Search - Animal Bag :: Animal Bag

One of the best unknown rock bands of the early 90s

Daniel Jolley | Shelby, North Carolina USA | 06/19/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Animal Bag is truly one of the great hard rocks bands of the early 1990s, somewhat neglected in their heyday and all but forgotten today. These guys knew how to rock, and they had their own distinctive style that separated them from the great mass of bands trying to make it in the business. They did enjoy some success with this first album, though. Fans of the show My So-Called Life may remember their appearance as, of all things, a rock band, on that show's very first episode. I have a special connection of sorts with Animal Bag; while I never met any of the members, I know that the lead singer, Luke Edwards, went to high school in my own home town of Shelby, North Carolina. These guys got a good bit of radio play around my parts, at least on the stations that played bona fide rock music, but since they were a local band I don't really know how much air time they got nationwide. Suffice it to say, they didn't get as much attention as they deserved. Their songs boast powerful, fully intelligible lyrics that really seem to say something about a number of topics. Cheerful Mary in the Rain, for example, is rather a touching song about a father's love for his little girl. Hello Cosmo was their most successful and recognizable tune, one that typifies their distinctive style. The title actually befits the band, as there was always something a little cosmic about Animal Bag's music.For the record, the full hour's worth of songs featured on this excellent CD are:
Darker Days
Hello Cosmo
Missing Out
Cheerful Mary in the Rain
Moon Song
Hate St.
Personal Demons
Mirrored Shades
Everybody
Another Hat
Oddball
City Song
Last OneFor the most part, Animal Bag delivers some amazing tunes of varied and interesting musical stylings. Mirrored Shades, for example, features an acoustic sound throughout, but you won't find anything that calm in standouts tunes like Darker Days or Everybody. The only track I don't particularly care for is Hate St., a song with lyrics I find rather pointless. Animal Bag turns immediately around, though, and accomplishes great things with the very next track Personal Demons; this song features a number of interesting musical transitions, rocking for almost seven minutes while communicating some rather meaningful ideas. Animal Bag doesn't scream at you (well, not often, anyway); their words speak volumes and sometimes, they get right inside your head, man. It's too bad that, for whatever reason, Animal Bag didn't get more attention and put out more great albums during the 90s; the only other Animal Bag recording I know about is an EP released a couple of years after this album. I also believe that the drummer, Boo, passed away of natural causes not long ago; I and those others out there who were fortunate enough to be introduced to Animal Bag's music will not soon forget him or the rest of the band members because, however limited their success, they knew how to rock with the best of them."

A Progressive band of the 90's

terry808 | Thomaston, GA 30286 | 06/09/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Animal Bag is an amazing band of many sorts. Their debut offers us a comprehensive glimpse at their creative genius. They were a band that stood solid upon Alternative and Psychedelic/Progressive rock, Folk, and even Tribal/World influences. Luke Edward's vocals and lyrics are incredible and always unique and the band mesmorizingly flowed between Alternative rock, to a psychedelic ballad, and on to an acoustic anthem with hand drums. There was never anything else like this band and they still lack the attention that they have always deserved. Rest in Peace Boo, and thank you for your great drumming with Animal Bag.Peace,
Ben."