September 7th, 2007
Animal Collective - Strawberry Jam
ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
Strawberry Jam
Domino Records
****
In discography terms, this frantic four-piece outstrip Arcade Fire’s output, but both share a multi-layered approach to what they do. If Arcade are the serious uncle, Animal Collective are the manic, goofier cousin. Now it seems, they also share a producer in Scott “The Wizardâ€? Colburn, who might be responsible for things sounding more structured than previous work. Playful wig-outs and acquired taste walls of noise still feature, but the move to Domino sees them in top form, soundtracking a trippy funfare. The rabid conga dance of ‘Chores’ gives way to the thumping toms and stuttery distortion of ‘Reverend Green’. ‘Fireworks” high pitched delivery explodes into the spacey rock of ‘#1′ and here’s a band who manage to capture a unique live energy with a straightforward studio release. Roll on their November Dublin gig.
Website:http://www.myspace.com/animalcollectivetheband
Download Tracks: Peacebone. For Reverend Green. Fireworks.
This review originally appeared here, in The Ticket, The Irish Times on Friday, September 7th, 2007
September 7th, 2007 at 12:47 pm
Thanks for posting this. So looking forward to the gig too! Dayum I missed your blog Sinead! Welcome back. (see, no lurking!)
September 7th, 2007 at 2:51 pm
Thanks Tanya, delighted you’ve put your lurking days behind you.
Are you a long-time AC fan? Did you like the last album, Feels?
September 8th, 2007 at 5:52 pm
I can’t get into Animal Collective at all. They’re just too experimental for my liking I guess. The only song i’ve ever enjoyed from the band is “Grass” off the last album
September 9th, 2007 at 12:22 pm
hey sinead - glad you’re back on th’internet. love this album, been listening to this and the panda bear album on loop lately.
September 10th, 2007 at 9:16 am
Paul, a lot of people share your view. My other half (the sound engineer and himself a music) describes it as “head-wrecking”.
Kevin, great to hear from you. Love the Panda Bear album too, they’re a talented bunch of chaps alright…
November 1st, 2007 at 4:54 pm
[…] Sinéad Gleeson has a very good review of Strawberry Jam and Nialler9 has some vids of live performances of Reverend Green and other Strawberry Jam tracks from 2005 […]