Sound of Animals Fighting, The - The Ocean and the Sun

[Drew Beringer]

The Sound Of Animals Fighting – The Ocean and The Sun
Release Date: September 9, 2008
Record Label: Epitaph

For those with a keen memory, you will recall that the second album from The Sound Of Animals Fighting, Lover, The Lord Has Left Us…, left quite an unpleasant taste in my mouth. The original four from the debut, Tiger & The Duke, expanded to nine, with tracks being passed back and forth with new additions. Highly ambitious, incredibly frustrating, it wasn’t just the Lord who left them, a good handful of fans left too. But when it was announced that the third album was going to be released on Epitaph and that the band was returning back to the core four – The Nightingale (Rich Balling), The Walrus (Matt Embree), The Lynx (Chris Tsagakis), and The Skunk (Anthony Green) – interest was high among fans, new and old.

With The Ocean and The Sun, TSOAF maintain their ambitious ways, but include more tantalizing riffs, less blips and random noises, and just better overall composition. The vocal chemistry between Balling and Green is splendid, as evident on “I, The Swan,” which begins with Balling slow vocals over sparse riffs and drum beats. Green brings the energy over the huge bridge, and immediately you can sense the difference between The Ocean and its predecessor. There is a lot less ambience this time around, as “Another Leather Lung” features menacing guitar riffs paced by Green’s yelping. You could even argue that some of the tracks flow in the vein of Circa Survive. “Cellophane” channels Radiohead as Balling wails over dreary riffs and a trumpet, then picks up into a staccato-paced frenzy featuring riffs that may remind you of The Mars Volta.

It transitions nicely into “The Heraldic Beak Of The Manufacturer’s Medalion,” which, plainly put, just absolutely rips. Full of urgency and complexity, it will remind you of the best from the debut album. Paced like an escape car, it is the definite highlight of the album. “Uzbekistan” could have fit in on Lover, but as one of the few good tracks. The band has learned to be ambitious while not going crazy with it and losing the listener. “On The Occasion Of Wet Snow” begins as a peaceful closer, combining fuzzed out guitars and Balling’s soft vocals over a dreamy landscape. Over the middle of the track, it begins to speed up, the guitars awake, while Tsagakis’ incredible drumming provides the backbone, ending the album on a high note.

After listening to The Ocean and The Sun for the first time, I was taken aback and impressed. The Sound of Animals Fighting lost me with their last release, but their new work is the true natural progression that should have been taken after the debut, thus proving Lover, The Lord Has Left Us… as an aberration in the band’s discography. The Sound of Animals Fighting has finally got it right, releasing an album equally creative and progressive while not being so far out there that any one can follow along. The guitar work from Embree is top notch and you will not hear a better drummer than Tsagakis. Forget about the misstep that was Lover and pick up The Ocean and The Sun immediately.

Track Listing:
1. Intro
2. The Ocean and the Sun
3. I, The Swan
4. Another Leather Lung
5. Lude
6. Cellophane
7. The Heraldic Beak of the Manufacturer’s Medallion
8. Chinese New Year
9. Uzbekistan
10. Blessings Be Yours Mister V
11. Ahab
12. On The Occasion of Wet Snow
Produced by: Rich Balling

The Sound Of Animals Fighting are:
Rich Balling (The Nightingale) – vocals
Matt Embree (The Walrus) – guitar, bass, vocals
Chris Tsagakis (The Lynx) – drums
Anthony Green (The Skunk) – vocals

Buy it now at http://ax.phobos.apple.com.edgesuite.net/images/badgeitunes61x15dark.gif (http://phobos.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?i=289415494&id=289415489&s=143441)

Official Website (http://www.thesoundofanimalsfighting.com); Official Myspace (http://www.myspace.com/thesoundofanimalsfighting); Official AP.net Profile (http://www.absolutepunk.net/artists/showlink.php?l=2206)

[therobbert]

The score doesn't really reflect the review. But I agree with the review. This album is far and away better than anything this band has put out. Yes, even Tiger. I am hoping and praying this band will either do a tour or another album. It's just too much potential to kill.

