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Animal Collective were formed in Baltimore County, MD, by longtime friends and musical collaborators Avey Tare (David Porter), Panda Bear (Noah Lennox), Deakin (Josh Dibb), and Geologist (Brian Weitz). The group's penchant for genre-hopping and studio experimentation has drawn comparisons to everyone from the Residents and the Flaming Lips to the Incredible String Band and the Holy Modal Rounders. Solo and side projects have been a continual occupation for most members, including Panda Bear (Young Prayer, Person Pitch) and Avey Tare (Pullhair Rubeye), the latter recording with his wife, Múm's Kristín Anna Valtýsdóttir. The Collective released their debut album, Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished (originally titled Avey Tare and Panda Bear) in 2000 on their own Animal imprint. It was the first in a pair of captivating releases; the other was 2001's Danse Manatee (originally titled Avey Tare, Panda Bear and Geologist), which explored the fringes and intersecting boundaries of freak folk, noise rock, ambient drone, and twisting, melodic psychedelia.

The live album Hollinndagain, which documented the band's debut tour alongside Black Dice, arrived in 2002, followed by 2003's Campfire Songs and Here Comes the Indian, the first albums to commit to the name Animal Collective and the first to feature all four members -- the latter record was released on the group's newly minted Paw Tracks label. As the Collective's popularity grew, so did their reach, resulting in a distribution deal with English independent label Fat Cat, which issued their first two albums as a package deal and paved the way for subsequent releases. The band returned in May 2004 with the triumphant Sung Tongs, a mysterious, fragilely melodic album that garnered positive press both at home and overseas, resulting in a series of successful international tours. The Prospect Hummer EP, which featured a collaboration with underground British folk legend Vashti Bunyan, arrived in early 2005, followed by the commercially and critically acclaimed full-length Feels later in the year. The band released the People EP in 2006, followed by the much heralded full-length Strawberry Jam in 2007, the band's first for Domino Records. Merriweather Post Pavilion, the group's eighth and most successful and accessible record to date, was released in 2009. ~ James Christopher Monger, All Music Guide