User Score
Universal acclaim- based on 204 Ratings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 186 out of 204
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Mixed: 11 out of 204
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Negative: 7 out of 204
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Oct 17, 2021Wtf is thissssssss! It's as wonderfully sinister as it's cover. With a strong ear for hooks and instrumentations made from instruments that sound extra terrestrial this is a solid output from the collective boasting one of tge best alt rock songs of all time "fireworks " that seems to have been written and produced in my head. Favourites: fireworks, peacebone,for reverend green,winter wonderland
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Feb 28, 2019Favorites: Peacebone, Unsolved Mysteries, Chores, For Reverend Green, Fireworks, #1, Winter Wonder Land, Cuckoo Cuckoo, Derek
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Apr 24, 2018Once I got past Avey's somewhat unconventional vocals, I found myself loving this album. Peacebone and Reverend Green are terrific, Derek, Chores, and Unsolved Mysteries are great, but Fireworks is on another plane of existence
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Feb 22, 2016Feels a bit like an experimental piece trying to find it's footing. Though the album isn't bad, it does produce some great tracks such as "Peacebone", "Fireworks", & "#1", but there are some moments in the album that feel erratic, frantic, and loud. Overall it's good tracks outweigh some of the bad.
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May 16, 2014one of my favorite animal collective albums. the cover says it all: right in your face, colorful and wild. the melodies are catchy but also thoughtful, and the vocals are vibrant and and a bit crazed.
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Sep 1, 2012people like Herbert below who wheel out the word 'hipster' everytime they cant digest something or dont like it need to be publicly lynched and also preferably beheaded. strawberry jam is another cranium busting game changer of a record from AC. a classic record between two other classic records of theres.
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Aug 28, 2012Even after the gorgeous and flawless Merriweather Post Pavilion, this record is still their best. The melodies are fantastic, and the myriad of odd samples and textures make it an extremely interesting listen. Avey's vocals are killer.
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Nov 2, 2010This is the album I like the most from Animal Collective. Every song, is so damn good. I have to listen the the whole album every time because the songs connect so well and create such a great atmosphere and feel to it. I love love love this band and hope they can stay together for a long time.
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Sep 11, 2010Animal Collective's tastiest album so far. It's a glossy and colorful album. Oh, such wonder.
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MattSDec 21, 2007Best disc of the year hands down.
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J.K.Dec 14, 2007
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JerryJ.Dec 12, 2007Relentlessly brilliant. The album is humble and without pretense. Full of color and autonomy. Get it.
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HerbertP.Dec 11, 2007This is passing for music these days? Hipsters will eat up anything if an obscure band shits it out.
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AdamD.Dec 9, 2007
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JamesG.Dec 9, 2007I don't necessarily think this is a bad album but I do not hear any melody or purpose. It sounds like a jumbled mess or horses trampling my head. This album definitely makes me clean my house at a rapid pace. I will continue to give it a chance because I want to like it
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HildurM..Nov 18, 2007Very good.
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PipS.Nov 14, 2007Andy W: Cuckoo Cuckoo is annoying?! Anyway, AC are the new Beach Boys - wonderful, simple melodies, coupled with new and engaging production. And this is their Pet Sounds - simply marvelous.
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AlejandroR.Nov 10, 2007Best record of the year. Second: Panda Bear - Person Pitch.
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TimT.Nov 2, 2007Wow... This is my favorite group album of 2007... This deserves a much higher Metascore... All of those reviewers who gave this disk a 6 should be taken off the job because their obviously afraid of experiencing new, earth shattering music... "Fireworks," "Winter Wonderland," and "Derek" are probably the best songs I've heard all year from any band by far.
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AlexOct 29, 2007Fireworks is one of the best songs I've ever heard.
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AndyW.Oct 28, 2007Aside from the creepy "#1" and the annoying "Cuckoo Cuckoo", this is the most consistent Animal Collective record to date.
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DavidL.Oct 26, 2007The listening experience of 2007. Animal Collective outdoes themselves (yet again). It baffles the mind that this decade's most relevant musicians are still virtually unknown to the average music appreciator. All 9 songs on the album are incredible.
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DickD.Oct 26, 2007Album of the year
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ToddW.Oct 5, 2007The most important band this side of Radiohead has crafted a Rorschach Test Blot of an album. 'Strawberry Jam' has something to please the palette of anyone remotely interested in these guys. Me, I wish there would have been slightly more Panda Bear and a little less Avey Tare. Other than that, no complaints.
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JimJ.Oct 4, 2007Great.
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MeganP.Oct 2, 2007One word: Yes.
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EricC.Sep 25, 2007
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JohnH.Sep 23, 2007
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MarcG.Sep 22, 2007First misstep for the collective.
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GeekboySep 21, 2007AC have reached a level of popularity (at least among serious music fans) that they
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DeboASep 20, 2007
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G69Sep 20, 2007
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MikeS.Sep 19, 2007Possibly their best... why is it a nine? its really good, more structured but still kinda "out there." a little too much electronic noise, but even thats starting to grow on me. Definitely one of the best for 2007.
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AlexW.Sep 19, 2007
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GuyHSep 19, 2007Brilliant from start to finish. BEWARE This album could make a lot of the other stuff you listen to this year sound pretty uninspiring in comparison. ESSENTIAL
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SidDSep 19, 2007I don't know how the praise for Animal Collective has been so universal in the past. It's clear that their music is not for everyone. I find myself thinking some of their tracks are brilliant on one day, but totally wrong on another.
