Animal Names – Let It Been

It’s always a curious situation when a band releases a solid album and breaks up at the same time.  I imagine it’s somewhat of a courtesy to fans and labels, but it also makes for a relatively uneventful kick off – no big launch party, interviews, and certainly very little hype.  As is the sophomore effort and swan song of Vancouver indie pop outfit Animal Names.  One look at their internet base of operations (an understated myspace page), and it would be easy to overlook the lone posting for the release of Let It Been.  But for those with a keen eye, that lone news post may serve as a gateway into something much bigger.

Or stated more directly, Let It Been is destined to become a hidden, underappreciated gem with a lot to offer.  First off, Animal Names features the dual vocals of Chris Van Der Laan and Melissa Gregerson.  Together these two make for a natural pairing.  Van Der Laan has a snotty, juvenile spoken word sense to him, while Gregerson commands a playful but sophisticated air.  The inherent contrast makes for a lively exchange, inherent cuteness and a natural chemistry reminiscent of Mixtapes or Lemuria.  Playfully speaking as if childhood friends, the two trade lines, choruses, verses, and just about everything in between.

Furthermore, combined with playful melodies and jovial, lighthearted tempos, Let It Been’s spring release date just feels right.  Tracks like “Jolene’s Inferno” have that perfect blend of bounce and melody, playful guitars, and energetic organ bursts that just make you want to get outside an enjoy a sunny day.  When they iron out the soundscape and smooth out their tempo as per “Indoor Waterpark,” the result just feels fun.  And with Animal Names, fun is the name of the game.  They match their bubbly presentation with plenty of nonsense lines, and even import some lyrics from the Maddness classic “Our House.”  That I found myself singing along to choruses with little logic is a testament to the album’s infectious rhythms – “Santa’s Birthday comes once a year, not including Easter” being a particularly bad offender.

After listening to Let It Been quite contently, the decision to disband feels natural.  As far as indie pop goes, Animal Names has always been about fun, and unless the band had decided to become something deeper and dilute their enthusiasm, Let It Been is pretty much at the end of the road.  Packing it in at this point and on such a sunny note was the right decision.  So don’t grieve; celebrate.  That’s how they would have wanted it.