7/10

Two decades into his career, Noah Lennox—better known as Panda Bear—continues to push his creative boundaries while maintaining the unmistakable essence that has defined his work. 'Sinister Grift', his first solo album in five years, stands as both a culmination of his ever-evolving artistry and a bold new chapter in his catalogue.

While his past solo efforts have ranged from the intimate and stripped-down to kaleidoscopic electronic landscapes, 'Sinister Grift' introduces a fresh perspective, one that leans into the warmth and immediacy of classic rock textures. Recorded in his Lisbon home studio with longtime Animal Collective collaborator Josh “Deakin” Dibb, the album sees Lennox taking a more hands-on approach, playing nearly all the instruments himself while enlisting a lineup of guest contributors that includes Cindy Lee, Rivka Ravede of Spirit of the Beehive, and, for the first time on a Panda Bear solo release, each member of Animal Collective.

The result is a record that feels both deeply personal and communally rich, a fusion of nostalgia and reinvention that further cements Lennox’s legacy as a boundary-pushing artist. 'Sinister Grift' proves that even after years of shaping the soundscape of experimental pop, Panda Bear remains as vital and unpredictable as ever.