Songs In The Key Of Animals

Benji Hughes is one of the great American songwriters, usually keeping to the shadows, brightening up liquor ads and songs for movies. His solo albums are sprawling exhumations of DIY pop that are so sincere in execution that some overlook his serious chops as just horsing around. Songs In The Key of Animals is an excellent introduction to Benji’s vast output; a twelve song burst of jittery party songs and woozy hangover come-downs. The mood is light and goofy; the massive chorus of “Girls Love Shoes” heightens the one-note joke into an ethos, the screams peppered through “Shark Attack!!!!!!!!!!” underlie a bouncy ode to sunburn. The tremendously horn-laden “Zebra” and “Freaky Feedback Blues” that round out Side A transition into the ambient kraut-pop of Side B’s soaring “Song For Nancy’’ and “Magical Summertime.” The highs and lows of a good time laid bare.