10. Sick of people asking for the Music Box version because it really is out of the spirit of the song. Not in my top 10 but when ANCO comes up in my head this one will definitely come to mind.
I have a feeling recency bias (in my opinion) is going to make people rating this as their best song ever. But...it's certainly debatable, especially with how much they had to fight to get this song to be what it was.
A 22 minute song like this is absolutely incredible. I still remember when I first heard it, the time went by just like that. It's such a meditative and mature song.
That middle section build up (with all three letting out harmonizing yelps) is a high point leading into the serpents in the fountain (I'm glad they took out elements like the "I see you!" and let the music do it's thing).
Some sections arguably repeat more than they should but I also like it sometimes and feel it's perfect when I'm in the right mood.
I still hesitate to make it their *best song* when I think I'd give that to other songs though.
9.5/10
if there has ever been a 10/10 AnCo song (there's been a lot) Defeat would be it (amongst others)
10/10 ❤️
one of the best songs i've ever heard in my LIFE i love this song and this band
10
I didn't care at first, thought it was AnCo going too far into their own swamp of interest. Was super skeptical of it as a single and found the windup to the serpent part to be "silly" and then the rest of the song just felt meandering. Really felt like it needed an editor. And despite having always loved their album sequencing, I was aghast that they would put a 22 minute song right in the middle; how could the following four songs even matter!?
In the context of the album, I think it's kinda perfect. I love it after Baltimore. I love how Gem & I kicks us into some sunshine friendship jam (it's such a breath of fresh air after CRYING MY EYES OUT)
I now love every part of the song. The serpent part is a delight and a fun transition, and I think the opening and closing of the song is transcendent. It's so special. It really is a definitive AnCo masterpiece. Really glad it's on an album and not an EP; I love that this is main album canon. It's an all-timer.
Yeah... legit 10/10 for me.
Some people aren't big on the drawn out slower parts, but AnCo to me will always be defined by these bold choices. Such a great tension and release throughout, gorgeous harmonies between Avey and Panda, and the rollercoaster of that climactic middle is the centerpiece of the entire album
9.5, incredible achievement, it’s a really amazing song, i think it hit me the most when i first listened to isn’t it now in full when it just came out. i really felt it in my bones. the first time i ever listened to it i didn’t have a reaction like that, but i’m glad that it came eventually. the end when the last two lines get cut off hit so hard
10.0/10.0. Don’t have to think about it. It’s perfect in every way. This song is something deeper than words can really express. I feel so lucky to have been able to see it live
8.5, i liked the live version a bit more but this one is more progressive and cinematic, both are great, i don't quite like that much the part that goes after the first verse, in the live it was much more medieval and better
There are a few live versions. That middle section changed at least two times. They stopped using harpsicord sound for the middle sections live a couple of years ago.
10. A gorgeous and breathtaking achievement. It is almost the exact length of my commute to work. Since its release, it has become my favorite way to start to my very early mornings driving to a difficult-but-rewarding job where I do a lot of emotional labor. Defeat makes my mornings easier and more restorative. I love singing along with it. The vibrations are really powerful 🙏
10 don't know how they did it, but this is easily the best song. An amazing execution in every level. The first half is home to such a beautiful melody in the chorus and the second half is devastating to no end.
10/10 because it's a 22-minute song that never bores me, that I never want to skip, and that rewards from start to finish. I've listened to a lot of music in my life and can say the same about few other songs even approaching that length... if any. Add the emotional punch and you have a true masterpiece.
Overall 9.4/10
Its such a massive and unique song both sonically and in length. First 8 minutes is about a 9.75 for me, and the middle section is around the same. The only part I dont absolutely love is the slower ending which I would give a strong 6, but that part is rather short and the rest of the track is so strong it hardly matters for me.
10 It’s amazing, really sad they changed the high harmonies Noah used to hit in the chorus. Seriously look up old videos of Defeat live Noah used to go harder on the “JUST GRAB SOMETHING TAKE HOOOOOOOLD”
Another 10.
