I was starved for music in the Land of Reggaeton when a friend sent me this video of “Keep the Animals” by Amanda Jo Williams. It matches a familiar rhythm with a wholly original approach. It is scary. It changes costumes. It is sweet. It seems like there is a socio-political message here (“deep dark men come rolling in”), but the song is too busy having creepy fun to dwell on that message. The persona works multiple angles: as a child, as a chief, as a patient in a room. When I try to explain the song, something gets lost.  Williams’ spoken word piece, “Laundry Commercial,” is equally novel.

-Jillian Weise

Jillian Weise is the author of The Amputee’s Guide to Sex (2007) and The Colony (2010).

Questions, compliments, (hopefully not) complaints?  Contact Jackie Clark: jackie [at] coldfrontmag [dot] com.

see all songs of the week here.