Strawberry Jam

I simply have to pass my own opinion of this record, it is truly fantastic. As it has been said many times, AC's work is somewhat divisive, some of my friends love it but some just don't get it - put off by the occasional screams, the dripping sounds and the traffic noises, too surreal and new for their boring, mainstream, conventional tastes. Animal Collective's work is so organic, so imaginative, that it conjures up sublime psychedelic pop unlike anything you will have ever heard of before. It's very difficult being an Animal Collective fan because you tell people and they just have no clue who they are - people prefer instant gratification in the likes of Travis or The Killers, while with Animal Collective it may take a few listens to really 'get' it - but believe me, it is so worth it - you will be justly rewarded. 'Peacebone', 'Unsolved Mysteries' and 'Winter Wonderland' are three of my favourites, while 'Derek' is just so incredibly catchy, I never though a lighthearted song about a childhood pet could turn out to be so brilliant. The double of 'For Reverend Green' and 'Fireworks' is the best work they had ever done (until their latest album). These guys will never support a Coldplay gig, but maybe that's a good thing.This album may change your life and by simply listening to it you will have joined a select group of people with the willingness to try new things. Give it a few listens, and if you haven't done so already, buy Merriweather Post Pavilion, their later album as it is like this but on another level.

pretty dirty record, but otherwise a great package with a great album

amazing record, sounds deliciious

"Bonefish!"

Made during my favourite era of Animal Collective...Feels and this!

It's true, I did wake up this morning full of an ageing mans' woes. As a remedial measure, I decided to listen to my new arrival, 'Strawberry Jam". It was the right thing to do...AC have a rare talent, they make me smile, not so much with amusement, but with pleasure. Pascal Comelade has the same affect on me, as do 'The Fiery Furnaces", and it is perhaps no surprise that I find resonances of both musicians in Animal Collective. The music is complex, clever and inventive, often sounding like the strangest fairground sideshow underpinned by a Philip Glass foundation. I'm also tempted to say 'Band of Holy Joy' meets 'Eyeless in Gaza', or 'Clap your Hands, Say Yeah' meets 'Steve Reich', but those kind of comparisons are very subjective, and I don't wish to paint AC critically speaking into a corner at a time when their freshness and exuberance serve them so well.

Animal Collective have struck gold once again with their latest release, "Strawberry Jam". They are one of the few bands around who have a fresh approach with each album whilst retaining elements that made them so distinctive in the first place.Some reviews for this album have mentioned that "Strawberry Jam" is their most accessible release so far but to be honest it's more abrasive and frantic than their previous album "Feels" which was dreamy and relaxed by comparison."Cuckoo Cuckoo" for example starts off slow and haunting before exploding into a chaotic burst of wild noise and intense vocals. "For Reverend Green" has short bursts of screaming too and the guitars sound pretty menacing and distorted.What is more accessible, I suppose, is the tracks have a more traditional composition in that there are distinctive verse and chorus parts to the songs. Some of their previous work favoured longer more abstract structures that slowly unravelled and changed.Animal Collective greatest strength is their ability to combine very strong melodies with experimental elements. "Peacebone" for example starts with a bizarre electronic noise that somehow merges itself into the guitar and drums (the video is fantastic by the way). "For Reverend Green" is intense but has some really melodic backing vocals (it's also my favourite track). "Fireworks" is playful and contains some catchy vocals, heavily treated guitar and melodic piano parts."Chores" and "Derek" appear to be sung by Panda Bear and the latter track certainly resembles something from "Person Pitch" which he released earlier this year. These tracks are light hearted and upbeat although still retaining the group's slightly odd approach to music.However it is Avey Tares vocals that seem to dominate the album and appear higher in the mix than normal. Some people aren't keen on his vocal style but personally I love the way he uses his voice. His lyrics are occasionally surreal and sometimes there is a hint of sadness and nostalgia present.The majority of "Strawberry Jam" is lively and psychedelic and the more relaxed and dreamy side to their music is almost completely absent. This is not to say that the album lacks atmosphere, far from it, but the focus seems to be on the noisier side of their collective personality. "# 1" is quite mellow except for the disturbing heavily treated vocals that give it a creepy edge. Samples and background noises are also more prominent too which gives the album another dimension.So overall it is another great album, different but brilliant. The songs sound fresh and inspired and I've listened to nothing else since it was released. I've no idea what they'll do next but I can't wait.

