Categories : Music Reviews, Rock + Pop.
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Rating: 4/5 Released: September 11, 2007 Reviewer: Nathan Atnikov |
Noise-rock has always been a slippery slope – it habitually starts with a creative collision of sounds and ideas, but often finishes with a whimper instead of a bang when all is said and done. Such was the case on much of Animal Collective’s previous work, but with Strawberry Jam, the New York-based band has captured lightning in a bottle.
Paying more mind to song structure, but without losing their sense of experimentation, Animal Collective have found the perfect balance between frenetic noise and songwriting sense.
What’s rare for a band with two seemingly opposing forces operating at the same time, is that neither of Animal Collective’s personas is stronger than the other, best exemplified on “Chores,†a song that starts with swirling keyboards and a flighty melody before slowly pulling back into itself and ending on a repetitive bass drum beat. “For Reverend Green†is one of the more formless tracks, but is solidified by the album’s strongest melody, and “Winter Wonder Land†is a masterfully disguised pop song, under layers of flashing guitars and synths.
Animal Collective have always made albums – in past they’ve just had a little trouble making songs. Strawberry Jam is the overwhelming answer to all of the questions the band faced up until now.
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