Discussing The Albums

Never even heard of The Sound of Animals Fighting? Or maybe you've only listened to a few songs, or a specific album? No worries! Here are a few examples of songs from each album, so you can get a feel for the unique sounds incorporated. The three albums have very distinct but different sounds.

Album: Tiger and the Duke (2005)

Song: Act II: All Is Ash Or The Light Shining Through It

Album: Lover, The Lord Has Left Us (2006)

Song: There Can Be No Dispute That Monsters Live Among Us

Album: The Ocean and the Sun (2008)

Song: Another Leather Lung

The second album, Lover, The Lord Has Left Us, features a song that I believe primarily sums up a key objective in TSOAF's goals. It is the last song on the album, entitled There Can Be No Dispute That Monsters Live Among Us. Click to listen!

Now, if you went and listened to the above-mentioned song, you might agree that it's not the easiest listening. The vocals are not on-beat with the guitar, which is often even off-tempo to the drum. A good majority of this track feels jumbled, disconnected. Well, that makes sense after the realization that each layer (vocals, guitar riffs, drum beats) were recorded completely individually from one another. So your ears are straining to put together a connection, to fuse the discordance into something sensible. For me, that sensibility landed on the lyrics. The few lines that I really want to bring attention to are: "traditionally in western music, noises have been taboo" and "as a result the acoustic faculty in human beings  has declined" (Lyrics Mania). TSOAF is an experimental collaborative group. It strays far, far away from normal traditions of Western music, and this song specifically disregards the supposed necessity of a steady tempo. But does this make it bad music?

Defined by society, good music has a steady beat, obvious harmonies, all of the technically correct junk that makes pop music all sound the same. Don't ask me why it's popular if it all sounds the same. But I'll admit, I believe good music is more and more being defined by the individual rather than societal perceptions. I think, today, obscure and progressive music is increasingly valued.

I solemnly declare that I intend absolutely no copyright infringement. In fact, I highly recommend ordering the full albums, either digitally or in-stores. Why? Even though pirating is easy, the quality's usually not so hot. You could also face some serious legal consequences and absurd fines. Furthermore, each album tells a sort of story, as explained above. Listening to only certain songs leaves the meaning incomplete. So please, if I may reduce myself to pleading, hop on Amazon.com or your iTunes library, or take a trip to your local FYE store, and pick up the full album on your own accord.



Sources:

Lyrics Mania - http://www.lyricsmania.com/there_can_be_no_dispute_that_monsters_live_among_us_lyrics_sound_of_animals_fighting_the.html