[Keagan Ilvonen]

I thought Lover was decent but this is a way better. Good job with the review Drew. You said pretty much everything I was thinking.

[Shakriel]

I've been listening to this LP constantly for a few weeks now.

[porttheman]

i need to give this cd a listen to again..cuz i wasnt feelin it as much before..good review though

[hockeyguitar99]

I really like this album. Good review drew.

[mena]

Good review.

I'm surprised that the member rating is so low. I think this is a great album.

[Twizx]

I liked everything from this album that I've heard so far, nice review.

[AdamChildress]

Great album, and I hope this isn't their last album...and I hope they tour sometime as well.

[therobbert]

This album is almost perfect. The interludes leave a bit to be desired but everything else is top notch.

[Saucey McRib]

Production deserves a 2 at best.

[Sex and Glue]

Production deserves a 2 at best.

Whoa. Im hoping i just read over your sarcasm, but i am afraid i didn't. The production on this album is incredible - the soundscaping along with the layering is just phenomenal.

[I am Mick]

only a few songs stood out to me. Those songs are awesome though. I just think of it as an EP

[newfoundmichael]

I only listened to this once...I need to give it a spin again before I make an opinion.

[SLADE775]

This album is almost perfect. The interludes leave a bit to be desired but everything else is top notch.

lol

[FaceLixeMurder]

I really like this cd, almost as much as Tiger and The Duke

[Stephen Chamberlain]

From what I can remember, the production did seem a bit lacking. I also felt like "The Heraldic Beak..." had one verse too many.

[Özgür Kurtoglu]

I'll check this out again solely for your review's sake, Drew. Hopefully, I'll be able to shake the "odd-for-the-sake-of-odd"-feeling the first listen gave me this time around.

[x-factor6]

they mixed Tiger and Lover perfectly. their best work yet.

[mylastnerv]

I've been listening to this LP constantly for a few weeks now.


Same. I really really really like this album.

[jetblack1231]

hmmmm, i'd say this is a good rating to give it. I think i'd give it an 88% because my expectations were pretty low. I highly suggest buying this album ASAP. If you think you know TSOAF, think again cause this record has a totally different sound than any of their other material

[mr chainsaw]

Production deserves a 2 at best.

Just because it does not like Paramore's or Cartel's latest records, does not mean it has poor production. I thought the album sounded fine.


Glad to see they are now recording songs again and not sound effects.

[TakeLotsWithAlcohol]

This is one of my favorites of the year.

[SmokieB.High]

I am not sure why you did not like ...lover the lord has left us, it is a solid release that contains songs that are what the sound of animals fighting were trying to produce at the time... it is definatly one of my all time favorites, and helped change some of my perspetives on art in music

To me this is a much safer release and is kind of a step backwards from musical progression and also a ways away from what the sound of animals fighting is (which to me is guys in the scene taking a huge step out of the box)

Overall nice review and im gonna have to give this a few more listens

btw when you gonna hook us up with a fear before review

[Indoor Living]

Good review, Drew. But I really didn't dig this album.

[Travis Parno]

Good review but I HATE this album. I liked Tiger and the Duke, loved Love the Lord and had high hopes for this.

i have to agree. great review, drew, but i haven't gotten into this one yet. maybe a few more listens will get me there.

[live.]

I love most of the songs, but I'm so sick of the talking.

[irthesteve]

Lover>Tiger>Ocean

[smorgy]

awesome album but i love lover, the lord has left us... more

[ImTheSheriff]

to the people who say lover is their favorite, just why? half of the songs aren't even listenable, just random annoying-ness.

[Clark]

This is one of the most disappointing albums of all time.

Maybe if I could actually hear the vocals my opinion would change.

