Animal Kingdom : Tin Man

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Tin Man

When Phil Ek Produces, We Listen.


Big, anthemic pop is so hard to pull off without inviting a backlash. It can easily dissolve into a cliche. Start sounding like a parody of itself. You know, Coldplay sounding like a band imitating Coldplay. So I always tread carefully into the waters whenever I see any new band reviewed with the words Radiohead, Coldplay and Snow Patrol in the same sentence.

!Danger Will Robinson!

Animal Kingdom is one of those bands. From the UK. Natch. But their debut LP (released Sept 25th, 2009) is damn fine. Yes, I get the radiohead/coldplay/snowpatrol references but for my ear, the band musically reminds me more of Nada Surf (albeit with a falsetto lead vocal). Since I love Nada Surf, Animal Kingdom is off to a great start in my book.

The album was recorded and produced in Seattle by Phil Ek of Fleet Foxes, Shins, Band Of Horses, Dodo's fame and it's got his thumbprint all over it-in the best of ways. It's hook laden indie rock that manages to yearn and croon and shimmer without ever becoming that aforementioned cliche. In less astute hands, it could have gone the other way.

I can even imagine mainstream radio playing this track without too many people freaking out. Close your eyes as you listen and see if you don't envision jam packed arenas...Animal Kingdom is gonna be big! The album is not yet on Lala.com and Amazon only has it as an import but you can download it on iTunes and it won't be long before the rest catch up.

*thanks to Sneak Attack Media for the free mp3 below*

by Animal Kingdom from Signs and Wonders

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Animal Kingdom: Tin Man (mp3)

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