Just got back from a screening of ODDSAC, the new "visual album" by Animal Collective and director Danny Perez. You already know Animal Collective, I'm sure. Danny Perez has directed two of the group's music videos, "Who Could Win A Rabbit" and "Summertime Clothes." He's also done stuff for rad bands like Blood on the Wall and Black Dice - check more video work over at his website.
I wasn't really sure what to expect from the film in terms of... well, anything. Are we talking narrative film here? How about length? Would the name "Geologist" appear on the 2011 Oscar ballot for Best Supporting Actor? Basically I didn't read up on it at all beforehand, I just watched this dinky teaser trailer.
Turns out "visual album" really is the best way to describe ODDSAC. It's about 50 minutes long and, while there's no cohesive plot, there are recurring themes and characters throughout the video's 5-10 minute-long vignettes. Like, a canoeing vampire who reminded me of this guy (Star Wars Extended Universe, y'all) and a crochet-headed monster who just wants to go to a sleepover. There's very occasional dialogue, mostly just music/sounds that correspond with what you're seeing.
The film has a nice mix of humor and creep factor, with special effects that are about half convincing of the otherworldly phenomena taking place, half obviously fake. In this regard, as my buddy Gabe (of MYNDBLYNDRZ fame) pointed out, it's a lot like The Boxer's Omen, which one of the Animal Collective dudes mentions in an interview on the Fader. The visual components of ODDSAC, as Perez discussed after the film, are basically an amalgamation of various filmic tropes and recurring pop culture images, engulfed in a current of psychedelic effects. Pretty entertaining but, ultimately, lacking in depth.
The audio component, however, was great. I was left largely unmoved by the relentlessly anthemic pop of Merriweather Post Pavilion and, while the ODDSAC music has moments of unabashed joyful choruses, it also contains the most challenging sounds the group has produced since the wonderful weirdness of Here Comes The Indian. The people sitting in front of me jumped several time when sudden bursts of harsh noise erupted from the speakers, interrupting until-then quiet scenes. In the film's most out-there portion, looping electronic clangs and buzz accompany minutes and minutes of slowly-morphing rainbow static, some sort of hyper-intelligent iTunes visualizer (though these more abstract visual patterns were, according to Perez, all created by hand). As a whole, the music strikes an appealing balance between Animal Collective's experimental and pop-leaning sonic halves.
It's sort of a shame, then, that there won't be a soundtrack release for the film. Josh Dibb (Deakin), Brian Weltz (Geologist) and Perez were on hand to answer questions afterwards, and Dibb said the project will only be released as a DVD. While I enjoyed the film as a whole, I don't see myself watching it enough to warrant purchase. An edited soundtrack with a thick booklet of lush stills, though, I'd definitely consider buying.
All in all, an evening well spent. If they're rolling through your town and you've got the night to spare, go for it. I thought it was worth the price of admission to experience it on a decent screen and through nice, loud speakers. More screening dates are viewable here. The DVD is out this summer.
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