For now: Tiger & The Duke > Lover, the Lord Has Left Us > The Ocean and The Sun

[Petzl]

I've been listening to this album non-stop since it leaked over a month ago. There is not one track on the entire album that I don't enjoy, overall I think it's better than The Tiger & The Duke and Lover... combined. What an amazing way to end the trilogy. 10/10

[Mens]

this band is lame

[Drew Beringer]

to the people who say lover is their favorite, just why? half of the songs aren't even listenable, just random annoying-ness.
haha that's what I'm wondering.

[capnshindig]

Lover The Lord Has Left Us was phenomenal, this is mediocre at best.

[capnshindig]

haha that's what I'm wondering.

The Heretic is one of the most gorgeous songs I have ever heard.

Plus, Anthony Green's vocals are at the very best on that album.

And it is so much fun to smoke weed to.

[Drew Beringer]

There are some good songs on Lover, but as a whole it's not that great of an album.

[ImTheSheriff]

There are some good songs on Lover, but as a whole it's not that great of an album.

exactly, there are a few gems on lover, but as a whole it's kinda like what the fuck were they going for?

[ArmoredSleep]

this band is lame


So is your mother. By the way, you look like McLovin

[douchemcbag]

By the way, you look like McLovin
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[SmokieB.High]

There are some good songs on Lover, but as a whole it's not that great of an album.

Every album has "some good songs on it" and some that are total crap... Lover on the other hand is a experiance

I find that the songs flow with each other extremly well and by listening to just "the good songs" i feel like i am ripping myself off of an experiance

Example: De-Loused In The Comatorium is a great album but if you trying to find just one classic song on there you have to deal with the guys using a artistic approach to the delivery of the songs and if you do not listen to the whole thing through your not experiencing the experience

[SmokieB.High]

And it is so much fun to smoke weed to.

I totally agree... nothing like burning one and driving around at night or just chilling blasting lover

[Özgür Kurtoglu]

Example: De-Loused In The Comatorium is a great album but if you trying to find just one classic song on there you have to deal with the guys using a artistic approach to the delivery of the songs and if you do not listen to the whole thing through your not experiencing the experience



I'd say Cicatriz E.S.P. is that one classic song on it.

[SmokieB.High]

I'd say Cicatriz E.S.P. is that one classic song on it.
Yeah definatly a great song but what makes the album so great is listening the whole thing through... i personaly hate just listening to just a single song off that record cause the build up is what makes the whole thing great

I really do not like scab dates cause it kind of throws away the build up and art of each song and just puts you to the main section of the song with the vocals

[Poochemist]

I'd say Cicatriz E.S.P. is that one classic song on it.

Awesome song. Just wish there wasn't a huge interlude in the middle of it. Throws off my groove.

[Özgür Kurtoglu]

Yeah definatly a great song but what makes the album so great is listening the whole thing through... i personaly hate just listening to just a single song off that record cause the build up is what makes the whole thing great

I really do not like scab dates cause it kind of throws away the build up and art of each song and just puts you to the main section of the song with the vocals

Awesome song. Just wish there wasn't a huge interlude in the middle of it. Throws off my groove.

That might be the single best produced song I've ever heard. Even on a fucking iPod it sounds fantastic. I love the interlude. Why? John Frusciante and Flea. That is the best song they've ever released (yet) and if they ended it today, it would be their Stairway to Heaven.

[sargentlgfuad]

everytime i listen to this album i find something new to like about it.
gets better over time, and i think they've really progressed here.
not amazing, but a very nice, well crafted, album
(and the quote inside the album cover is so awesome)

[SmokieB.High]

it would be their Stairway to Heaven.
Kinda hard for me to compare anything to stairway to heaven... definatly an all time great song underground or pop culture

[Özgür Kurtoglu]

Kinda hard for me to compare anything to stairway to heaven... definatly an all time great song underground or pop culture

I don't find it that hard, really. I don't compare anything to Stairway to Heaven, it's just a way to show that a band has created a song that could be called their defining moment. It doesn't hurt that most tracks I call this are rather long. To me, Refused's Stairway to Heaven is Tannhäuser/Derivè and The Mars Volta's is Cicatriz E.S.P.

