If your parents didn’t understand your music before, this album should thoroughly confuse them. Strawberry Jam is without a doubt a bizarre album, but for long time Animal Collective fans this album will be seemingly tame. Animal Collective has walked the line between music and madness, for years now, but their latest work seems to be a bit more on the music side, making this album more palpable for a wider range of listeners.
The album opens with their single, “Peacebone,” a track that will find its way into the deepest reaches of your subconscious and replay itself for hours on end. Avey Tare (David Portner) really shows off his vocals for “Peacebone” with his high feminine wails and his passionate, and slightly scary, screams. “For Reverend Green” again shows off just how hard Avey can sing, as he screams the song’s refrain “I think it’s alright to feel inhuman.” While still reeling from the intensity of “For Reverend Green” the album smoothly slips into “Fireworks” a slow building, but equally powerful, track. Together these two tracks are arguably the highlight of the album, a statement that is hard to make as every track on this album is brilliant. A close listen to this album reveals how hard this band works to make every track perfect. One particularly enjoyable quality of this album is the band’s ability to seamlessly transition each track to the next, making this album a nonstop smorgasbord of sound.
Longtime fans should be pleased with another quality work of art, while those unable to stomach the insanity of previous albums may find a new appreciation for Animal Collective in this album. For those with a taste for the strange this album is a perfect match. For those with a sense of bravery, go see them live. (And consider bringing some earplugs)