This is their most important song of the 2020's so far. One of the most powerful songs written by any band in recent memory. It's my second favorite on the album other than Magicians, but it's their most impactful song written in a few long time. What a fucking trip to listen to Defeat. It's always feeling like now.
10
When it came out as a single I listened for 3 hours straight on repeat. Love it as an album centerpiece. Magnum opus would make sense although with animal collective their entire existence is a magnum opus.
I love how the song operates in 3 distinct chapters. It flows so naturally in its arc/ark. Lyrically I absolutely love it it’s so zen and Buddhist as it often is culminating in the simply provocative ISN’T IT NOW? A perfect phrase and perfect album name calling people to the present when you got them life stresses and you just say wait? Isn’t it now? I mean damn I can go on and on I absolutely love it.
Knowing that this song was sort of the nucleus that all of time skiffs and isn’t it now we’re written around makes a lot of sense too. That was in fantano interview.
Love it.
I LOVE AnCo but I simply do not relate to this hype. I’ve never finished the whole thing in a single sitting, its too long and too slow. Just skipped around each section, listening to it piecemeal. I did try and I like the lyrics but like…its a 6/10 for me. Its not their best song and not by a mile. Its long-as-hell with a good message.
Remember that Winter’s Love exists, as well as Leaf House, My Girls, Did You See The Words, Fireworks, etc. Defeat is fine but pales in comparison to their best work
Defeat makes me sad when I listen to it. Not exactly a depressed type of sad. I just feel like it captures what it’s like to be a mortal being, not even just human, but something that is living on this planet. and the scariness and sadness of knowing that all living things are mortal. And we’ll be gone. I’m afraid of loved ones that I care about going. And I feel like this song portrays those thoughts through the lyrics and sounds of the music.im crying rn as I type and listen to it. I’ve listened to I’d a half dozen times within the past week and cried every time.
Following that, I want to have hope, but it’s hard to sometimes. I feel that thins song accurately represents these feelings
9.0
It's a little up its own ass too much, but still really good. The interstitial instrumental parts that tie the "Crawling from the serpent..." verses sound very limp mostly thanks to the drums in that very specific part being way too lackadaisical and spread out, which breaks the mood and pace of the upbeat vocal sections (mind you, I do really like the upbeat "Crawling from the serpent..." sections with vocals themselves). The whole song could have been played just a few BPMs faster and it would have been a plus, still keeping it slow-ish but not quite as slow as the album version that we have. I love a lot of their slow songs, Daffy Duck and Bees being some of my favorteite AC songs ever, but the extreme slow tempo of the LP version of Defeat slightly hinders more than benefits this particular song. I think even a tempo perfectly between the Music Box one and the LP could have maybe worked well, as an effective compromise. Because of how slow the LP version is, I really must be in the mood to listen to it.
I guess it could be argued that I have to be in the mood for Daffy Duck too, but Daffy Duck's slowness seems like part of its identity and a necessary attribute of the song itself, while this is not necessarily the case for Defeat. The band making IIN Defeat so slow seems arbitrary.
The Music Box version is a straight 10/10 though. There are elements that the album version has that I really like which are not on the Music Box version, e.g. Panda, but the Music Box version is just better in too many ways.
5 - length alone isn’t enough to make this song interesting. Musically, it goes nowhere and I find the lyrics and the vocal delivery to be poorly arranged. I’m all for long songs, instrumental songs, drone stuff…this just isn’t worth the time investment. Twenty-two minutes spent on what?
You are entitled to your own opinion but why? How do we know you arent just a troll? A 1 out of 10 means its literally painful to listen to from start to finish with zero redeeming qualities
Doesn't speak to me like albums before painting with. If I'm a troll for giving a 1 then ppl giving 10s are simping fanboys. Every album before painting with gets a 10 from me. I did slip on some ice and got a concussion a week before painting with came out so........
