• Record Label: Mute
  • Release Date: Apr 5, 2005
Metascore
71

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 11
  2. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. A beautiful concept that's been beautifully executed.
  2. A cracked masterpiece.... it rewards your attention with dreamy, surreal vistas, skewed poetry and flights of unadulterated musical madness.
  3. Uncut
    80
    By turns oblique, soulful, scornful yet rarely dissonant. Rather, it's one of their lovelier, more formal offerings. [Mar 2005, p.108]
  4. Alternative Press
    80
    Going "conventional" may be the strangest move the Residents have ever made. [May 2005, p.178]
  5. The Wire
    70
    The Residents walk a precarious line between American underbelly creepiness and a more mannered absurdism. [#254, p.63]
  6. Mojo
    60
    Fans will wallow in the superficial nuttiness of it all--though profound issues underlie the wilful eccentricity. [Mar 2005, p.96]
  7. On Animal Lovers, the Residents show, as always, a lot of heart and thought in the lyrics and ideas and even in their theatrical vocal performances, but that effort only sporadically shows up in the music itself.
  8. Q Magazine
    60
    Not for the unquesting. [Mar 2005, p.101]
  9. Urb
    60
    Dystopia pop at its most intriguing. [May 2005, p.93]
  10. In small doses, Animal Lover acts as the perfect antidote to a musical landscape often cluttered by acts too timid to truly challenge their audiences.
  11. Under The Radar
    50
    For better or for worse, the rest of the music world has caught up with them. [#9]
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 13 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 13
  2. Negative: 1 out of 13
  1. GeneG
    Jan 9, 2006
    10
    I always loved their - and now also more/ Very minds album/ Great thanx!!!
  2. paulm
    Jun 20, 2005
    9
    animal lover is one of their most melodic releases ever. i am huge fan and have been for 20 years. although my favorites are Not Available, animal lover is one of their most melodic releases ever. i am huge fan and have been for 20 years. although my favorites are Not Available, Meet the Residents, Fingerprince and Dusk Stab, for them to release something so uniquely dark and beautiful after 30 years says a lot. the only thing wish it had more of are the haunting vocals from the past. the female arrangements are brilliant and weird, but a bit less personal. thank you Full Review »
  3. vincet
    May 29, 2005
    10
    This is a fantastic CD. Some of the best work ever by the eyeballs. Unlike anything I have ever heard. A very refreshing change to what music This is a fantastic CD. Some of the best work ever by the eyeballs. Unlike anything I have ever heard. A very refreshing change to what music has offered in the last few years. Full Review »