Review
The Residents
Animal Lover

Mute (2005) Kevin Fitzpatrick

The Residents – Animal Lover cover artwork
The Residents – Animal Lover — Mute, 2005

The Residents are an anomaly. This is an age where most music is the same regardless of how deep the scratch is. But whether their music is at its most simplistic and frivolous, or challenging and complex, there's an underlying malevolence beneath the songs that somehow make it seem all the more beautiful.

Animal Lover is the group's umpteenth recording and is probably the group's most accessible album to date. Another concept album, though this time using a concept of animals or something. I mean, they wear giant eyeballs for christsakes. Who the hell knows what they're trying to say? They make Fellini look like Nora Ephron. I know there are lots of Residents fans who love to analyze every single note and lyric, but you know what? Life's just too damn short; I have laundry to do.

Animal Lover is a much gentler listen than the previous Demons Dance Alone album - smoother transitions from track to track give it an almost soundtrack-type feel. Albeit a soundtrack to a film that'll probably never show in a town you live in and probably features something to do with Satan.

The Residents – Animal Lover cover artwork
The Residents – Animal Lover — Mute, 2005

Recently-posted album reviews

The Brokedowns

Let's Tips The Landlord
Red Scare Industries (2025)

I've reviewed a lot of Brokedowns records over the years. First, I'll say I love the band and I honestly feel like they keep getting better. Second, I'll say that this record threw a couple of surprises at me. The band play multi-vocalist poppish punk in the school of Dillinger Four or Errth, albeit more on the angry side. There … Read more

Dumbells

Up Late With
Mind Melt Records (2025)

When I started my end of year list this year I asked my pal Joel from Portland’s Dumpies to share his best of 2025 playlist with me. Several songs caught my attention which I, in turn, went and checked out the albums from which they had come. The one that has quickly climbed up my year end list over the … Read more

Osiah

Aion
Unique Leader (2025)

Deathcore is a genre that’s constantly threatening to eat itself alive. For every band trying to push boundaries, there are ten more content to recycle the same breakdowns, the same vocal gymnastics, the same studio-polished violence. Osiah, however, have never been interested in playing it safe and their latest EP Aion is proof that they’re still operating on a level … Read more