Animal Collective ‎– Strawberry Jam

From Hollis: An infinitely creative pop record that has divided the opinions of many within the various circles I am apart of. One of my old all-time favourite records that I deemed perfection from start to end, and part of me believes this sentiment still isn’t a completely incorrect conclusion to reach when listening to Strawberry Jam. Animal Collective seem to be inspired by their frantic mania and threw all their paints and instruments onto a massive musical canvas and this is what they came out with. “Peacebone” as an introduction is utterly in your face with it’s synth work and obscure lyrical content. The Brian Wilson influence that is seen on numerous of their records really comes to shine on “Chores” and “Derek”. Tracks 4 to 6 are all pop masterpieces in their own rights, especially “Fireworks” with its dizzy melodic motif and the staggered polyrhythms. Ultimately, Strawberry Jam is still one of my favourite pop records of the 21st century and certainly their best effort since their debut.