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NickSep 17, 2007it's a good'n.
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MarkSep 17, 2007Could Rolling Stone be just a touch more irrelevant? Jesus Christ...
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ZBiscuitSep 17, 2007I am completely baffled by the mixed critical response to this album. Strawberry Jam has had me hooked since it leaked and has become a permanent classic in my collection; one of the very few recent albums that I'm sure I'll still be listening to 5 years from now.
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justinaSep 17, 2007Good, but does not compare to the classic "Feels" or even Panda Bear's "Person Pitch". Good track: Peacebone, Fireworks
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EddySSep 16, 2007surely this is a contender for 2007's best album yes, very Avey dominated but we had Person Pitch to get our Panda Bear fill and his presence is not totally missed here. Much better than Feels in my opinion. Looking forward to what comes next.
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christianP.Sep 16, 2007ac's best yet. so FOCUSED! beautiful.
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ChrisASep 14, 2007I dig it baby.
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JeremyFSep 14, 2007This CD is nearly perfect. "Peacebone," "For Reverend Green," and "Fireworks," are easily 3 of the best tracks of the year so far. The only misstep this disc has is "#1." It's a decent track, but the 2 and a half minute filler at the end isn't good. If the track was under 3 minutes, it would be much better. This cd is great, though.
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[Anonymous]Sep 14, 2007some of my favorites are Peacebone, Unsolved Mysteries, Chores, For Reverend Green, Fireworks, #1, Winter Wonder Land, Cuckoo Cuckoo, Derek all pretty good
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PeepP.Sep 14, 2007Animal Collective have made a terrific album with 'Strawberry Jam'. It definitely has hooks, but isn't for your average listener who would rather hear mundane sounds and predictability. In other words, this is a great record if you are open to original ways of exploring old ideas.
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BenH.Sep 14, 2007This is the most complete and listenable ablum so far this year. Great stuff.
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LindK.Sep 14, 2007I can't stop playing it.
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GeorgeH.Sep 14, 2007I really recommend this album, is an experience.
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BillyM.Sep 14, 2007Another ambitious step, a truly great and obsessive album
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JayaH.Sep 14, 2007I have been a huge fan of Animal Collective since their inception. This is by far one of their very best releases. Definetely one of the best of 2007!
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FrankG.Sep 13, 2007The Stylus Magazine score is wrong. They gave it a B-, from which the 67 score attributed to it by Metacritic is not indicative. THis album is not for everyone but for the few who will enjoy it, it's quite addictive and ming-tingling. toodles.
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MJ88Sep 13, 2007Nearly perfect. it might just be the album of the year.
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SDKSep 13, 2007Standing beside Panda Bear's phenomenal album Person Pitch, Animal Collective do more than previously thought with this high energy, popriffic masterpiece that people will be smiling to for years to come. The collective is on!
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JaddyPSep 13, 2007
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philipb.Sep 12, 2007no comment, except for strawberry jam rules!
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KeefeM.Sep 12, 2007The only reason I wouldn't consider Strawberry Jam to be my favorite album this year is because I decided long ago that nothing will top Person Pitch. It's easily my second favorite, though.
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GmanSep 12, 2007
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robp.Sep 12, 2007A beautiful new direction that seems to borrow heavily from panda bear's recent concepts, but realized better and more fully in the live setting.
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AlexJ.Sep 12, 2007
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BrandonP.Sep 12, 2007Easily one of the year's best. Mature freak-put rock that has a tighter composition than any of the experimental stuff in AC's past. if you appreciate the abstract, listen to this year's hallmark release. There is also plenty of pop hooks on top of all of the oddities of this release.
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GilbertGSep 11, 2007Fireworks and Peacebone are classic!
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ZachB.Sep 11, 2007Every song on this album had to grow on me other than Peacebone. But, after listening to it about three times, it became my first or second favorite Animal Collective album, and one of my favorite albums ever. There really is not a bad song on it. The two songs that took the longest to grow on me were #1 and Unsolved Mysteries.
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OliverC.Sep 11, 2007Painfully amazing.
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BobJ.Sep 11, 2007Great album, full of energy and passion, theres nothing like it
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ek.Sep 11, 2007Surely their Poppiest Moment. But its also the weirdest pop around. This how POP should sound !!!
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brillc.Sep 11, 2007Vocals too high and clear.... dampens the magic.... Good songs, but annoying.
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Bryan00111000110Sep 11, 2007I've been a fan for a few years now, and this is their apex so far...just all the great melodies and the odd structures make it so enjoyable...unsolved mysteries has great drums, and cuckoo cuckoo is so damn powerful....10! 10! 10!
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jeffb.Sep 11, 2007disappointing
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chadc.Sep 10, 2007almost as good as feels
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bobm.Sep 10, 2007I wonder why some of these particular people, the ones with lower ratings, are grading this album based on the other albums from this group. Is it to challenging to critique just Strawberry Jam, probably.
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RyanP.Sep 10, 2007A fantastic album, I'd really consider it one of the years best. It's a perfect combination of Animal Collective's pop side and their experimental side. Fireworks is to die for.
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Awards & Rankings
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Animal Collective has evolved; its songs continue to meander and digress, but the mania seems driven by a greater sense of purpose.
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The WireThe nine songs her give a reason for detractors to raise their voices and for devotees to hope for something a little more evolved. [Sep. 2007, p.49]
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UrbAC still celebrates soaking up esoterica, but this album is the group's jauntiest, least emulsified. [Sep 2007, p.128]