"Animal Army" is a song by English rock band Babylon Zoo, released in April 1996 as the second single from their first album The Boy with the X-Ray Eyes and the follow-up to the band's UK chart-topping debut single "Spaceman". "Animal Army" was unable to duplicate the success of its predecessor, reaching number 17 on the UK Singles Chart and falling off the chart after a further week in the top 40. The song was more successful in continental Europe, entering the top 10 in Hungary and Latvia.
Reception The Daily Telegraph called the song a "surging, riff-heavy monster" that "could well give [Babylon Zoo] another number one". Select were critical, writing: "No amount of nudity, drugs or free stuff would help make this low-rent gothic mush any better." Sonic Youth's Lee Ranaldo, a guest reviewer in Select, said that the track "isn't nearly as good as ['Spaceman']."
Track listings UK CD single "Animal Army" (7-inch edit) – 3:58 "Animal Army" (Arthur Plays with Animals) – 10:47 "Animal Army" (Babylon Bass mix) – 6:54 "Animal Army" (Arthur Dubs with Animals) – 10:58
UK 12-inch single A1. "Animal Army" (Arthur Plays with Animals) – 10:47 B1. "Animal Army" (Kiss mix—remixed by Sunrise) – 7:04 B2. "Animal Army" (Capital mix—touched by the Zupervarians) – 3:47
UK cassette single "Animal Army" (7-inch edit) – 3:58 "Animal Army" (Arthur Plays with Animals) – 10:47
European CD single "Animal Army" (7-inch edit) – 3:58 "Animal Army" (Babylon Bass mix) – 6:54
Australian CD single "Animal Army" (7-inch edit) – 4:01 "Animal Army" (Arthur Plays with Animals) – 10:49 "Animal Army" (Babylon Bass mix) – 6:55
Charts
Weekly charts Chart (1996)PeakpositionAustralia (ARIA) N.B. The HP column displays the single's highest position.59Croatia (HRT)22Europe (Eurochart Hot 100)82Hungary (Mahasz)10Latvia (Latvijas Top 40)3
Year-end charts Chart (1996)PositionLatvia (Latvijas Top 50)43
Release history RegionDateFormat(s)Label(s)United Kingdom15 April 1996EMI United Kingdom22 April 199612-inch vinyl
References