Animal Collective

Animal Collective
Animal Collective performing as a trio in 2007. From left to right: Geologist, Avey Tare, and Panda Bear.
Animal Collective performing as a trio in 2007. From left to right: Geologist, Avey Tare, and Panda Bear.
Background information
OriginBaltimore, Maryland, U.S.
Genres
Years active1999–present[nb 1]
Labels
Members
Websitemyanimalhome.net

Animal Collective is an American experimental pop band formed in Baltimore, Maryland. Its members consist of Avey Tare (David Portner), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Geologist (Brian Weitz), and Deakin (Josh Dibb). The band's work is characterized by an eclectic exploration of styles, including psychedelia, freak folk, noise, and electronica,[5] with the use of elements such as loops, drones, sampling, vocal harmonies, and sound collage.[6] AllMusic's Fred Thomas suggests that the group "defined the face of independent experimental rock during the 2000s and 2010s."[7]

The band members met in school and started recording together in various forms of collaboration from a young age. In 1999, they established the record label Paw Tracks, issuing what is now considered their debut album, Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished (2000), as well as work by other artists.[8] The band's 2007 album Strawberry Jam was their first to chart on the Billboard 200.[9] Their 2009 follow-up Merriweather Post Pavilion was the band's most commercially successful album, reaching #13 on the US chart;[10] its reverb-heavy psychedelic pop sound proved highly influential to independent music of the subsequent decade.[11]

Records released under the name "Animal Collective" may include contributions from any or all of its members. Evolving from early collaborations between Lennox and Portner,[12] the collective was not officially established until all four members came together for the album currently titled Ark, which was originally titled Here Comes the Indian (2003). Most prior collaborations between the band members were then retroactively classified under Animal Collective's discography.[13][14] In the case of Dibb, who often takes breaks from recording and performing with the band, his time off does not constitute full leave.[15]

  1. ^ Brod, Doug; Hillary Chute; Cole, Lori; Catucci, Nick (October 23, 2001). "Best of NYC: Music". The Village Voice: 98–113 – via ProQuest. The Animal Collective comprise the most confusing musicians to have hit the city in quite a while—originally from Baltimore, they might as well be from a clamshell or a juniper patch. They're usually billed as Avey Tare & Panda Bear, though their new CD is labeled only as Danse Manatee (Catsup Plate); like most of their productions, it's a sparkly puddle of mosquito's-tweeter electronic frequencies, slow chants, and people tapping on stuff. Though they do all start and stop at the same time.
  2. ^ "Pasa Tempos". The Santa Fe New Mexican. November 23, 2001. p. 26 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ "Pop and Jazz Guide". The New York Times. March 8, 2002. p. 6 – via ProQuest. Animal Collective specializes in neo-naturalist sound scapes ...
  4. ^ "Pop Music". The Philadelphia Inquirer. September 15, 2002. p. H17 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ Mac, Sam C. (February 4, 2016). "Review: Animal Collective, Painting With". Slant. Retrieved February 3, 2022.
  6. ^ Hermes, Will. "Animal Collective: The Electronic Turns Organic Facebook Twitter Flipboard Email". NPR Music. Retrieved February 5, 2022.
  7. ^ Monger, James Christopher. "Animal Collective - Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  8. ^ Simonini, Ross (August 29, 2005). "Interview: Geologist and Avey Tare of Animal Collective". Identity Theory.
  9. ^ Trust, Gary (January 22, 2015). "We're No. 1! 'Billboard #1 Gospel Hits' Debuts Atop Gospel Albums Chart". Billboard.com. Retrieved February 4, 2022.
  10. ^ Stephen Trousse (2009), Merriweather Post Pavilion Review, Uncut, archived from the original on December 2, 2013, retrieved April 14, 2013, right now Merriweather Post Pavilion doesn't just seem like one of the first great records of 2009, it feels like one of the landmark American albums of the century so far.
  11. ^ Kloczko, Justin (January 4, 2019). "Heavy Reverb: The Still-Resonant Psych-Pop Influence of 'Merriweather Post Pavilion'". The Ringer.
  12. ^ McGovern, Kyle (January 26, 2016). "The SPIN Interview: Animal Collective". Spin magazine.
  13. ^ Carle, Darren (October 20, 2012). "Everybody Hz: Josh Dibb on his return to Animal Collective". The Skinny.
  14. ^ Abraham, Barnabus (August 28, 2013). "Dissected: A look at Animal Collective's extensive career". The 405. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved April 8, 2016.
  15. ^ Spitznagal, Eric (August 27, 2012). "DEAKIN OPENS UP ABOUT HIS ANIMAL COLLECTIVE STAY-CATION". mtv.com. Archived from the original on January 4, 2016.


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