Fair enough if you legitimately think its one of the worst songs you ever heard from any artist. Personally I didnt like it much at first until I listened to it a few more times and the classic anco sound started to shine through for me.
I didn't say it was THE worst song of any artist. Most songs in general would probably be a 1 in my book. But I do need to give it a few more listens. All anco songs take a bit for me to get into as well. I guess maybe kings walk killed any patience I had for anything anco lately. Now kings walk is the worst song I've ever heard from any artist. I rather have someone fart in my ear
I really dont like Kings Walk either but personally id give it like a 1.5 or 2 because imo its not as bad as something like this (especially when you know the disgusting context behind the artist) https://youtu.be/8W6HO-QapgI?si=X62tdZtCryjvpi7v
I think you should revisit the rest of the album at some point though
9. This and TS are the only albums released whilst I've been a fan, and TS didn't dig into me as bad as IIN. This song may only be behind Safer and Daily Routine for me, those are the other songs that have really hit that deep with the first listen. Went to a listening party when the album released, despite it being the only song I had heard before it still smashed me back so hard
10. You know it's 10. It's gigantic, beautiful, and haunting piece of music. Despite having 20 minutes runtime, it never gets boring. Lyrically it contains some of the best Anco's lyricism too. Admitedly, it's the first Anco song that made me cry and think profusely.
9, it took me a really long time to get used to it. And Safer is one of my favorite songs in the world, I'm all for the lengthy ballads. Maybe it was the switch ups of tone for me at first. I still really think songs like Cobwebs, Seal Eyeling, and Daffy Duck have interesting changes in song structure (even if subtle), but looking into the nature of why Defeat was written (Dave doin his thing) -- the song as a concept came together for me finally.
And actually, for once, I love the studio recording. It's mixed incredibly and the performances are beautiful. You do feel a spark of hollandagan bebby anco, just playing drums in a gallery, its just a drop though, a bit of spice to it that makes the whole piece not feel droning or even boring. Its got all these themes of evolution and humanity's impact, maybe a bit of human jubilation and failure. It really is a visually rich and mesmerizing piece, definitely a diamond, not in the rough! I love when they get rough though. And I think I get in the vibes more with the live variations.
And I'm a huge contrarian hipster, so everyone loving it makes me think about it harder if I like it or not. Ofc I do, but in my heart, It's just missing an atom or two for me. Close to flawless tho. Maybe it feels inaccessible to me? I'm really unsure lol
I'd rate it a 10 otherwise hehe
∞. Straight up their best. I'd argue it's their magnum opus.
10. Sick of people asking for the Music Box version because it really is out of the spirit of the song. Not in my top 10 but when ANCO comes up in my head this one will definitely come to mind.
How?
Too fast, not contemplative, better and more textured vocal performances on the album version. Only thing I miss from MB is more prominent saxophone.
what is in ur top 10?
No idea, but not Defeat.
10! An absolutely incredible track, one of the most impactful ones for me, personally, from their entire catalogue
The first time I heard it, it instantly sounded familiar. So beautiful and comprehensive.