I'm not sure how this happened, this isn't the Animal Collective I know! Where's the aimless folk and forced quirkiness? Their earlier albums passed me by completely, yet Strawberry Jam is one of the finest pop records released this side of the millennium, with each track exploding with glorious flashes of colour after every note. Yeah, the lyrics verge on nonsensical far too often, yet there's a sincerity to it all, not just recalling and mourning times gone by but celebrating them. This is childish in the best way possible."I want to get so stoned / And take a walk out in the light drizzleAt the end of the day / When there's no one watching"Sounds like a plan, Avey. Count me in.

2007 was a crowded year for good music, and one album that really stood out was Animal Collective's seventh album Strawberry Jam. One thing to note right off the bat, is that this is their first album where they seemed to focus less on experimental (and often convoluted) elements, and instead writting, well... traditional songs as oppose to challenging that model like they've done in the past. Their is still a level of experimenting here, but it's tuned down, and in the end we're left with a very whole exprience. This album can be both breathtaking and comical, and the thing that takes it to the next level is Avey Tare's incredibly wacky vocals. Peacebone, For Reverend Green, Fireworks, #1, and Cuckoo Cuckoo are all terrific songs. Good job Animals!!

Strawberry Jam un disco incomprendido, que mejorara con los años. Un disco que al ser anterior a una joya como es el Lp "merriweather post pavilion" se quedo como algo experimental y previo. Para mi los dos discos imprescindibles de Animal Collective.

Llego antes de lo estimado, y sin fallas. Uno de mis álbumes favoritos. Lo recomiendo. Para Amazon Mexico, me gustaría que dieran más información acerca de los vinilos, especificar el color del vinilo es un buen comienzo.

Une bonne confiture de fraises, voilà comment attaquer l'année du bon pied! Un rayon de soleil passe au travers des fenêtres de la cuisine, l'odeur de café frais envahit nos narines et une bonne tartine d'un pain à la croûte craquante est prête à recevoir le doux nectar cuit dans un vieux chaudron de cuivre par les Animal Collective. Cela dit, il est peut-être préférable de rester méfiant. Un jus bleuâtre parsemé de quelques reflets jaunes traverse le fond de la coupelle, puis les fruits ont encore leur feuillage. Ce petit déjeuner pourrait vite tourner au psychédélisme.Le collectif animalier qui nous l'a préparé est né dans la grosse pomme en 2000 et compte en son sein quatre hurluberlus aux blases pas piqués des vers: Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Geologist et Deakin, vieux copains d'école de longue date qui cultiveront ensemble un goût prononcé pour Pavement et les films d'horreur. On comprend alors leur amour du bazar et de la dissonance, qui sur certains de leurs albums peut devenir franchement pénible. Ils font cependant des chansons au format plutôt pop nappées d'une marmelade expérimentale de divers sons de claviers prenant pour modèles, peut-être un peu prétentieux, György Ligeti ou Krzysztof Penderecki. La recette, qui ravit les hipsters et autres fan de cultures indépendantes souterraines, peut alors énerver et la discographie abondante d'Animal Collective est assez inégale. 'Strawberry Jam' est cela dit de ceux que je préfère. On y trouve facilement ses repères et l'équilibre entre le foutoir d'Avey Tare et les chœurs sunshine pop de Panda Bear est assez juste. D'ailleurs le disque commence par un joyeux bordel de synthétiseurs sur lequel se pose un joli tube enthousiaste aux paroles farfelues (il y sera notamment question de jugulaire, d'aile de dinosaure et de couleurs intéressantes). On entendra ensuite d'étranges bruits, un orgue et des samples de cordes sur l'interrogatif 'Unsolved Mysteries'. L'énergie dingue de ces joyeux drilles revient ensuite sur 'Chores', morceau balancé comme un calypso qu'on aurait accéléré et qui bute parfois comme si le sillon était bloqué. C'est d'ailleurs la même formule qui fera le succès du morceau 'Brothersport' sur 'Merriweather Post Pavillon' deux ans plus tard...Sur un quelconque album folk, 'For Reverend Green' serait une ballade de milieu de disque jouée à la guitare sèche mais chez les new-yorkais, un épais clavier se fait métronome et mène cette chanson ponctuée de cris sauvages. Arrive ensuite le second tube du disque, 'Fireworks', dans lequel, une boîte à rythme fluette passée dans un phaser emmène la chanson dont la mélodie flotte sur quelques notes tandis que les cymbales éclatent comme autant de feux d'artifices. D'ailleurs, dites-moi, j'ai pensé à vous souhaiter la bonne année? Une petite bise sous les 'Fireworks' d'Animal Collective, ça serait pas mal, non? En vous la souhaitant bien cosmique et psychédélique.L'album se termine par les voix célestes de Panda Bear, comme pour annoncer la fin de ce premier petit déjeuner de l'année en un mur sonore d'échos à la Phil Spector. Le goûter cosmique est pris, l'année peut commencer. On peut désormais vaquer sereinement à nos occupations, quitter nos pantoufles pour des souliers fraîchement cirés, l'esprit détendu par les résonances encore présentes des chœurs angéliques des animaux d'outre-atlantique,Avec tous mes meilleurs vœux.

