Animal Collective

Animal Collective is a New York City based group of like-minded individuals from Baltimore, Maryland. The group consists of Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Deakin, and Geologist, though the lineup varies from album to album. They all met at school

Animal Collective is a New York City based group of like-minded individuals from Baltimore, Maryland. The group consists of Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Deakin, and Geologist, though the lineup varies from album to album. They all met at school and started recording from a young age, playing in various bands, but they all came back to one another in the end. Although the band is often classified as psych folk or noise rock, it is hard to define the Animal Collective sound as they often experiment with new styles and ideas. Other related artists are Terrestrial Tones, Panda Bear (solo), Avey Tare (solo) and Jane. The group also runs the record label Paw Tracks on which they have released their own material as well as material by artists such as Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti and the Peppermints.

The Animal Collective grew out of the roots of childhood friendships in Baltimore County. Panda Bear and Deakin had met in the second grade and became good friends. Panda went away to Pennsylvania for high school, while Deakin attended the Park School where Avey Tare and recent Philadelphia transplant Geologist went. Avey, Geologist and Deakin were in an Indie Rock band called Automind with other schoolmates. Deakin introduced Panda to Avey and Geologist. The four of them played music in different variations and often solo, swapping homemade recordings and sharing ideas.