revealed that he and bandmateDave Portnerhad been requested to mix the album on its completion.However, due to the fact that both of them were busy at the time, it was later reported that the album was being mixed bySonic Boom,formerSpacemen 3member and producer ofMGMT'ssecond album,Congratulations.

Lennox noted that his original mix of the album "sampled a lot of these little children’s movies that my daughter was watching at the time […] I just remember hearing this sonic clutter in the house all the time." He noted that Sonic Boom's mix made these less obvious but "I’m hoping that those sorts of things will make it feel a little more weird, like a broadcast coming from space."

Release

Panda Bear performing at the Pitchfork Music Festival in 2010

Lennox had mentioned thatTomboy's release would be similar to that ofPerson Pitchin that several singles would be released on different labels prior to its release, "Doing the singles helps me focus on every song and also helps me move along in the process."The first single, "Tomboy"was released onPaw TracksJuly 13, 2010, with a digital release following a week later. The first and only pressing sold out quickly. Another two singles, "You Can Count on Me"and" Last Night at the Jetty ", were released later in the year onDominoandFatCatrespectively. "Surfer's Hymn", the last of the four planned singles, was released byKompakton March 28 with a remix by London musician Actress.According to his website,Tomboywas slated for release "near the end of 2010".

On January 14, 2011, Lennox announced viaFacebookthat the album would be released on April 19 of that year,and it was later moved up a week to April 12 so it would be available onRecord Store Day.Two listening parties for the album were held in New York City on February 16, and another two in Los Angeles on February 28.The first 1000 pressings of the vinyl were printed on translucent wax, and initial copies of the album came with a download card redeemable for a free digital copy ofLive at Governor's Island,a recording of a New York show by Panda Bear from September 11, 2010. A limited edition box set for the album was released on November 1, 2011 with all proceeds going to the American Cancer Society. It contains four LPs featuring: theTomboyfull length with slightly different mixing on two LPs, Noah's single mixes on one LP, and several Tomboy unreleased instrumentals and a cappellas, plus "The Preakness" and a 16-page art booklet.

Reception

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
AnyDecentMusic?	7.5/10
Metacritic	77/100
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
The A.V. Club	A−
Entertainment Weekly	B+
The Guardian
Los Angeles Times
Mojo	6/10
Paste	7.1/10
Pitchfork	8.5/10
Q
Rolling Stone
Slant Magazine	6/10

Rolling Stonestated that "the rapturous beauty on the Animal Collective singer's fourth solo disc is built on basic stuff: Lennox's choirboy tenor – multiplied into billowing harmonies – and sweet melodies," but called it "a bit less stunning" thanPerson Pitch.The Guardiancalled the album "dense, oppressive and utterly hypnotic," and praised Lennox's "honeyed, glowing vocal harmonies, repeated and repeated until they induce not a headache, but a calming trance."Entertainment Weeklystated that the album "stretches outBeach Boys-style pop into a kind of slo-mo sound installation. The woozy,reverb-rich result makes for great headphone swimming. "According toThe Quietus,the album reflected "a more streamlined assimilation of all the classic Panda Bear touchstones: 60spsych-pop,drone,technoandfolk,"stating that 'by shedding many of his more irksome tropes, he lets his true craftsmanship shine through."

Pastenoted that the album "scales back on many of the infectious samples that made his third LP such an appealing record, instead inviting us into his own lushambient-poplandscapes, "but cautioned that Lennox occasionally" succumbs to the weight of his somewhat ambivalent, drudging experiments. "Slant Magazineclaimed that "it’s difficult not to be slightly disappointed by the despondent nature of Lennox’s fourth solo album," adding that "though rich and dreamlike, Panda Bear’s latest is too tedious, too bloated, and far too serious to be anything more than an above-average record."

Pitchforkplaced the album at number 32 on its list of the "Top 50 albums of 2011".

Rolling Stoneplaced the album at number 37 on its list of the "Top 50 albums of 2011".

Track listing

No.	Title	Length
1.	"You Can Count on Me"	2:21
2.	"Tomboy"	4:23
3.	"Slow Motion"	4:36
4.	"Surfer's Hymn"	4:31
5.	"Last Night at the Jetty"	4:29
6.	"Drone"	4:01
7.	"Alsatian Darn"	4:16
8.	"Scheherazade"	3:53
9.	"Friendship Bracelet"	5:54
10.	"Afterburner"	6:50
11.	"Benfica"	4:11

Expanded Edition bonus track

No.	Title	Length
12.	"The Preakness" (positioned between "Drone" and "Alsatian Darn" )	3:32