In the realm of semipopular rock, there are indie rockers — who prize imperfection and irreverence — and there are jam bands, who are steeped in tradition and demand high technical standards. And never the twain shall meet. Until now, at least: Brooklyn's Animal Collective make their songs cackle with soulful eccentricity while dazzling you with deceptive chops and improvised manipulations — think Neutral Milk Hotel as played by Phish. The group's deft sensibility-juggling turns its latest release, Sung Tongs, into one of the more creative and accomplished records you'll hear this year. Out from layers of random gurgles, frantic whispers, acoustic stabs and tribalistic drumming emerge impressive melodies and harmonies. There are tons of other reference points: the Beach Boys performed by Syd Barrett, the weird prog-folk of the Holy Modal Rounders, the gentler side of kraut rock, the loopy psychedelia of Devendra Banhart, to name a few. But mostly, Sung Tongs is its own creature, and it's got plenty of virtuosity and flair.

“Tonight's the Night”

The lead cut and title track from this girl group's debut album, "Tonight's the Night" was written by 19-year-old bandmember Shirley Owens, who sings lead, and producer Luther Dixon. The band from Passaic, New Jersey met in high school, first calling themselves the Pequellos. The song's frank thoughts about sexual and emotional surrender was racy for the time, but that didn't stop the Chiffons from cutting a similar version immediately after the original came out. "We were the first female group to write some of our own material," band member Beverly Lee recalls. "We did have some say-so in our writing."