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February 28, 2008

Animal Collective Prep New EP, Pose For New Photo

It feels like we're still savoring the flavor of Strawberry Jam, but Animal Collective are already returning with a new four-track EP, Water Curses. According to the press release:

All four tracks have a more stripped down feel than their recent work, opener "Water Curses" takes an unexpected rhythm and throws it up, down and sideways to produce the sound of a smile...

"Street Flash" is nearly seven minutes of spaced out hollers, electronics and lullabies that luxuriate in a chord sequence running through a delay that sounds like it's made of honey. Threatening to explode but laying back on itself instead the track is like a particularly lucid dream.

"Cobwebs" is equally languid. Weaving itself around a vocal that sounds like it's imagining some new kind of space church for Al Green to conduct weddings until it slowly fades away into a sticky ether. The EP's final track takes the celestial feel into even more blissed-out states. Seal Eyeing is the moment you realize watching vapor trails melt into the sky is not only the most constructive thing you can do, but the only real option that's left.

We haven't heard it so we can't give it a review, but Maxim says it's meh. Here's a tracklist and a new photo of the band looking creepy:

Animal Collective - Water Curses

OK, not as creepy as the "Peacebone" video. The tracks:

01 Water Curses
02 Street Flash
03 Cobwebs
04 Seal Eyeing

Too bad "Taste" didn't make it. The first three were recorded with Scott Colburn at Wavelab Studio in Tucson. Right, the same place where they put Strawberry Jam to tape. "Seal Eyeing" was recorded by Nicolas Vernhes, who also mixed the album at Rare Book Room in Brooklyn. Remember to catch 'em at All Points West.

Water Curses is out 5/6 on Domino.

Posted at 4:49 PM
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22 Comments

meanwhile, meh

Posted by: ook at 02/28/08 5:15 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Meh? Fucking meh?
For Animal Collective?
Your mother is meh.
Animal Collective is one of the few bands right now doing anything remotely important/groundbreaking.
Most current bands are simply regurgitating their influences without any originality.
Meh? Fuck y'all.

Posted by: Christopher at 02/28/08 5:40 PM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

meh is right. their music is ok, not extraordinary; they are weird for weird's sake

Posted by: algreen at 02/28/08 6:33 PM | Reply
Score = -2 Vote up Vote down

They were weird. Now they are genius.

Posted by: Eduardo at 02/28/08 6:45 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

They were weird, now they are geniuses.

Posted by: Eduardo at 02/28/08 6:46 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

I'm pretty sure the "meh" thing in the post was a joke.

Posted by: mike at 02/28/08 6:48 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

hate this band

Posted by: ac sucks at 02/28/08 6:48 PM | Reply
Score = -3 Vote up Vote down

Taste is for the upcoming album, these are Strawberry Jam leftovers.

Posted by: øl at 02/28/08 6:48 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

wasn't joking.

strawberry jam is just pointless yelling MEH-ness

it's not weird for weird it's just lame


Posted by: ook at 02/28/08 7:19 PM | Reply
Score = -2 Vote up Vote down

I can't wait. I wanna hear them right now. Shit.

Posted by: Eduardo at 02/28/08 7:24 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

a joke on maxim, get it?

Posted by: elvis at 02/28/08 7:42 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

So Taste isn't on the EP; perhaps we'd do well to leave it off the pontification stand. Dig it.

Posted by: Matt McVickar at 02/28/08 7:59 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

i love this band. for the record, taste should appear on the newest LP, which they are already recording, according to deakin on the recently defunct AC board

Posted by: Brent at 02/28/08 8:05 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Why should I believe anything Maxim writes?

Posted by: serge at 02/28/08 9:21 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

anyone who doesn't like animal collective doesn't understand animal collective.

"ohhhh, it's just noise!" or "oh, they're just trying to be weird."

morons, you'll like animal collective when you're smart enough, and can appreciate innovation, complex melodies, creativity, and brilliance...

in the meantime, go back to listening to your mediocre band of horses and beirut albums..

Posted by: James at 02/29/08 1:09 AM | Reply
Score = 2 Vote up Vote down

let meh be meh

Posted by: flecton big sky at 02/29/08 9:29 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

Trust me when i say Maxim hasn't heard a second of this EP...

Posted by: Peter at 02/29/08 10:52 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

oh burn.

Posted by: dunc at 03/05/08 5:11 AM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

While Animal Collective is one of my favourite bands, that press release is truly sickening.

Posted by: Edley at 03/05/08 11:08 AM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

sexy

Posted by: mike at 03/06/08 12:49 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

James, I'm still laughing at your comment.

"you'll like animal collective when you're smart enough, and can appreciate innovation, complex melodies, creativity, and brilliance.."

LULZ!!1!


Posted by: Les at 03/06/08 2:32 PM | Reply
Score = 0 Vote up Vote down

calling music "weird" and being done with it is a pretty easy thing to do. i haven't heard many reasons for what's actually bad about animal collective's music.

Posted by: charlie at 03/06/08 5:56 PM | Reply
Score = 1 Vote up Vote down

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