Album Review: Animal Collective - Feels
March 8, 2006
Teresa Walters
Never, since the release of the epic Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys, has an album used vocals as cleverly as Animal Collectives Feels does today. They are doing what bands like The Futureheads and Architecture in Helsinki try to do in the “indie” rock scene, with one major difference–Animal Collective pulls it off. Like most albums in their genre, this group bases their recording process on an intense energy. This is their third album, and with time, Animal Collective has gotten even better. First established in New York in 2000, the band was a collaboration of already-recording musicians from groups like Panda Bear.
These musicians already had experience pumping noise-rock into their listeners’ sound systems and they began mixing their frenzied sound together. Their music can come off as giddy, psychedelic, and, most recognizably, loud. Their ambitious use of sound effects, including water and chirping birds, takes the album to a new level of audible satisfaction. Experimenting on every track, they journey from melodic songs with folk inspirations to others that just scream enthusiasm. One of my favorite tracks on the album is the mellow, earthy “Daffy Duck.” Another track to check out would be “Grass,” a song that blends 50’s pop style with rowdy, layered screams and the smashing drums. Animal Collective cleans up the messiness on “Feels,” and while it can seem crisper then their older releases, it is still classically chaotic. If you like their sound you should try to watch the amazing live performance in two months when they come to Vancouver in early March.
Now you go...
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