Listening to obscure indie artists is like playing an aural version of Russian Roulette — sometimes you strike gold, and other times you end up emotionally scarred. Snuffaluffagus’ 2009 release, Aminals LP: A Folk Fairy Tale, is definitely from the obscure school of indie music, but thankfully, it’s nothing short of brilliant.

No, this isn’t the Snuffaluffagus from Sesame Street. Headed by Chris Braciszewski, Snuffaluffagus is a collaboration of artists which includes musicians like Say Anything’s Alex Kent, Japandi, Boom Snake, and Brian Warren. The overall vibe from the album could best be described as Animal Collective sans the LSD, and made to fit a singer/songwriter mold. As unappealing as this may sound, it’s far better than you’d expect. In fact, Animals LP: A Folk Fairy Tale has a delectable, slow-paced, experimental sound that is quite a pleasure to listen to.

The album’s layered music is full of insightful lyrics that will be sure get your juices flowing. The best way to think of Snuffaluffagus’ Aminals LP: A Folk Fairy Tale is like an orange — it’s hard to get underneath the layers, but once you do, a tangy surprise awaits. Even though the instrumentation on the album may not be every listener’s forte, it’s not overdone. In fact, the album is actually quite accessible, which is a marvel considering its experimental flair. A myriad of guitars and pianos flood your senses, literally leaving you in an acoustical bliss. Notably, the instrumentation and the lyrics don’t overpower each other; rather, they work in synergy to make Aminals LP: A Folk Fairy Tale all the more appealing. The lyrics are fun, clever, and witty throughout. Laced with colorful imagery and fun references (hello there, Steinbeck!), the lyrics only enhance the quality of this album and set it apart from the ever-growing field of indie artists.

The beginning of the record is relatively unassuming, but also inviting, as Braciszewski’s vocals slowly lead into a build up in instrumentation in “Wallow.” The album slowly plods on in “Wolfrabbit,” but the instrumentation becomes more and more complex, and definitely has an experimental vibe to it. “Feline Vocal Sounds” is more conventional in the sense that it’s much more acoustic, but still has that interesting exploratory flair that makes it fun to listen to. However, not everything is picture perfect on Aminals LP: A Folk Fairy Tale. The vocals on “Abrogation to English of Birdsong” are a little too angsty for my taste, and the overall song lacks identity. On the other hand, “Worried Worm” is a great track that more than makes up for the flaws on the former . “Sry Snuffy” only whets the appetite more. The ethereal sound at the beginning of “Aminals,” and the overall cheerful mood, only add to quality tracks of this album. The 2yutes remix of “Sry Snuffy” adds an electro flair to the first version and caps the album on a high note.

Overall, Snuffaluffagus’ Aminals LP: A Folk Fairy Tale is an enjoyable record. It’s not an album that you can just cherry pick tracks from — you’re supposed to hear the whole thing from start to finish. There’s no filler on this album though, so it’s quite manageable. It’s one of those records that’ll leave you in a state of blissful joy. Better yet, it’s available free at the artist’s website, so there’s no excuse to not check it out.