Animal (Jebediah song)

"Animal"
Single by Jebediah
from the album Of Someday Shambles
A-side "Animal"
B-side "Simple"
Released 9 August 1999
Format 7" single, CD single
Recorded April–June 1999
Genre Alternative rock
Length 4:29
Label Murmur
Writer(s) Chris Daymond, Brett Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell, Vanessa Thornton
Producer(s) Mark Trombino
Jebediah singles chronology
"Harpoon"
(1998)		 "Animal"
(1999)		 "Feet Touch the Ground"
(1999)

"Animal" is the first single from Australian alternative rock band Jebediah's second studio album, Of Someday Shambles. It was released on 9 August 1999, which reached number 16 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart and polled at number 19 on national radio station, Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1999. The track was co-written by all four band members: Chris Daymond, Brett Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell and Vanessa Thornton.

Background

"Animal" was recorded during the sessions for Of Someday Shambles, from April to June 1999, by Jebediah with American producer, Mark Trombino (Knapsack, Jimmy Eat World, Blink 182).[1][2] The group's line-up was Chris Daymond on guitar, Kevin Mitchell on lead vocals and rhythm guitar, Vanessa Thornton on bass guitar and Kevin's older brother, Brett Mitchell, on drums.[1] All four members co-wrote the track.[3] Brett Mitchell explained that "Animal" is "a flat out pop-song with all the associated cool energy. What's unusual for us is that it doesn't have a breakdown section, the rhythm is constant from the word go to the end. One of the simplest songs we've ever done as far as arrangements go. It sounds like nasty Ratcat or something."[4]

The 7" vinyl record version has "Simple" as the B-side.[1] The CD single version includes two previously unreleased tracks, "Supposed to Say" and "The Less Trusted Pain Remover". "Supposed to Say" features Lisa Jayne on guest vocals (aka LJ), a singer-songwriter with Melbourne dance-pop outfit, Jubestar.[5][6]

"Animal" and "The Less Trusted Pain Remover" were both included on the split EP, Jimmy Eat World/Jebediah, with United States band, Jimmy Eat World.[7] That EP contained three tracks by each artist and was released in August 2000 on Redline Records (an independent label co-founded by Jebediah with its management company) in Australia and Big Wheel Recreation in the US.[7][8] "Simple" was also included on the 2001 re-issue of the Jimmy Eat World/Jebediah split EP instead of "Animal".[9]

Music video

The music video for "Animal" featured a "behind-the-scenes of a music video" narrative and depicted the band members in various production roles.[10]

Soundtrack appearances

"Animal" was used on the soundtrack for season one, episode 11, of the Australian TV drama series, McLeod's Daughters (2001–2002).[11] It was used again in season three, episode 21 (2002–2003), and in season four, episode 6 (2003–2004).[11] The B-side, "Simple", had been used for the feature film, Occasional Coarse Language (1998).[12]

Reception

"Animal" was released as a single on 9 August 1999 which reached number 16 on the Australian ARIA Singles Chart[13] and polled at number 19 on Triple J's Hottest 100 for 1999.[14]

AllMusic's Melissa Giannini described "Animal" in her review of the split EP with Jimmy Eat World. She compared "Animal" with Jimmy Eat World's "Cautioners", "'[Animal'] suffers from Kevin Mitchell's too-prominent nasal vocals, which might have been less apparent had the song not held its position immediately after the remarkably pleasant 'Cautioners'."[7] Greg Lawrence at WHAMMO.com.au reviewed Of Someday Shambles and felt that "Animal" "sets the tone of an album that’s strong but still fun – a real indication of a band honing its craft, growing up in public in the most enviable of ways."[15]

Track listing

All songs written and composed by Chris Daymond, Brett Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell and Vanessa Thornton[3]. 

7" vinyl version
No. Title Length
1. "Animal" (single version) 4:29
2. "Simple"   3:45

All songs written and composed by Chris Daymond, Brett Mitchell, Kevin Mitchell and Vanessa Thornton[3]. 

Charts

Chart (1999) Peak
Position		 Weeks In
Australian ARIA Singles Chart[13] 16 5

Credits

Jebediah members
Additional musicians
Recording details

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 McFarlane, Ian (1999). "Encyclopedia entry for 'Jedediah'". Encyclopedia of Australian Rock and Pop. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1-86508-072-1. Archived from the original on 3 August 2004. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  2. ↑ Nimmervoll, Ed. "Jebediah". Howlspace – The Living History of Our Music. White Room Electronic Publishing Pty Ltd (Ed Nimmervoll). Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 10 February 2014.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "'Animal' at APRA search engine". Australasian Performing Right Association (APRA). Retrieved 5 February 2015. Note: User may have to click 'Search again' and provide details at 'Enter a title:' e.g Animal; or at 'Performer:' Jebediah
  4. ↑ Kim. "Song Meanings". The Jebediah Lair. Geocities. Archived from the original on October 2009. Retrieved 5 May 2014.
  5. ↑ "Decibels". City of Darebin. 3 March 1999. Archived from the original on 2 August 2000. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "Jubestar". Australian Music Online. Archived from the original on 22 November 2005. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Giannini, Melissa. "'Jimmy Eat World/Jebediah' [Split Single]". AllMusic. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  8. ↑ MacKenzie Wilson (2012). "Jimmy Eat World". SongFreaks. SongFreaks Inc. Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  9. ↑ Jebediah; Jimmy Eat World (2001), Jimmy Eat World/Jebediah, Redline Records Australia: Shock Records [Distributor]. National Library of Australia, retrieved 11 February 2015
  10. ↑ Nitram2984 (3 October 2010). "Jebediah - Animal music video". YouTube. Google, Inc. Retrieved 29 August 2012.
  11. ↑ 11.0 11.1 "McLeod's Daughters: music credits". Australian Television Information Archive. T. Zuk. 25 February 2006. Archived from the original on 7 March 2006. Retrieved 30 June 2011.
  12. ↑ "Occasional Coarse Language Original Soundtrack". Aussie Sound Tracks. Archived from the original on 31 October 2003. Retrieved 11 February 2015.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Hung, Steffen. "Jebediah - Animal". Australian Charts Portal. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2 February 2015.
  14. ↑ "Hottest 100 1998". Triple J. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). 1999. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
  15. ↑ Lawrence, Greg (30 June 2004). "Jedediah – Jedediah Discography Of Someday Shambles". WHAMMO Interviews. Worldwide Home of Australasian Music and More Online (WHAMMO). Archived from the original on 2 August 2004. Retrieved 10 February 2015.

External links