Animal Collective

A triumphant year for Animal Collective saw them earn near perfect reviews for their eight album Strawberry Jam, weird out Conan O'Brien's Late Night audience with an unbridled performance of "#1," and not only grace our September cover, but land in our top ten favourite pop albums of 2007. More importantly, though, the year also saw this innovative four-piece take the plunge into clearer waters and emerge with songs that could speak to a much wider audience. From the opening call of "bump it!" (or so I think it is, which if I'm right may or may not be a shout out to Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock) to the chaotic ramblings of its close, Animal Collective's lead single from Strawberry Jam gave the indie set an anthem to call their own without any concern of MTV or "edgy" radio giving it the kiss of uncool. And despite their reluctance to fall into normality, the Brooklynites gave us their best pop song to date, with a verse-chorus-verse sing-along structure built for family road trips in the gas-guzzling mini-van. Beaming with falsettos, the bubbling hot lava synths and potholed rhythm, it's one step closer to leading us into that brave new world they promised where Animal Collective will be challenging R. Kelly for his "King of R&B" crown. Can¹t wait for that to happen...