Panda Bear

Noah Lennox really, really loves doo-wop vocals, Beach Boys harmonies, and the sound of the early '60s. He engages in that retro sound regularly with his band Animal Collective, and dives right into it, headfirst as the solo artist Panda Bear. The other thing he really loves is wrapping his songs inside electronic arrangements, which, in turn, injects a more contemporary feel into his otherwise vintage melodies. His music remains consistently gentle and cozy, not unlike his namesake in a way, with no signs of tension, anxiety, or tightness in his sound. That said, it is not exactly upbeat or perky either. He also likes to insert some psychedelic energy into his songs with a choice of bright colors and some spark, along with the kind of studio mastery that does Brian Wilson proud.