Beach Boys
“Pet Sounds”·Capitol Records 1965
Brian Wilson’s masterpiece. He had Tony Ashe’s help with the songwriting. This record broke away from the type of melodies they had used up until then. They added another dimension to what they were doing. Basically pop with a dashes of folk thrown in for good measure, Wilson managed to create a personal and intimate record. Though it wasn’t a hit on release, it has become the groups most influential record over time. It was a source of inspiration for the Beatle’s “Sgt. Pepper’s lonely Hearts Club Band”.
Pink Floyd
“Animals”·EMI Records 1977
Pink Floyd released this concept album based around Orwell’s Animal Farm in 1977. Humans are classed as pigs, dogs or sheep on songs like “Dogs” or “Sheep” (the best tracks on the record) They completed the album with their version of “Pigs on the Wing.” This prog-rock LP is a sharp criticism of the system. It isn’t their most successful release but it does have its own charm.
Ramones
“Animal Boy”·Sire Records 1986
Christ! What a powerful record this one is! This is one of the Ramones’ albums that people tend to overlook but the songs reflect them totally flat out. Listen to the likes of “Love Kills”, “Animal Boy” or “My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes to Bitburg)". They bring out the fastest and darkest side of punk on tunes like “Somebody Put Something in My Drink.”
Animal Collective
“Water Curses”·Domino Records 2008
The latest by this bunch from Brooklyn. The coolest "cats" in Brooklyn are back with their newest songs. A clear example of pop-art: experimentation and clear melodies mixed with the impossible to come up with some very imaginative songs. On “Water Curses” or “Peacebone” they break with everything done before and their impossible arrangements create a very abstract and psychedelic atmosphere. Welcome to this olourful world.
Andrés Calamaro
“El Salmón”·Dro 2000
Andrés Calamaro really wanted to break all kinds of records with this one. A five-disc set with over a hundred songs. He had to choose them from the more than five hundred songs he had recorded in his home studio. His most intimate secrets are splashed across the songs (for better or worse) and the record reflects the most fragile period that the singer went through. This the longest and riskiest release ever taken on by the music industry and also marked a parenthesis for Calamaro.
Kid Koala
“Your Mom´s Favourite Dj”·Ninja Tune 2006
Canucks Koala play songs that swing from jazz to hip hop. Just thinking there... Are there any eucalyptus trees in Canada to feed this boy? Not to worry, this guy has a strict diet of vinyl. I should also mention other albume like “Some of my best friends are Djs” or “Nufonia Must Fall.” That side, he is best seen in his natural environment: live.
