psychedelic Animal Collective

I've been trying to get into Feels this week, a record I think a lot of others here have heard of, if not heard. It appeared on many best of 2005 lists..
The band is something to listen to. It's hard to comprehend exactly what their influences are.

Formed: 1992
Members: Avery Tare, Panda Bear, Geologist, Deaken
Records:
2000: Spirit They've Gone, Spirit They've Vanished [Avery Tare, Panda Bear]
2001: Danse Manatee [Avery Tare, Panda Bear, Geologist]
2003: Here Comes the Indian [Whole Band]; Campfire Songs [Whole Band]
2004: Sung Tongs [Whole Band]
2005: Feels [Whole Band]

quote Biography, FatCat

Despite the evident appeal of their deliciously skewed songs, heartbreaking hooks and deep pop sensibilities, Animal Collective is clearly not a simple or stable 'band' proposition. Friends and musical partners since 1992, core members Avey Tare and Panda Bear came together in 2000 with the intention of moving pop music in a direction that would place heavy emphasis on sonic experience. Soon after this, they began operating as Animal Collective, an umbrella name now used for a grouping of four people: Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Geologist and Deaken, who play together under different names and in different configurations (anything between 1 to 4 people), and whose releases are prone to continual musical change: from beautifully skewed pop ballads to fiercely ruptured noise-squalls to tribal rhythmic work-outs to simple folk songs, to who knows where; from fully orchestrated group freak-outs to a the intimacy of an acoustic duo.

The Collective's first offering was a stunning collaboration between Avey Tare and Panda Bear called 'Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished', released on their own label (Animal) in August of 2000. A second album, 'Danse Manatee' (remastered for this release) was released by Catsup Plate in July 2001, which was accompanied by a month-long US tour with their friends Black Dice. The following year saw the release of a limited edition (300 copies), vinyl-only release on St.Ives (a sub-label of Secretly Canadian) called 'Hollinndagain', which was made up of recordings from live shows. 2003 saw their most prolific year to date - as well as FatCat's repackaging of the first two albums, they released 'Campfire Songs' - a collection of songs recorded live on a screened-in porch in rural Maryland on Catsup Plate; 'Here Comes The Indian' on Carpark's imprint label Paw Tracks (which is being run by the band themselves); and 3 tracks from Avey Tare also appeared on a Split 12" shared with fellow New Yorker David Grubbs. May 2004 saw the release of their twisted yet masterly pop album, 'Sung Tongs' - their most outwardly 'accessible' work to date - which drew widespread critical acclaim, making end of year top 10's including The New York Times, Mojo, The Wire, Pitchork.

In whatever formation, Animal Collective are a genuinely thrilling live unit, passionately committed and unafraid to put themselves on the line. Their refusal to accept obvious formulas and creative desire to continually shift and rapidly move forwards has meant them testing audience expectations and always appearing to be one step ahead of themselves.

But, crucially, it is Animal Collective's natural affinity with pop music that makes up the crux of their sound. Whilst they may recall a wide array of past and present influences, it's without ever aping them or sounding retro. And most of all, in whatever guise they assume, Animal Collective always manage to sound like noone but themselves – stunningly unique and resonating with a deeply committed self-belief.

Like Splinter label-mate Dorine_Muraille, Animal Collective are a perfect addition to FatCat's Splinter Series - their grasp of pop hooks and dynamics being counterbalanced by a love of noise / friction and musical anarchy; their songs wavering on the tightrope between deeply affecting beauty and unrestrained chaos.

I'm sure others here know more than I do, I really haven't gotten all the way into the band yet but they are still intriguing & impressive.

I was considering downloading Here Comes the Indian, which is how I got Sung Tongs and Feels. iTunes has a good deal of their stuff, not the earlier projects or EPs currently though.

I first heard about them after seeing the video for "Who Could Win a Rabbit." It's weird that I would first find the band on MTV2, but the production of the video and the delightful catchiness of the song made me interested.

. I've noticed these guys are from the same label Sigur Ros was from; that's interesting. I can't really think of much more say on the band.

My friend got me really digging these guys around early last year, listening to Bees and Banshee Beat off Feels just putting me in such a pleasant, euphoric mood. And the 12 minute plus Visting Friends from Sung Tongs, same chord progression the entire song, but it's just SO hypnotic. I'm gonna pick up Strawberry Jam this week, really looking forward to it. I absolutely loved the Prospect Hummer EP and thought Vashiti Bunyan was lovely accompanying them, also looking forward to seeing more of her - I believe Devendra Banhart finding and using her in a song after decades of her being away from the business. Anyways, Animal Collective, they put out such great material, I can't wait to see them live someday. Proof that today's music isn't such a pile of shit that so many people think of it, you just need to dig deep to find something worthwhile - because you won't find it at the MTV VMAs.

After falling in love with Sung Tongs a month or two ago, I might have to join you in the anticipation.

It's always enjoyable to see peoples reactions to that album, especially during the drawn-out vocals on Leaf House.

Sung Tongs, Feels and Strawberry Jam are definitely my favorite albums. And their latest EP, Water Curses is worth checking out.


Summertime Clothes off of the new album, sounding pretty good. :D

Shit man, why did I not check out this band earlier. Obtained Merriweather Post Pavilion since N00b Killer was all excited about this disc and cuz I saw it on Demonoid. >_>

Very trippy stuff and whilst I'm only 3 songs in, I really like what I'm hearing so far. The soundscapes are great and I like "My Girls" a lot.

What other album should I get?

edit//OH MY GOD THEY USE A JEW HARP ON LION IN A COMA, *bleep*ING AWESOME

First month of the year isn't even over yet, but I'm hard-pressed not to say that Merriweather Post Pavilion is going to be the one of the best albums of the year. I've been sitting on my hands for the past month or so, not wanting to give into temptation and download the leak before the album's release and I finally got to listen to it just now: my ears came.