The Residents

The Residents are an anomaly. This is an age where most music is the same regardless of how deep the scratch is. But whether their music is at its most simplistic and frivolous, or challenging and complex, there's an underlying malevolence beneath the songs that somehow make it seem all the more beautiful.

Animal Lover is the group's umpteenth recording and is probably the group's most accessible album to date. Another concept album, though this time using a concept of animals or something. I mean, they wear giant eyeballs for christsakes. Who the hell knows what they're trying to say? They make Fellini look like Nora Ephron. I know there are lots of Residents fans who love to analyze every single note and lyric, but you know what? Life's just too damn short; I have laundry to do.

Animal Lover is a much gentler listen than the previous Demons Dance Alone album - smoother transitions from track to track give it an almost soundtrack-type feel. Albeit a soundtrack to a film that'll probably never show in a town you live in and probably features something to do with Satan.

8.0 / 10 — Kevin Fitzpatrick