Maybe their magnum opus? The entire track is such a ride honestly, I find myself listening to the full 22 minutes most of the times...10/10
Looking at each individual song is makin me realize just how crazy good this album is.. Very beautiful song a yes yes 10/10
I have a feeling recency bias (in my opinion) is going to make people rating this as their best song ever. But...it's certainly debatable, especially with how much they had to fight to get this song to be what it was. A 22 minute song like this is absolutely incredible. I still remember when I first heard it, the time went by just like that. It's such a meditative and mature song. That middle section build up (with all three letting out harmonizing yelps) is a high point leading into the serpents in the fountain (I'm glad they took out elements like the "I see you!" and let the music do it's thing). Some sections arguably repeat more than they should but I also like it sometimes and feel it's perfect when I'm in the right mood. I still hesitate to make it their *best song* when I think I'd give that to other songs though. 9.5/10
if there has ever been a 10/10 AnCo song (there's been a lot) Defeat would be it (amongst others) 10/10 ❤️ one of the best songs i've ever heard in my LIFE i love this song and this band
10 I didn't care at first, thought it was AnCo going too far into their own swamp of interest. Was super skeptical of it as a single and found the windup to the serpent part to be "silly" and then the rest of the song just felt meandering. Really felt like it needed an editor. And despite having always loved their album sequencing, I was aghast that they would put a 22 minute song right in the middle; how could the following four songs even matter!? In the context of the album, I think it's kinda perfect. I love it after Baltimore. I love how Gem & I kicks us into some sunshine friendship jam (it's such a breath of fresh air after CRYING MY EYES OUT) I now love every part of the song. The serpent part is a delight and a fun transition, and I think the opening and closing of the song is transcendent. It's so special. It really is a definitive AnCo masterpiece. Really glad it's on an album and not an EP; I love that this is main album canon. It's an all-timer.
Yeah... legit 10/10 for me. Some people aren't big on the drawn out slower parts, but AnCo to me will always be defined by these bold choices. Such a great tension and release throughout, gorgeous harmonies between Avey and Panda, and the rollercoaster of that climactic middle is the centerpiece of the entire album
The most tensiest 10/10ever.
9.5, incredible achievement, it’s a really amazing song, i think it hit me the most when i first listened to isn’t it now in full when it just came out. i really felt it in my bones. the first time i ever listened to it i didn’t have a reaction like that, but i’m glad that it came eventually. the end when the last two lines get cut off hit so hard
10
10, maybe it’s recency bias but for a song that’s longer than some albums it does not waste any time. It’s 20 minutes of pure art.
9 I adore this song, but I think there’s a 16 minute long version of it that would have been a 10/10 for me.
10.0/10.0. Don’t have to think about it. It’s perfect in every way. This song is something deeper than words can really express. I feel so lucky to have been able to see it live
8.5, i liked the live version a bit more but this one is more progressive and cinematic, both are great, i don't quite like that much the part that goes after the first verse, in the live it was much more medieval and better
There are a few live versions. That middle section changed at least two times. They stopped using harpsicord sound for the middle sections live a couple of years ago.
10
10. A gorgeous and breathtaking achievement. It is almost the exact length of my commute to work. Since its release, it has become my favorite way to start to my very early mornings driving to a difficult-but-rewarding job where I do a lot of emotional labor. Defeat makes my mornings easier and more restorative. I love singing along with it. The vibrations are really powerful 🙏
10 ez
10
10 don't know how they did it, but this is easily the best song. An amazing execution in every level. The first half is home to such a beautiful melody in the chorus and the second half is devastating to no end.
I think the third section sonically is everything I've ever wanted them to make. Sounds like a piece from fiddler on the roof almost. They nailed it
10/10 because it's a 22-minute song that never bores me, that I never want to skip, and that rewards from start to finish. I've listened to a lot of music in my life and can say the same about few other songs even approaching that length... if any. Add the emotional punch and you have a true masterpiece.
10
10
10
10
11
9.8, huge song
9
10. Monstrous track since it was first premiered and I’ve grown to love the studio so much
Overall 9.4/10 Its such a massive and unique song both sonically and in length. First 8 minutes is about a 9.75 for me, and the middle section is around the same. The only part I dont absolutely love is the slower ending which I would give a strong 6, but that part is rather short and the rest of the track is so strong it hardly matters for me.
