Album Rating: 1.5

This album was originally called Ark back when they were demoing it iirc, who gives a shit about them changing it

Album Rating: 2.5

"Settle down."



[2]

Album Rating: 4.0

Ark is definitely a better title. Plus it was a genuine working title so it's not like they just pulled it out of their asses. Here Comes the Indian has more baggage than just the word 'Indian' given that the album has a very primal sort of "tribal" sound to it which paired with the loaded term 'Indian' puts that word in even worse context. Ark recalls Noah's ark which is kind of cool considering they're called Animal Collective (and this was the album where they debuted that moniker) and also works well given the primal, antediluvian sound of the music.

Album Rating: 2.5

I think when you filter your art for the sake of something that may be perceived as offensive by some very insecure people no doubt, it is disingenuous, yes. Because it isn't this sudden cognizance where they're like "Hey this has been eating away at me, but I think this is offensive", it's more of a "Racial tensions are pretty high right now, we should probably change this album title so people don't get offended"

Album Rating: 1.5

Why is that inherently bad though? They're doing it on their own free will.

Album Rating: 4.5

truly offended by some of these ratings tho

Album Rating: 2.5

"Here Comes the Indian has more baggage than just the word 'Indian' given that the album has a very primal sort of "tribal" sound to it which paired with the loaded term 'Indian' puts that word in even worse context."



I don't see what's bad about this. The album pays homage to Indian music... Does this somehow ascribe racism to it? Pretty baffling logic to me.

Album Rating: 4.0

@Dettlaff, it's not really paying homage to that music in a genuine way, if anything that title makes it play into a Westernized stereotype of what indigenous music might sound like.

Album Rating: 2.5

"Why is that inherently bad though? They're doing it on their own free will."



Like I said, I just think they're doing it more so due to the political climate than for personal reasons. And it makes no sense either, since the word "Indian" --or making an album with tribal elements to it in tandem with the word "Indian" in the title-- isn't inherently offensive unless it's a comedy album and you're satirizing Indian culture.

Album Rating: 2.5

"It's not really paying homage to that in a genuine way, if anything that title makes it play into a Westernized stereotype of what indigenous music might sound like."



That's because a lot of indigenous music DOES sound like that though. Why do people think it's automatically offensive to use that word or to be playing tribal music? Idk that's fucking stupid in my opinion. At what point does it become offensive to indigenous people that we filter the hell out of ourselves in front of them and act all apologetic for having the word "Indian" in the title of albums lol. Seems a bit like fake pity Imo.

Album Rating: 4.0

In any case, progress is progress. I don't think they had to change it, an apology or acknolwedgement of the baggage the title carried might have sufficed but it don't really care. I know some people cry about "sanitizing history" or whatever but I think those arguments are mostly bs in general and don't really apply here.

Album Rating: 2.5

So "Indian" is offensive when used by non-natives? Christ man, wtf isn't offensive nowadays? And why is it okay for them to say but not for anyone outside of their ethnic circle? It's either offensive or it isn't; tf is up with those double standards all the time.

Album Rating: 4.0

That's because a lot of indigenous music DOES sound like that though. Why do people think it's automatically offensive to use that word or to be playing tribal music? Idk that's fucking stupid in my opinion. At what point does it become offensive to indigenous people that we filter the hell out of ourselves in front of them and act all apologetic for having the word "Indian" in the title of albums lol. Seems a bit like fake pity Imo.

Album Rating: 1.5

"Like I said, I just think they're doing it more so due to the political climate than for personal reasons. "



Maybe, maybe not. But if they're being disingenuous what do they stand to gain from changing the name, a few headlines that might boost its listenership for a couple days? No one was calling out to cancel AnCo because of this album.

Album Rating: 2.5

Idk, I don't personally see a problem with being influenced by other races and cultures. I know people love to whine about cultural appropriation and shit but that kind of mentality just turns racism into this endless cycle Imo. Any person from any racial background should be able to make whatever music they want. That said, I didn't realize the word 'Indian' was somehow inherently racist to say which is so weird to me.

Album Rating: 2.5

Well regarding the 'n' word, it was used by people to demean them and suggest they're poor, uneducated (stupid)... I mean why tf would you want to refer to yourself as that I'm sure I don't understand.

Album Rating: 4.0

It doesn't make you racist to say 'Indian' but it's a term that's heavily loaded with racist history and one that should be abandoned by non-indigenes at the very least. If any indigenous American populations use that term today it's only because of cultural hegemony or maybe as an attempt at reclamation as has happened with the n-word in African American populations.

Album Rating: 4.5

"Well regarding the 'n' word, it was used by people to demean them and suggest they're poor, uneducated (stupid)... I mean why tf would you want to refer to yourself as that I'm sure I don't understand."



lol sweet we're talking about this now

Album Rating: 2.5

Well, you guys have got me there; red-handed. I genuinely didn't know that that word was considered offensive... I mean, I've seen people say "Dirty Indian" etc., which is clearly derogatory, but I've also seen so many people using the word in other contexts, even just "It takes influence from Indian culture" etc., and it seemed pretty normalized in a not-at-all-offensive manner to me. But shit, I guess you learn something new every day.

Album Rating: 4.0

Feels like a bad time, but Here Comes the Native American would also be a better title.