Animal Collective’s EP Fall Be Kind is out digitally on November 23rd, and you are in for a treat. I feel like they’re the only ones who really got it right, they’ve perfected the whole trippy multi layered percussion, African jams, bizarre harmonies, and eerie song structures with no real rhythm or rhyme, but it just seems to work in the end. On A Highway seems to visit a dream sequence, more mellowed down and consistent, while ‘Bleeding’ has this beautiful vocal echoe that’s cyclical and calming.

‘Graze’ is my favorite track, because it’s got this playful transition making it two songs in one, the end finishes with this Disney-esque flute solo that sounds like the patter of dozens of elves, and ‘What Would I Want? Sky’ has that Washed Out vibe- this track is hearty, with sparkling layers it’s an easy slow jam. ‘I Think I Can’ is reminiscent of childhood stories, it’s got this beautiful repetition, with gorgeous drums to carry it through. The whole EP revisits the playfulness of MPP but is more evolved, sifting deeper into their childhood psyche, experimenting with new sounds and rhythms, deconstructing and reconstructing the song and offering us a new measure for what a song could do to your ears. Marvelous!

Animal Collective- Bleeding

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Animal Collective’s Fall Be Kind EP will be out on Domino in December. They’re also releasing Brothersport on 10″ vinyl with bonus track- Bleeding (live) on Nov. 9th. This post has GOT to have the least personality. I’m carving pumpkins today while listening to Animal Collective so that I can bring a little summer into my fall. 

Here’s the tracklist-

01 graze
02 what would i want sky?
03 bleed
04 on a highway
05 i think i can

Animal Collective- Bleed

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Animal Collective- What Would I Want Sky

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Animal Collective- Brothersport

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Here’s another gem I found of a budding Bradford Cox of Deerhunter and Atlas Sound. Am I going too far with this? Anyway, I think he is adorable for too many reasons to name. Should you venture into his impressive photo album, you’ll find all the makings of a gawky teen, baring legs in shameless poses decked in costume or hanging from the ceiling. It is brilliant. He exudes the kind of confidence that transcends what his legs and arms would normally allow someone of his height and posture. He owns and uses his limbs, all of them. Uncool is a word still foreign to his ears. I am mildly in love with him. 

Aside from that, with his solo project- Atlas Sound, he’s about to release his second full-length entitled ‘Logos’. This beautiful composition was recorded, ‘as a first take’ played live while the tape rolled. There’s a distinct sound of ‘no big deal’ about it, like, psh- doesn’t everyone record that way? No, Bradford, you have a mutant talent that allows for seamlessness to fall over what ever you may do. 

He says that this album is more of a collaborative effort, instead of leaning towards his heavy introspection. I guess one can only stay inside the head for so long before no new ideas emerge, and exploration into the world outside would be required to massage those little brain cells back to life. Evident in ‘Walkabout’ ft. Noah Lennox (Panda Bear, Animal Collective), when he asks, “what did you want to be when you grew up?” Listen Bradford, that answer will get you nowhere fast. Everyone wants to be something magical. Then they realize there’s a real magic-deficit right about the time they’re about to ‘grow up’ so they wade in the magic for a few years longer. That has found us with an epidemic of children and beatnicks ruling the world. I suppose if that weren’t the case, we’d have a lot less music out there- it’s a trade for the dreamers. Logos is out Oct. 4th.

Check out Bradford’s blog for a ton of free music, mixes and more strange photos. 

Atlas Sound ft. Noah Lennox- Walkabout

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Atlas Sound- Attic Lights

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Atlas Sound (Fleetwood Mac cover)- Walk a Thin Line

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I missed Sunday. Luckily, on this weekend, Monday is the new Sunday. Also, it’s okay, because I make up the rules.

Dark Night of the Soul- Insane Lullaby (ft. James Mercer)

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Slow Club- Me and You

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The Rural Alberta Advantage- Barnesyard

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Those Darlins- Wild One

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Mates of State- What it Means

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Pterodactyl- December

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Animal Collective- Who Could Win a Rabbit

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Page Frace- Junkyard

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Portugal the Man- People Say

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Regina Spektor- Dance Anthem of the 80s

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Yeasayer- Red Cave

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