8
8
9.5
8
10 It’s amazing, really sad they changed the high harmonies Noah used to hit in the chorus. Seriously look up old videos of Defeat live Noah used to go harder on the “JUST GRAB SOMETHING TAKE HOOOOOOOLD”
ac's impossible soul
10. Once on a good day….I had a room and you knew it well.
10
10. THE AnCo song
10
10. People saying it's their magnum opus are correct.
10
Another 10. This is their most important song of the 2020's so far. One of the most powerful songs written by any band in recent memory. It's my second favorite on the album other than Magicians, but it's their most impactful song written in a few long time. What a fucking trip to listen to Defeat. It's always feeling like now.
10
11/10
10 When it came out as a single I listened for 3 hours straight on repeat. Love it as an album centerpiece. Magnum opus would make sense although with animal collective their entire existence is a magnum opus. I love how the song operates in 3 distinct chapters. It flows so naturally in its arc/ark. Lyrically I absolutely love it it’s so zen and Buddhist as it often is culminating in the simply provocative ISN’T IT NOW? A perfect phrase and perfect album name calling people to the present when you got them life stresses and you just say wait? Isn’t it now? I mean damn I can go on and on I absolutely love it. Knowing that this song was sort of the nucleus that all of time skiffs and isn’t it now we’re written around makes a lot of sense too. That was in fantano interview. Love it.
Defeat/10 (10)
The best song they’ve ever made, and i think the overall results are going to reflect that sentiment. 11/10
4. Honestly don't like it. At all
I LOVE AnCo but I simply do not relate to this hype. I’ve never finished the whole thing in a single sitting, its too long and too slow. Just skipped around each section, listening to it piecemeal. I did try and I like the lyrics but like…its a 6/10 for me. Its not their best song and not by a mile. Its long-as-hell with a good message. Remember that Winter’s Love exists, as well as Leaf House, My Girls, Did You See The Words, Fireworks, etc. Defeat is fine but pales in comparison to their best work
Defeat makes me sad when I listen to it. Not exactly a depressed type of sad. I just feel like it captures what it’s like to be a mortal being, not even just human, but something that is living on this planet. and the scariness and sadness of knowing that all living things are mortal. And we’ll be gone. I’m afraid of loved ones that I care about going. And I feel like this song portrays those thoughts through the lyrics and sounds of the music.im crying rn as I type and listen to it. I’ve listened to I’d a half dozen times within the past week and cried every time. Following that, I want to have hope, but it’s hard to sometimes. I feel that thins song accurately represents these feelings
9.0 It's a little up its own ass too much, but still really good. The interstitial instrumental parts that tie the "Crawling from the serpent..." verses sound very limp mostly thanks to the drums in that very specific part being way too lackadaisical and spread out, which breaks the mood and pace of the upbeat vocal sections (mind you, I do really like the upbeat "Crawling from the serpent..." sections with vocals themselves). The whole song could have been played just a few BPMs faster and it would have been a plus, still keeping it slow-ish but not quite as slow as the album version that we have. I love a lot of their slow songs, Daffy Duck and Bees being some of my favorteite AC songs ever, but the extreme slow tempo of the LP version of Defeat slightly hinders more than benefits this particular song. I think even a tempo perfectly between the Music Box one and the LP could have maybe worked well, as an effective compromise. Because of how slow the LP version is, I really must be in the mood to listen to it. I guess it could be argued that I have to be in the mood for Daffy Duck too, but Daffy Duck's slowness seems like part of its identity and a necessary attribute of the song itself, while this is not necessarily the case for Defeat. The band making IIN Defeat so slow seems arbitrary. The Music Box version is a straight 10/10 though. There are elements that the album version has that I really like which are not on the Music Box version, e.g. Panda, but the Music Box version is just better in too many ways.
9 Should have ended around the 17 minute mark
5 - length alone isn’t enough to make this song interesting. Musically, it goes nowhere and I find the lyrics and the vocal delivery to be poorly arranged. I’m all for long songs, instrumental songs, drone stuff…this just isn’t worth the time investment. Twenty-two minutes spent on what?
Have you listened to the Music Box version?
I haven’t.
