Animal Lover (2005)
This is the first Residents' album to be released through a
big 'proper' record label (Moby, Depeche Mode, Nick Cave
etc) for quite some time. So have they gone all
'commercial' with a collection of snappy hum along tunes
set to hot and trendy beats? Not really and I think it's
safe to say this often sombre, at times almost
somnambulant, collection will not rocket them onto Top Of
The Pops that fast.
Musically there has never been such sophistication.
Gorgeous other-worldly melodies, delicate atmos-fears,
beautifully controlled performances by all. It's just
sometimes the concept demands that we have to sit through a
straight faced rendition of some bizarre right wing
spiritual ('Elmer's Song' - - Fudd or Bernstein?) and
although it's very nicely played and all I just hate that
stuff! The (mostly) female vocal performances here are top
rate but, as ever, I do miss that deep drawl when it's not
around. It's pretty scarce on this platter and when it does
appear half the time it's heavily treated with digital
trickery.
The post 9/11 album 'Demons Dance Alone', as well as having
some lovely tunes, fair reeked of despair at humanity's
failings. This one seems to sink even deeper into doubt and
self loathing and at my age I could really do without more
of that. When The Residents say "aren't animals wonderful?"
I would certainly answer "yes", but here it seems to me
it's another way of saying "aren't people shit?"
This is a fat album which sits on your chest and makes you
beg for air... in a good way, of course.