Frederick Foxtrott

Animal Collective
Strawberry Jam
September 11th 2007
Domino Records

I have no particular regard for Animal Collective. This New York City based experimental electro-spaz-pop has in the past simply aimed for weirdness, an objective not important or unique enough to warrant my patience. There has never been the artful exposition of Xiu Xiu or the pop confidence of Head of Femur. When I heard that Strawberry Jam had received near perfect reviews, I was provoked to investigate. To my dismay, I was happily surprised. Perhaps I have discovered something in Animal Collective that I had missed previously, or maybe they have discovered something in themselves that has expanded their quest for the bizarre.

When I first heard Peacebone I instantly knew from where The Annuals descended. What hadn’t been immediately clear became evident within seconds of hearing the staccato video game blips that synced together to form a driving beat with mad-hatter screams that made me smile with glee. In terms of accessibility, the lyrics and melody of the record are just within arms reach. Unsolved Mysteries has some of the same loony-toon sounds as Peacebone, but with a much simpler squeeze box rhythm. The vocals are a bit mundane but they improve as the song continues. Chores sounds like a children’s show theme song off of late eighties Nickelodeon, yet with a vocal quality reminiscent of The Shins. The strongest tune, For Reverend Greene, is laden with syth-pulsations and rock & roll vocals that invoke that part of my psyche that is still suspended in “the terrible twos.” This record is a trip for sure.

Not every track is that interesting or really worth commenting on. This is not to say that they are bad tracks. Rather the opposite, there is not a bad song on the album. I don’t feel like Strawberry Jam compromises on anything. Fireworks and Winter Wonderland aren’t great, but they are both fun party tracks. It’s just that every song is a fun party track. I would be remiss not to emphasize how the highlights of Strawberry Jam out-shine the status quo. I am convinced that the intro to #1 was written by Steve Miller, stolen by Animal Collective, and then fused with the tweaked baritone vocals of Ween and the pop sensibilities of The Shins. Swear to Fucking God. Cuckoo Cuckoo is hard hitting and dynamic, constructed with an elegant piano foundation and punctuated by a fit of timed plate smashings and chaotic revelry. It is hard not to get caught up in that revelry. It is difficult not to enjoy the chaos offered.

The sarcasm present in Strawberry Jam reminds me of the conceptually weird semi-self titled album The Who Sell Out. Derek, the last track off the record, would have fit comfortably between Silas Stingy and Sunrise. The jingle like melodies and whirly-bop effects seem as if they were pulled right out of Who Framed Roger Rabbit. The songs are not only weird, but they are animated and eager to entertain. Animal Collective has made great strides with Strawberry Jam. Still though, after all its strengths, it does not deserve the overly laudatory acclaim it has received. It is good, but not perfect as many have reported. The problem is not necessarily with Animal Collective’s conceptual ideas or the effort put forth. Their genre and style is inherently limited. It is tough to string noises together in order to create something worthwhile or interesting. In some ways this record is a touch nerd rock. It is better than average, although there is a bit too much Moxy Fruvous and They Might Be Giants influence for my taste. For all its sound-a-like qualities, Animal Collective has assembled a functioning cacophony, and I look forward to hearing more from their factory of fun.

6/9

http://www.myspace.com/animalcollectivetheband

Other Records
Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished- 2000
Danse Manatee- 2001
Hollinndagain- 2002
Campfire Songs- 2003
Here Comes the Indian- 2003
Sung Tongs- 2004
Feels- 2005