Alex G: “God Save The Animals” (Album Review)

 Indie Rock, Indie Folk, Indietronica

        Alex G has his own Christian boy fall with the release of God Save The Animals. This album sees a stronger level of thematic cohesion compared to his other work. Two other exciting features of this record are the use of auto-tune and electronic elements. God Save The Animals takes Alex G’s music into uncharted waters, and though there are some missteps, he's able to find his footing and cross the sea.

        Even with its different direction, this album serves as a great follow-up, by keeping what made the artist’s old work so entertaining. I have always thought of Alex G’s music as focusing on three main qualities: Style, Simplicity, and Subtlety. God Save The Animals is full of the creativity that fans have come to expect, with pitch-shifted vocals over truly majestic instrumentation, which is so jarring that it ends up working. The lyrics are often simple, and their direct nature does a great job of implementing weight behind their meaning. This isn’t to say that nuance doesn’t exist, as it typically lies in the layered production and dynamic vocal work.

        The experimental aspects of this album are hit or miss, with some tracks held back by some clumsy choices of song direction. I have never considered Alex G to be the strongest vocalist but he has always been incredibly skilled at using his voice as an instrument to convey emotions. Songs like “In Love” and the currently unreleased “Pretend” are made unforgettable by his vocal performances. God Save The Animals has moments like this, especially with the clearer vocals and high qualifying recordings (though there is a charm to his lo-fi DIY music). “Runner” is in many ways a traditional Alex G song but the professional equipment really brings out the best of his sound. On the other side of the coin, “Blessing” is a much grimier track than fans might expect, with guttural whispering and occasional shouts. Switching things up allows him to explore something different with his voice, and it brings a lot of texture to the song. A similar thing is done with the use of auto-tune on “Immunity”. Alex G is no stranger to pitch-shifting his vocals, but this record takes it to further extremes and does so consistently. Unfortunately, this hurts the song, as the contrast between the shiny vocals and the soft indie instrumentation is just too dramatic. I can see how both parts might work independently, and it’s still a song with highly enjoyable qualities, but together it creates a feeling of dissonance. With the introduction of new elements that make up such a large part of the album, there’s some difficulty incorporating them as a natural part of his sound. 

        God Save The Animals is a typical unexpected shift for Alex G, showcasing both his creativity and versatility. This album feels like an extreme deviation from his MO, but it’s also a noticeable progression from it at the same time. The qualities that made listeners fans of Alex G in the past are still here, however, they are either utilized differently or changed by new additions. These changes are done with varying degrees of success, as some don’t feel congruent with the rest of the work. Regardless, change is an inevitability of life, and presents something new to uncover as Alex G welcomes it with open arms.

Favorite Tracks: Runner, Blessing, Cross The Sea, Miracles, Mission, Early Morning Waiting, Forgive, After All

Least Favorites: S.D.O.S, Headroom Piano

Critically: Low 8

Emotionally: Low 8

Arbitrary Number: 8.2/10