Feels
by Animal Collective
  • Record Label: Fat Cat
  • Release Date: Oct 18, 2005
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 151 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 136 out of 151
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 151
  3. Negative: 8 out of 151

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  1. Tubie
    Nov 2, 2010
    10
    All of their albums have their own unique sound, it takes a trained ear to notice these but once you do it's amazing how they can create this sound that is so particular to the album. I love this album and I use it to study a lot because I don't know why but the music makes me feel good.
  2. GuyH
    Apr 12, 2007
    8
    Solid album. For me the standout tracks are Banshee Beat, Loch Raven and Purple Bottle but most would seem to diagree on that!
  3. mk
    Mar 19, 2007
    9
    Did You See the Words, Grass, Purple Bottle, and Turn into Something are no doubt stand alone tracks, but songs like Flesh Canoe and Banshee Beat are the ones that will really send shivers down your spine. You have to listen the whole way through because context is everything. You'll even learn to love all seven and a half minutes of Daffy Duck. The album climaxes with Banshee Beat Did You See the Words, Grass, Purple Bottle, and Turn into Something are no doubt stand alone tracks, but songs like Flesh Canoe and Banshee Beat are the ones that will really send shivers down your spine. You have to listen the whole way through because context is everything. You'll even learn to love all seven and a half minutes of Daffy Duck. The album climaxes with Banshee Beat and the wait is worth it. Feels definitely shows improvements in cohesiveness and songwriting from Sung Tongs, but still has a few flaws. I can't help but miss the back and forth panning so perfectly done on tracks like Who Could Win a Rabbit. The barrage of sound, while beautiful and perfect at times, starts to get a little too muddy for me at moments. However, a nearly perfect album… Expand
  4. JoeP
    Nov 11, 2007
    1
    This band makes me scared for where music is heading...
  5. HeywoodJablowme
    Oct 18, 2005
    5
    so pitifully average in every way. Mercury Rev and the Flaming Lips have done this kind of thing so many times before, it's kind of shocking that anyone finds it novel.
  6. TimIsHott...andSpicey
    Aug 8, 2006
    6
    Feels isnt really all that good of an album. I would recommend downloading Did You See The Words, Grass, and The Purple Bottle. But otherwise Animal Collecitve has yet to put together a completely fufilling album. A 6.
  7. Lam2Nature
    Dec 15, 2005
    0
    Bullshit Music!!!
  8. j30
    Sep 22, 2011
    3
    Pretentious and chaotic noise. They have a ton of potential, but no pay-off on this record.
  9. Ben
    Oct 9, 2006
    9
    Fantastic album
  10. MirrorMoon
    Jun 21, 2006
    10
    This album really makes me feel feelings I have never felt before. No, it has not been done by mercury rev and the flaming lips before, this is more avant garde instrumentation and the lyrics differ extremely much. A modern day masterpiece.
  11. AndyJ
    Oct 18, 2005
    10
    album of the year!