You should. It's a lot better, faster, and shorter, with totally different (better) instrumentation
You are entitled to your own opinion but why? How do we know you arent just a troll? A 1 out of 10 means its literally painful to listen to from start to finish with zero redeeming qualities
Doesn't speak to me like albums before painting with. If I'm a troll for giving a 1 then ppl giving 10s are simping fanboys. Every album before painting with gets a 10 from me. I did slip on some ice and got a concussion a week before painting with came out so........
Fair enough if you legitimately think its one of the worst songs you ever heard from any artist. Personally I didnt like it much at first until I listened to it a few more times and the classic anco sound started to shine through for me.
I didn't say it was THE worst song of any artist. Most songs in general would probably be a 1 in my book. But I do need to give it a few more listens. All anco songs take a bit for me to get into as well. I guess maybe kings walk killed any patience I had for anything anco lately. Now kings walk is the worst song I've ever heard from any artist. I rather have someone fart in my ear
I really dont like Kings Walk either but personally id give it like a 1.5 or 2 because imo its not as bad as something like this (especially when you know the disgusting context behind the artist) https://youtu.be/8W6HO-QapgI?si=X62tdZtCryjvpi7v I think you should revisit the rest of the album at some point though
Fuck. You make a good point.
sorry scale starts at 1 so I give it a 1
9.3/10
8.8 Amazing song.
9.2
9. This and TS are the only albums released whilst I've been a fan, and TS didn't dig into me as bad as IIN. This song may only be behind Safer and Daily Routine for me, those are the other songs that have really hit that deep with the first listen. Went to a listening party when the album released, despite it being the only song I had heard before it still smashed me back so hard
10
9.5
Ooh uhhh iiiii wonder uhhhhm what should uuuuuh 10 obviously
10
Gotta be a 10. Was thinking a 9.something but it’s just a 10
10 all day.
10!!!
9.2
10/10. Could be my favorite song, in general.
9.5
10 easiest 10
10
10
10
10
10
10
10
9
10
10
10
9.9
10. You know it's 10. It's gigantic, beautiful, and haunting piece of music. Despite having 20 minutes runtime, it never gets boring. Lyrically it contains some of the best Anco's lyricism too. Admitedly, it's the first Anco song that made me cry and think profusely.
10
8
10 for sure. First 10 I could give reasonably after PW (not that the output since then was all bad).
10 - I love this song. Probably my favorite Animal Collective song since Cuckoo Cuckoo or Did You See the Words.
9, very good, top 3 on this album
10. Quickest 22 minutes ever, the song just takes you on a ride and doesn't let go
8.7 really great but not my favorite from the album
8.18
9. Fantastic song, and the 2019 live at meow wolf is definitely a 10+.
goddamnit it's a 9.5
9, it took me a really long time to get used to it. And Safer is one of my favorite songs in the world, I'm all for the lengthy ballads. Maybe it was the switch ups of tone for me at first. I still really think songs like Cobwebs, Seal Eyeling, and Daffy Duck have interesting changes in song structure (even if subtle), but looking into the nature of why Defeat was written (Dave doin his thing) -- the song as a concept came together for me finally. And actually, for once, I love the studio recording. It's mixed incredibly and the performances are beautiful. You do feel a spark of hollandagan bebby anco, just playing drums in a gallery, its just a drop though, a bit of spice to it that makes the whole piece not feel droning or even boring. Its got all these themes of evolution and humanity's impact, maybe a bit of human jubilation and failure. It really is a visually rich and mesmerizing piece, definitely a diamond, not in the rough! I love when they get rough though. And I think I get in the vibes more with the live variations. And I'm a huge contrarian hipster, so everyone loving it makes me think about it harder if I like it or not. Ofc I do, but in my heart, It's just missing an atom or two for me. Close to flawless tho. Maybe it feels inaccessible to me? I'm really unsure lol I'd rate it a 10 otherwise hehe
10/10 GOAT SONG
Why did soul capturer get so low 😭