Defining the Visual Album by way of Animal Collective’s ODDSAC: Identifying the musicological exchange between music and images based in audio visual and music video analysis

Abstract

An introspective case study on the first self-defined visual album: ODDSAC by alternative indie-rock band Animal Collective. This thesis will interpret both the musical and visual components of visual albums under the guise of popular music studies on music video analysis. The conclusions drawn from this study are a continuation of multi-media musicological research on the evolving state of music and videos. The methodological approach to this study is drawn from Carol Vernallis’ work documenting music video studies. This study will serve as a representation of dissecting the components of the visual album - defining it as a uniquely differentiated media form in the music and visual arts.