Animal Collective
"Strawberry Jam" (2007)
I could care less what last year's hype would have you believe, THIS is Animal Collective's best album. This is one of the few albums i've heard that is so innovative, I can't honestly give you any other records that sound remotely like it (one of my arguments in Kid A being overrated is that its basically watered down Aphex Twin), this record however, with it's electronic screamo beach pop, isn't just my favorite album from Animal Collective from innovation alone, the songs here are perfect. "Peacebone" is the sound of the album consolidated into one 5 minute song, (which by the way also has probably the best Animal Collective video). "Unsolved Mysteries" is perfect pop, drenched in Animal Collective's electronic noise bursts. "Fireworks" may be their best written song, while "Winter Wonderland" their most underrated. Everything about this album is perfection, and I legitimately hope in 10 years it's not just referred to as "The album before Merriweather", because as good as Merriweather was, Strawberry Jam is Animal Collective at their strongest.
96/100