ANIMAL LOVER IS ONE FEROCIOUS BEAST

Photo by Bronson Karaff

I can honestly say that one of my most anticipated releases this year is Animal Lover's Learning Curve Records debut, Guilt.

Three years in the making, it doesn't disappoint.

I'll wait while you give it a listen.

Animal Lover was one of my top memories from last year, and I'm stoked as hell that they're coming back this year. They're a hard band to pin down. Backed by a strong DIY ethic, Addison, Nathan, and Evan have resurrected a sludge, noise, punk whirlwind that's reminiscent of all the good things about AmRep. It's not, however, a straight forward slug fest. There's a wonderful subtlety to them that haunts their consistent, droning, plodding, shredding, shrieking, bristling tempo. It's awash in pent up, tense frustration, boiling right up to the point of exploding but maintaining a simmering angst. Every time I listen to their records, I experience some weird, lingering, stinging bitterness. It's not like they've left me unfulfilled or that somehow the songs miss their mark; it points more to the unrelenting intensity of each song. Animal Lover sticks in your teeth constantly reminding you that the world is unclean and no matter what pretense or posture you harbor, life is a dirty mess. Animal Lover screams at you to wake up, to not take things for granted, and to bask in the relentless turmoil of chaos.

Well, at least that's where I end up.

There's nothing that sparks my interest more than a band who slogs through the tireless work of touring, recording, and playing and still finds ways to be inventive and to maintain their intensity. Throw in the fact that they're some super awesome guys who seem to collaborate on everything, their unique, solid sound is something that shouldn't be overlooked. Sadly, bands come and go, but I'm holding out hope that Animal Lover will play for my kids one day. Vibrancy is a gift.

ANIMAL LOVER: FORGET THE BRICK, THIS ISN'T YOUR PAPPY'S NOISE ROCK

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.