Animals
This Town Needs Guns · 2008
55 min · 15 tracks · alternative rock
Complex guitar work intertwines with intricate rhythms, creating a distinctive blend of math rock and melodic post-hardcore.
Top tracks — play these first
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rabbit — This track exemplifies the band's signature intricate guitar interplay paired with emotional lyrics, showcasing both technical skill and lyrical depth.
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if i sit still, maybe i’ll get out of here — The lengthy closing track features dynamic shifts and builds tension throughout, encapsulating the album's themes of introspection and anxiety.
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dog — With its catchy melodies and complex rhythms, this track highlights the band's ability to balance accessibility with intricate compositions.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album showcases intricate compositions with distinctive rhythmic structures, appealing to fans of math rock.
What we noticed
- Each song typically alternates between intricate guitar melodies and dynamic shifts in intensity, creating a sense of unpredictability.
- Several tracks incorporate abrupt tempo changes, such as the transition from 'badger' to 'elk', which disrupts the listener's expectations.
- Composition 25% of the score
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7/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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6/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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8/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intricate rhythms for focused listening
- pensive moments with dynamic shifts
- playful melodies for casual enjoyment
- short tracks encouraging repeat plays
- cathartic releases in climactic sections
Maybe skip if you
- seeking straightforward, predictable songs
- prefer longer, cohesive narratives
Where this album fits
- Career context
- At the time of its release in 2008, Animals was This Town Needs Guns' debut album, introducing their unique sound to the alternative rock scene. The band was still relatively unknown and was beginning to carve out a niche within the burgeoning math rock genre.
- Stylistic neighbors
- American Football· The World Is a Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid to Die· Owen
Tracklist
Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.
- 1 pig 3:49
- 2 baboon 3:26
- 3 panda 3:28
- 4 gibbon 4:26
- 5 rabbit 4:46
- 6 badger 4:54
- 7 elk 3:51
- 8 crocodile 2:32
- 9 quetzel 0:37
- 10 chinchilla 4:27
- 11 dog 2:55
- 12 lemur 3:12
- 13 zebra 2:09
- 14 if i sit still, maybe i’ll get out of here 6:04
- 15 26 is dancier than 4 4:46
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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