A limited-edition album later reissued by English label Fat Cat, 2000’s Spirit They’re Gone, Spirit They’ve Vanished may be the group’s most abstract and polarizing work. Spirit begins with a blast of digital static, perhaps to weed out anyone searching for a Hot 100 single.  

 Migraine triggers abound: hammer-on-drainpipe percussion, extremely high-pitched electronics, chaotic arrangements that suggest Animal Collective might have set a dozen gibbons loose on Pro Tools just to see what would happen. But for the very patient, there’s also moments of real beauty. 

 Migraine triggers abound: hammer-on-drainpipe percussion, extremely high-pitched electronics, chaotic arrangements that suggest Animal Collective might have set a dozen gibbons loose on Pro Tools just to see what would happen. But for the very patient, there’s also moments of real beauty. 

 The group abandoned electronic instrumentation completely for 2003’s stripped-down Campfire Songs, its only real foray into neo-folk. The album title may be sarcastic: with no choruses and no drums, there’s nothing amongst the ambient strumming that Boy Scouts could sing along to.  

 The group abandoned electronic instrumentation completely for 2003’s stripped-down Campfire Songs, its only real foray into neo-folk. The album title may be sarcastic: with no choruses and no drums, there’s nothing amongst the ambient strumming that Boy Scouts could sing along to.  

 Animal Collective explored a more studio-labored recording process on Here Comes the Indian with far more claustrophobic results than Campfire Songs (released the same year).  

 Animal Collective explored a more studio-labored recording process on Here Comes the Indian with far more claustrophobic results than Campfire Songs (released the same year).  

 Artfully fractured but still brimming with sunny pop, 2004’s Sung Tongs smeared together choirboy harmonies, open-tuned folk hymns, hypnotic drumming and gentle kraut-rock undulations into a marvelous Day-Glo tapestry.  

 Artfully fractured but still brimming with sunny pop, 2004’s Sung Tongs smeared together choirboy harmonies, open-tuned folk hymns, hypnotic drumming and gentle kraut-rock undulations into a marvelous Day-Glo tapestry.  

 On 2005’s Feels, melodies and snippets of discernable lyrics drift in and out of focus like sailboats through a fog. Bursts of angry reverb interrupt calm autoharp strums. Animalistic yelps give way to soothing, sparkling electronics.  

 On 2005’s Feels, melodies and snippets of discernable lyrics drift in and out of focus like sailboats through a fog. Bursts of angry reverb interrupt calm autoharp strums. Animalistic yelps give way to soothing, sparkling electronics.  

 2007’s Strawberry Jam broadened Animal Collective’s appeal even further: This was a true rock & roll record – for them, at least. More than any of their other works, the vocals are dry and clear, pushed to the front of the mix so that actual lyrics are easily discernable for the first time.  

 2007’s Strawberry Jam broadened Animal Collective’s appeal even further: This was a true rock & roll record – for them, at least. More than any of their other works, the vocals are dry and clear, pushed to the front of the mix so that actual lyrics are easily discernable for the first time.  

 The band’s breakthrough album, 2009’s Merriweather Post Pavillion, was the apotheosis of its talent. It’s certainly their most listener-friendly album, loaded up with glistening synths, kaleidoscopic whirls, and gleeful daisy-chain rhythms.  

 The band’s breakthrough album, 2009’s Merriweather Post Pavillion, was the apotheosis of its talent. It’s certainly their most listener-friendly album, loaded up with glistening synths, kaleidoscopic whirls, and gleeful daisy-chain rhythms.