Side Projects:

Avey Tare – Down There

David Portner has been a bit of a vagabond in his musical career. He’s worked on a few different side projects under the aliases Avey Tare, Avey Tare and Kria Brekkan, Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks, and Terrestrial Tones. Each projects carries a vastly different sound and each only has a discography of about one album. Down There sets itself apart, for these purposes, because it is pure Animal Collective to the core. You’ll find yourself, partially confusedly, swaying your head in bliss and abstract enjoyment. Once again, the vocals, no matter how distorted, are uniquely impressive over layers of melodies drenched in otherworldly synth. However eerily enjoyable it may be, Down There also works to satisfy Animal Collective fans’ in their darker moods.

You’ll Like This If: You always wanted to know what it would sound like to bring a herd of synths and pedals into a swamp cave on a cloudy day.

Fave Tracks: Ghost Books, 3 Umbrellas

Avey Tare’s Slasher Flicks – Enter the Slasher House

Slasher Flicks makes the cut for one reason and one reason only – it’s a bonafide indie supergroup. The band pulls members from past or present iterations of Animal Collective (David Portner), Dirty Projectors (Angel Deradoorian) and Ponytail (Jeremy Hyman). With a lineup like that, something spectacular is bound to be the result. In this case, that spectacular sound comes in the form of a classic horror-flick inspired album bouncier and more upbeat than most Animal Collective releases.

Listen If You Like: Any of the bands associated with this album or horror movies.

Fave Tracks: Modern Days E, Strange Colores

Deakin – “Mirando” Remix (Ratatat)

As far as Animal Collective members go, Deakin (not to be confused with Dan Deacon – it really happens) has been pretty quiet when it comes to solo material. Deakin has done a couple of remixes to note, and this remix of “Mirando” by Ratatat is not to be ignored. Deakin stretches the song from about four minutes to just shy of than ten in a style that’s similar to, well, Dan Deacon. It’s everything you could ever hope for in a remix and is a refreshing digression from the classic Animal Collective sound.

You’ll Love This If: You love Ratatat, Dan Deacon, RJD2

Panda Bear – Tomboy

Noah Lennox, more commonly known as Panda Bear, like Avey Tare, has kept himself busy with solo work for quite some time now. You’ve probably heard news of him making a splash in the indie music world the past couple of months with the release of his latest album, Panda Bear Meets the Grim Reaper, on January 9. While the new ‘bum is certainly salacious, longtime Animal Collective fans will always hold Tomboy near and dear to their hearts.

Within Animal Collective, Panda Bear’s primary roles are to contribute melodies alongside Avey Tare as well as to provide rhythms. This dynamic is entirely apparent throughout Tomboy, which seamlessly highlights melody and rhythm in a way that’s irresistible.

You’ll Love This If: You love Ariel Pink, Ava Luna, and effectively competing melodic and rhythmic sections.

Fave Tracks: You Can Count on Me, Last Night at the Jetty, Alsatian Darn

Paw Tracks

 You caught me – this isn’t Animal Collective and it’s not a side project, per say. Paw Tracks is the record label started by the members of the band and now racking up a catalog of artists including Ariel Pink, Tickley Feather, and so many more. Paw Tracks might require a Beginner’s Guide of its own, so for now let’s just close this on a trashy note: