In just a few days, on November 23rd, there will be a new Animal Collective release upon us. And although we’ve only heard snippets of the Fall Be Kind EP in all it’s polyphonic glory, we’d like to think that the sparkle and carnival whirring of “Graze” is a good indicator that nothing—save for maybe Bob Dylan’s psychotic new Christmas album—is going to able get that sucker out of our hi-fi until the holidays have finally wound down. Check it out above. (via Stereogum)

It’s also a little bit insane. But then again, that’s one of the simpler ways of explaining one’s love for Animal Collective. Dave “Avey Tare” Portner’s sister Abby Portner did the directing honors and she hit this one out of the park, maybe the atmosphere. It’s warm, it’s playful, it’s great. Check it out for yourself above.

After years of their moniker simply being, well, a moniker, Animal Collective finally puts that silly music riff-raff on hold to collectively help animals. They’ve teamed up with PETA to present a PSA against Canada’s slaughter of seals, a cause that has been of particular interest to PETA in relation to the public attention to Vancouver for their hosting of the 2010 Olympics (a campaign they’re calling OlympicShame2010). The band comes across as both earnest and reasonably knowledgeable, as it turns out Brian has some background in both environmental work and marine biology. Also, if you don’t like your bands to have any interests outside of music, the clip does use “My Girls.” However, the end is NSFW unless you work at a place where watching a baby seal take it just for chillin’ on his ice patch is normal. Also, if it is, please get a new job immediately and consider taking a few weeks of to search your soul.

(Via: I Guess I’m Floating)

The 10″. An odd format. It doesn’t have the shoe-box currency and the hallowed history of the 7″, nor the expansiveness of the 12″, but damned if it’ll go away. Animal Collective know a thing or two about neglected formats. The band recorded their soon-to-be-reissued album Campfire Songs and many of the tracks on the immediatly unavailable Crack Box to the once touted MiniDisc format. (Thx, Sony!) And now comes another 10″. This time a single for MPP’s “Brothersport,” backed with “Bleeding,” which was called “Bleed” when it first surfaced back in May. Rumor has it that Animal Collective have added a whole bunch of “-ing” to “Bleed” to concoct “Bleeding.” There are a few versions of “Bleeding” floating around the web, and while the three minute DC version has its moments, any space traveler worth his weight in cosmic glitter knows you go with the 11+ minute ambient trip. Behold below!

Animal Collective, Bleeding (Live @ Henry Miller Library)

MP3 Download

We’re not going to lie. We’ve never actually seen the MTVU Woodie Awards. But then again, we don’t live in a dorm, so it sort of makes sense. We do remember the channel incessantly playing My Morning Jacket and E-40 back in the day, so they’re OK by us. And it seems logical enough MTV’s college version would get its own little baby VMAs. MTV just announced the nominations, and it seems Asher Roth is finally being rewarded for recording a generic (edit: offensive) song replicating the college experience. About damn time. But more in our lane, Grizzly Bear and Animal Collective have been nominated for a Breaking Woodie and a Performing Woodie respectively. Matt & Kim are up for a Best Video Woodie. And Jay Reatard (along with the likes of Major Lazer, Janelle Monae & Tech N9ne) are up for a Left Field Woodie, which we have yet to Wikipedia but would seem the only qualification might involve being inherently bizarre and happening to make incredible music. So we’re for it. Put those four in a room and film it and we’ll watch it over whatever replaced TRL any day. Done and done. The show takes place December 4th. Hopefully Matt (or Kim) will storm the stage (naked?) and grab the mic from Wale or someone in a fit of Brooklyn pride and demand a recount for Grizzly Bear. Full nominations here. (Via: MTV)