[SmokieB.High]

I don't find it that hard, really. I don't compare anything to Stairway to Heaven, it's just a way to show that a band has created a song that could be called their defining moment. It doesn't hurt that most tracks I call this are rather long. To me, Refused's Stairway to Heaven is Tannhäuser/Derivè and The Mars Volta's is Cicatriz E.S.P.
So your saying its thier song that defines thier sound? or defines them?

[stevoemo]

good news, because lover really turned me off this band. I'll have to give this one a listen.

[Özgür Kurtoglu]

So your saying its thier song that defines thier sound? or defines them?

Well, I wouldn't even call Stairway to Heaven the song that defines Led Zeppelins sound, but as it is the most commonly used term to describe such things I went away and did the same. Yes, I'd claim that Cicatriz E.S.P. defines the sound of The Mars Volta, and is also a perfect example of a song that is just right in every way. Just like Tannhäuser/Derivè for Refused and Stairway to Heaven for Led Zeppelin before them.


[Loveisa4lttrwrd]

Lover>Tiger>Swan

Did you perhaps mean: Lover>Tiger>Ocean?

I really wish that the vocals were more balanced on this album. They are too subdued and I feel like that is keeping me from absolutely loving this album.

[irthesteve]

Did you perhaps mean: Lover>Tiger>Ocean?

I really wish that the vocals were more balanced on this album. They are too subdued and I feel like that is keeping me from absolutely loving this album.
haha, oooooops. What the fuck is swan from?

[daygreen89]

i enjoy it.

[Loveisa4lttrwrd]

haha, oooooops. What the fuck is swan from?

Haha, well there is a song on the album called "I, The Swan" so I'll just pretend that's what you meant and then you didn't do anything wrong.

[irthesteve]

Haha, well there is a song on the album called "I, The Swan" so I'll just pretend that's what you meant and then you didn't do anything wrong.
i'll go with that, thanks

[allhourcymbals]

There were a few great tracks on this album, a few good ones, and one or two that I probably won't listen to again. I love everything Matt Embree does though, so I might be a little biased. "I, The Swan" is really great.

[the_topher]

you know, Lover the lord has left us really grew on me after a while, and now i like it the best out of the three albums. I dunno, the experimentation seems oblique at first, but if you really pay attention, it's not just random noise; the experimentation both deals with and forwards the thesis of each song. Sort of like how Jimi Hendrix made the Star Spangled Banner an anti-war song, but much more subtle, but ultimately much deeper.

[cymche]

I loved Ocean, but I could see why people didn't like Lover to much. That album took about 7-8 listens for it to grow on me.

[gcwhocares]

Very nice review. I sensed almost the same about this new album. I was waiting for it impatiently, and it really didnt dissapoint a bit.

I loved how they went back to their original line-up, and how the tracks flow and the vocals just mix together perfectly, but what I love the most about this album it's the musical progression in it, it's more experimental and creative and less "lets just put whatever sounds weird and crazy and mix it with vocals".

[fishingthe_sky]

From what I can remember, the production did seem a bit lacking. I also felt like "The Heraldic Beak..." had one verse too many.
I was listening to this today and I agree. The last verse is pretty useless to the song as a whole.

[Chuck!]

can't get into this album at all.

[Theher3tic]

For me its actually, Tiger<Ocean<Lover. I thought lover was incredible. I put it on all the time when i went on vacation with my friends family and came out of it everybody singing songs from it. I had the 12 year old kid that just a month ago found out about Girlfriend by avril singing skullflower. My first listening experience was unforgettable. Ocean was very good, for some reason the second half does lag a bit, but great overall.

[TimT]

This is pretty much what i thought Lover was going to be. The instrumentation is brilliant.

