Get to know Animal Collective

Though they have been around for almost a decade, Animal Collective is not nearly as well known as they deserve to be. And while song “My Girls” has gained recent popularity, I do not think potential fans have explored their music as much as they should.

Animal Collective is a four-person band combining indie, psychedelic, and pop, with mix-ins of electronica. David Portner, Noah Lennox, Brian Weitz, and Josh Dibb are the base of this eclectic band. 

The band grew out of childhood friendships around Baltimore, MD. After going their separate ways for college, they finally reunited and collaborated to form Animal Collective.

Besides their unique music, they also each have taken on nicknames; their nicknames are said to be distinctive of personas they have taken on in their music. Weintz, for example, is “Geologist”—because of a headlamp he uses to see his instruments and equipment during live shows. 

Animal Collective has that experimental feeling that jam bands are known for. Upon first hearing their songs, you never know what direction they are going to go next. 

Seeing them in concert is even more phenomenal, because the surprises are never-ending. Furthermore, their passion for their work really shines through. 

Animal Collective plays the kind of music that just makes you want to go to a far, far away land.  It captivates its listeners. 

While all of the music is pretty bizarre, it is certainly possible to notice the evolution of their music throughout their studio album collection. 

They currently have eight studio albums, with Feels likely being their best (I highly recommend listening to the song “Loch Raven” off Feels). 

Their 2009 album, Merriweather Post Pavillion, had much more electronic influences than they have ever used before. But, judging from their latest EP released at the end of 2009, it is evident they’ve pulled back from the electronic style. 

Though they have such a different sound than bands from all of the genres they combine, they still manage to play music to fit almost any mood. 

Now: I bid you adieu with the top five Animal Collective songs you need to listen to (in ranking order): “Lock Raven” from Feels, “Bluish” and “Brother Sport” from Merriweather Post Pavillion, “Unsolved Mysteries” from Strawberry Jam, and “Who Could Win a Rabbit” from Sung Tongs.