SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: ANIMAL COLLECTIVE – FEELS (20th ANNIVERSARY)

ANIMAL COLLECTIVE
FEELS (20th ANNIVERSARY)
DOMINO RECORDS

When Animal Collective released its sixth studio album, Feels, in 2005, the members had no idea it was the midway point in their career. From this album on, Animal Collective moved from being critically acclaimed to becoming a commercial success with wider recognition for its unique, brilliant, and incredible music. To these ears, Feels is not their best album, but it may be their most important. As the new century/millennium/decade was still dawning and dealing with a new world, Animal Collective came up with an album that helped shape the musical landscape. It may not have made the charts, but those who were listening were certainly influenced by the sounds they were creating.

Feels is an album that successfully marries the alternative world with almost-mainstream rock. The album opens with “Did You See The Words,” a distinctly psychedelic rock song that would fit well on any rock station’s playlist, but by “Flesh Canoe,” the listener knows that the false sense of musical safety has morphed into an eerie trip of sound and haunting vocals. It is quite brilliant. By the fourth track, “The Purple Bottle,” it is too late. Animal Collective has you in its grasp, and one simply must give oneself over to the songs.

This is not to imply that Animal Collective was aiming at a number one album with Feels, quite the opposite. There was no intention to make this a pop album for everyone, but at the same time, Feels does invite people in for a musical trip. Had the album topped the charts, I am sure the band would have been fine, but first and foremost, they successfully created a very original album that, while being somewhat abstract, was strangely accessible. A song like “Loch Raven” is pure beauty and seems to come out of nowhere. Not only does it fit the album, but it becomes an anchor. With shades of Cocteau Twins, Animal Collective creates a sublime way to edge the album closer to the end. “Turn Into Something” brings the album to a jangly ending. It is a stunning way to close the original album in that it contrasts the track before it so wonderfully.

With this new release, the band has added B-sides and a number of demos. With the B-sides, the band really let loose and created extremely interesting and exciting songs. “Must Be Treeman” is more of a sound collage that really works. It is interesting, well-arranged, and never loses the listener’s attention. These songs allowed the band to experiment, and songs like “Fickle Cycle” would not be out of place on the album, with its own distinct energy. And fans will have fun comparing the four demos collected here with the finished product. The demo for “Grass” is as good as the finished product, just a little rougher. It is well worth a listen.

Feels – 20th Anniversary is a great re-release with essential added material. The album sounds better than ever, and with the additional bonus material, it gives a glimpse behind the scenes, and a different view of an iconic album. Animal Collective is a very original band who have carved out their own path. Feels – 20th Anniversary provides some insight into their journey, and it is a great listening experience. It is an anniversary release that the band has taken great care in putting together, and a fantastic reminder of an album that was ahead of its time, and that may have introduced the band to more fans.

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