J'ai découvert Animal collective avec cet album (et le clip étrange de "Peacebone") qui pour moi est bien meilleur et original que "Merriweather Post Pavilion" (qui prend un dangereux virage commercial avec ses vocalises style Beach Boys qui reviennent à la mode mais qui m'agacent un peu)

Great buy!

Todo lo que no supere los 10 euros y sea yb vinilo completo, me gustaria saberlo cuando lo incluis en vinilos, de 5 a 10 €

Animal Collective is a very experimental rock band. If I had to compare them to anyone, it would be Radiohead or the Strokes, but they are still far different. The sounds and lyrics they choose to use, on this album in particular, are very out there and sometimes psychedelic. Each song is very different, yet still feels connected to the general theme of the album. It starts off with the song “Peacebone”. This song has very enjoyable vocal changes throughout it and, sometimes, hilarious lyrics. The lead single “Fireworks” has constantly changing beats and sounds, along with lyrics. The album ends with the almost ballad-like “Derek”, which I think has the most catchy vocals on the whole record. This album, in my opinion, is their best work, with the exception of Feels. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone who hasn’t heard any other of Animal Collective’s work, as this album is not easy to get into if you don’t like heavily experimental music. But if you’re looking to try something new, I recommend you give this a shot.

This album is excellent. The musical creativity and professional studio production spew forth from its driving melodies and lyrical hooks. Song structure and sonic landscaping become more apparent once the nostalgia has worn away. After the first listen you begin to notice the little things in the background; sounds put there so delicately that you might not have heard them the first time. You won't find much classical instrumentation on this album, and lets just say that the lyrics are meant for a different sort of person. Still, it is quite accessible, even to the casual listener. Strawberry Jam is fun and energetic, sweet and tart like it's name implies, and maintains a vocal centric mode without becoming drawn out. I can listen to this album over and over again and still enjoy it. More of a work of art if you ask me, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Don't let me sway you, listen for yourself and decide what you think. Think for yourself. Question authority. My tastes are different from your tastes. That is all.

I think this is spiritually more similar to their newest (Centipede HZ) than MPP. The sounds are a little more square, I mean crushed. And the whole album is a little higher than the bass boom of MPP. I mean this was a huge step forward for the band and it is essential listening for any fan. The jump from Feels to Strawberry Jam was in my opinion their largest. Probably due to the new sounds and textures.

One of my favorite AnCo albums. This album is great all the way through. It's just a fun album. If you are into AnCo or are looking to get into them, I would say this or MPP are great places to start. Vinyl plays great.

Great price for this cd.

Vinyl plays clean and clear. Glossy gatefold jacket and inner sleeves. My guess would be 150g vinyl discs.

For Reverend Green, Fireworks. I wait for those two through the other stuff, but all the songs are good. Get MP Pavilion for more accessible AC album and Feels for the true believer.

:D