  12. daxr
    Oct 18, 2005
    8
    in some ways this album is so accessible that it's sort of jarring. it's a very different record from sung tongs, but not entirely different. in its sound it's closer to pre-sung tongs A.C., but it's more cohesive than those albums. it's more of a step forward than a fusion of past sounds that the collective have created. which is decidedly good. the melodies here in some ways this album is so accessible that it's sort of jarring. it's a very different record from sung tongs, but not entirely different. in its sound it's closer to pre-sung tongs A.C., but it's more cohesive than those albums. it's more of a step forward than a fusion of past sounds that the collective have created. which is decidedly good. the melodies here are the kind that don't really bother getting in your head right away. the just grab onto you and eventually drill their way in.… Expand
  13. Gman
    Oct 21, 2005
    9
    Animal Collective are without as important now as bands like My Bloody valentine and Can were in their day. Although they sometimes get lumped together with other acts such as the new folk artists like Devendra Banhart or fellow New York experimentalists Black Dice and Gang Gang Dance, Animal Collective are far too innovative to be contained in any little box. Each album they've made Animal Collective are without as important now as bands like My Bloody valentine and Can were in their day. Although they sometimes get lumped together with other acts such as the new folk artists like Devendra Banhart or fellow New York experimentalists Black Dice and Gang Gang Dance, Animal Collective are far too innovative to be contained in any little box. Each album they've made has been unique and despite drawing on the past (folk, Beach Boys, Tyrannosurus Rex, early Mercury Rev) they sound unlike anything that has gone before and their use of electronics and production has more in common with cutting edge electronic artists like Christian Fennesz than anything in the 'rock' genre. The presence of extra members Deaken and Geologist has meant that Feels has a meatier, less accoustic feel than Sung Tongs (although calling that album accoustic is about as daft as calling Four Tet accoustic). Although some of the more quirky 'sing-a-long' tracks maintain elements of that album's Dionysian folk vibe, as the album progresses and becomes more blissed out, it has moments that are reminiscent of AR Kane's classic '69' album. An astonishing record from an astonishing band. Anyone who doesn't recognise their genius really should bother listening to music because they clearly have no idea whotsoever what makes music great.… Expand
  14. rob
    Dec 23, 2005
    6
    Claiming that the Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev (might as well throw in Polyphonic Spree, Hopewell, Flotation Toy Warning, and a handful of others) have "done this" many times before is ridiculous. A.C. is in a world of their own and Feels deserves to be heard by anyone who wants to hear something different. That said, I haven't found the album as rewarding as sung tongs. "Did You See Claiming that the Flaming Lips and Mercury Rev (might as well throw in Polyphonic Spree, Hopewell, Flotation Toy Warning, and a handful of others) have "done this" many times before is ridiculous. A.C. is in a world of their own and Feels deserves to be heard by anyone who wants to hear something different. That said, I haven't found the album as rewarding as sung tongs. "Did You See the Words," "Grass," and "The Purple Bottle" are the most accessible tracks and, like a previous reviewer, I would recommend starting there. Then, if you still desire to do so, move on from there. Most people won't give this album a chance, many will try and fail to fully appreciate it (myself included), and a handful will love it.… Expand
  15. manos
    Jan 14, 2006
    9
    Pop music gets re-invented
  16. PeteF
    Jan 10, 2006
    8
    This is my first encounter with Animal Collective and after a slow start i am getting to know the album quite well and i like what im hearing. Although the bizar sound does put off casual listeners it does have something captivating about it right from the start and draws you into another place for a while. This is useful because once there the melodies become oh so much clearer and This is my first encounter with Animal Collective and after a slow start i am getting to know the album quite well and i like what im hearing. Although the bizar sound does put off casual listeners it does have something captivating about it right from the start and draws you into another place for a while. This is useful because once there the melodies become oh so much clearer and beutiful. Im dropping two points because there are some less interesting songs on the album. Plus this album would be difficult to share with many people as the listener does require a very open mind to apreciate it.… Expand
  17. ChrisJ.
    Sep 20, 2007
    10
    Simply amazing.
  18. Henry
    Oct 18, 2005
    10
    Every album this band makes is amazing. Saying that is almost unecessary. What makes this one so great is that once again they are going in a new direction, while still keeping aspects of their sound that make them truly unique. The chanting and pounding rythym of Here Comes the Indian is still here, as is the drifting almost ambient middle section of Sung Tongs. Feels puts all of this Every album this band makes is amazing. Saying that is almost unecessary. What makes this one so great is that once again they are going in a new direction, while still keeping aspects of their sound that make them truly unique. The chanting and pounding rythym of Here Comes the Indian is still here, as is the drifting almost ambient middle section of Sung Tongs. Feels puts all of this together wonderfully and adds upbeat and impressively written rock music to the mix. A perfect album.… Expand
  19. Charles
    Oct 18, 2005
    10
    This is the best cd to come out this year ahead of CYHSY and Sufjan. This is probably their most accessible cd (not saying much) and they sound more like Spirit Theyve Vanished than Sung Tongs but with tighter songs. The Purple Bottle is the best song all year and Banshee Beat is up there as well. Great Cd.