[ultragabe]

this album is fantastic. Chris Tsagakis? God on drums (ex. Cellophane).

this cd is excellent for pot smokers. all the layers come alive.

[TheSkunk]

fuck how did i miss this review lol ive been waiting forever to post.
this album is so technically solid. i love cellophane and i the swan.

[Radb707]

Okay i really have little clue as to how some of you can enjoy this album so much and give it 10s and shit, when you can't even hear the damn vocals in half the songs.

It's not like you can turn it up either, because the instrumentation just overloads your ears and you can't catch the vocals anyway.

I'd enjoy the album ALOT more if they released a remixed version somewhere down the line with a better mix.

[TheSkunk]

ok I finally rated it after 2 weeks or so of replaying. Its a very good album. Uzbek and wet snow have some good parts but I dont see the listening value in them. Also, wet snow doesnt really fit with the album but its a nice soft listen. The rest of the songs are quite solid. I think the reviewers score is fair, 85% seems about right!

[buzzhannahbuzz]

*two thumbs up*
You write amazing reviews, and I couldn't agree with you more about this album.

[doxa_lu]

I am always :-| dumbfounded when people say that Lover's was a good album. It wasn't at all. It was closer to an playlist shuffle of interludes. I personallyM-( don't like Craig Owens which was it's first failure but I don't blame him entirely cause the production on that particular album was seriously off. Especially so on Horses In the Sky...the instruments sounded so poorly mixed, yet the vocals were clear as day. TSOAF justed failed miserably with that album. It's sad most of the kids I meet that actually liked that album are potheads X-)which makes sense now because of all the"you should listen to it high" comments I see everywhere. I tried letting that particular album grow on me, it doesn't. Skullflower and Phantom are the only songs I thought were good but not vain of TSOAF. ;-) If you think otherwise we're clearly not listening to the same band. Ocean and the Sun is clearly what I wanted after Chasing Suns.

[the_topher]

I am always :-| dumbfounded when people say that Lover's was a good album. It wasn't at all. It was closer to an playlist shuffle of interludes. I personallyM-( don't like Craig Owens which was it's first failure but I don't blame him entirely cause the production on that particular album was seriously off. Especially so on Horses In the Sky...the instruments sounded so poorly mixed, yet the vocals were clear as day. TSOAF justed failed miserably with that album. It's sad most of the kids I meet that actually liked that album are potheads X-)which makes sense now because of all the"you should listen to it high" comments I see everywhere. I tried letting that particular album grow on me, it doesn't. Skullflower and Phantom are the only songs I thought were good but not vain of TSOAF. ;-) If you think otherwise we're clearly not listening to the same band. Ocean and the Sun is clearly what I wanted after Chasing Suns.
ouch. that just stings. Yeah, the album's not for everybody, but that doesn't mean that everyone who likes it is a potheads. I surely ain't, and I love this album

[blessphemy]

possible AOTD for me at least, i really dont know what it is about it...

[Gfunk1221]

possible AOTD for me at least, i really dont know what it is about it...
gonna have to agree with you on that one.

looking at this review and the thread years after, and deeming this probably one of my top 5 favorite albums of all time, I wish for everyone to give this a second chance. And while doing so keep in mind so many things, keep in mind the magnitude of matt embrees musicianship, keep in mind the writing process that months and months of fine tuning were put into each part and every decision, every hit, and every level had a reason to be the way it did. i listened to this album before i got into RX Bandits and before i was a huge fan of Circa. but after going through phases of both those bands and seeing what they were both about made this album so much more epic for me. and the way it is mixed is perfect. embree did that as well, he spent a shit load of time mixing it and i must say he did a perfect job for an experimental prog rock album such as this one. the drums are mixed to perfection, and some people are complaining about the instrumentation being too high but thats the point. thats the way he wanted it. vocals don't always have to be the main attraction. just such an amazing album. some of the best, unique musicianship of my age in rock music to say the least.