Part of me wants to think that St.
Paul's Fargo transplants Animal Lover takes its name from the
Residents album of the
same name. It doesn't really matter if that's the case or not, but
for a band with such a wide range of influences, it's comforting to
hear a band that isn't fixated on a single genre or is laboriously
attempting to make sure they fit the mold of some post-something-or-other
sound that is played out and simple to categorize.
To make it simple, Animal Lover is a
punk/noise rock band that includes members from former Fargo
ass-kickers Gumbi (Addison Shark
& Nate Fisher) and Høst (Evan
Bullinger).
Thick roots.
So good, Pitchfork didn't know what to say
other than to make the easy comparison to Jesus Lizard (and by
extension Pissed Jeans). Whatever. Of course the influences are
there, but it's a disservice to Animal Lover to not point out the
ingenuity and incredible force that their songs exhibit. I'm not
saying these cats are totally re-inventing the genre or blazing
completely new trails, but (I think) the long history between the
members allows them to tweak the sound so it never feels forced or
excessive. It pounds and pummels; the vocals and guitar muscle their
way from beneath the bass and drums, only to be sucked back in. It's
a fucking whirlwind. Simple.
Over their three releases, Animal
Lover has tightened up their sound and polished away some of the
residual rust that may have been left over from their influences.
It's fierce but also contains numerous subtle changes that make them
efficient but a far cry from easy comparisons and categorization. Get
on board, folks. Animal Lover is going to keep pushing this until
that asteroid wipes us out. Or, until they form a Who cover band.
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