  20. erict
    Oct 18, 2005
    10
    Amazing album
  21. biggendoggen
    Oct 19, 2005
    10
    The best record this year , without a doubt!
  22. BenU
    Dec 21, 2005
    9
    A fantastic Album by one of the best groups out there today. They actually rock ono this one!
  23. ugabooga
    Dec 27, 2005
    10
    almost as good as sung tongs, but enjoyable for those who found that one too noisy.
  24. BenG
    Oct 26, 2005
    10
    Great album that will burrow its hooks into your head for weeks.
  25. JonasY
    Jan 16, 2006
    8
    This record sounds like christmas music made by psychotics. It is simultaniously horrifying and beautiful. For the vast majority of people it will be on par with torture; but a very, very select few will be able to savor this music like the nectar of the gods. Personally, I am blown away by the boldness of the AC's artistic vision, but sometimes I find the demands this music makes This record sounds like christmas music made by psychotics. It is simultaniously horrifying and beautiful. For the vast majority of people it will be on par with torture; but a very, very select few will be able to savor this music like the nectar of the gods. Personally, I am blown away by the boldness of the AC's artistic vision, but sometimes I find the demands this music makes too taxing.… Expand
  26. FletcherB
    Jan 5, 2006
    10
    This, along with the EP, is the best collection of songs releasd all year. Hands down, the most innovative and awe inspiring artists of recent memory
  27. Matt
    May 24, 2006
    9
    It seems like they took us to grandma's house through the trippy woods on Sung Tongs, now they wanna float downstream to get back. Each song seems to flow on waves of reverb and gently strummed acoustic, not to mention the trademark animal mating calls and "wtf" noises that could be coming from anywhere. And of course you'll find yourself humming bits from it later on after its It seems like they took us to grandma's house through the trippy woods on Sung Tongs, now they wanna float downstream to get back. Each song seems to flow on waves of reverb and gently strummed acoustic, not to mention the trademark animal mating calls and "wtf" noises that could be coming from anywhere. And of course you'll find yourself humming bits from it later on after its over... and you'll never be sure why.… Expand
  28. JMcC
    Nov 14, 2007
    10
    Amazing album!! One of the best of the decade, at first the catchy pop tunes of the first half stand-out and its hard to believe there could ever be anything to top it. But, with further listening the beauty of the second half of the album slowly seeps into your mind and you'll find yourself listening to Banshee Beat over and over again. Once fully understood, Feels plays out Amazing album!! One of the best of the decade, at first the catchy pop tunes of the first half stand-out and its hard to believe there could ever be anything to top it. But, with further listening the beauty of the second half of the album slowly seeps into your mind and you'll find yourself listening to Banshee Beat over and over again. Once fully understood, Feels plays out beautifully with every track contributing to the overall experience.… Expand
  29. bizmarke.
    Jan 25, 2007
    9
    Yay!
  30. [Anonymous]
    Mar 4, 2007
    10
    Yes, there are three total standouts: Grass, Purple bottle, and Did You See The Words, but the whole album is great. Always interesting, and always completely engaging. I never thought I'd like Animal Collective, but this album sold me. Buy it, you won't regret it.
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Awards & Rankings

29
#29 Best Album of 2005
71
#71 Most Discussed Album of 2005
22
#22 Most Shared Album of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Universal acclaim - based on 35 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 32 out of 35
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 35
  3. Negative: 0 out of 35
  1. AllMusic
    80
    The group sounds freer than ever before, almost as though they've never bothered with rock in their lives, and have only happened upon a bare few LPs before beginning their recording career.
    Read full review
  2. Dusted Magazine
    60
    So refined at times it borders on the insipid.
    Read full review
  3. Entertainment Weekly
    100
    Breathlessly giddy and shamelessly trippy. [21 Oct 2005, p.75]
See all critic reviews »