I think they are doing what the Beatles, Beach Boys, Grateful Dead and other bands did for music years ago. I think they are making rock and roll with the new tools modern technology have to offer, but their music is still has an organic quality.
There is definitely a strong Brian Wilson/Beach Boys influence to their music. Yeah, it is basically modern-day psychedelic music played with electronics versus traditional instruments like guitars and drums. My feelings about Animal Collective are sort of mixed. I like some of what they've done (like MPP), while some of their other stuff I have found rather annoying and juvenile. They are pushing the boundaries, though, which is more than I can say for some bands.
Dude you should check out everything after 2004. Sung Tongs, Feels, Strawberry Jam, and their ep's and solo projects such as Person Pitch, Tomboy, and Down There. I think MPP was intentionally their most accesible release, but try listening to their older stuff again. I think the juvenile part of their music is sort of the appeal of the band. A lot of their songs evoke that sense of child like wonder. I think they are sort of the last band I can think of that has given rise to entire genres of music. I agree they are making modern psychadelic music, but like the Beatles gave rise to so many new types of bands, I think Animal Collective has done the same. The whole chillwave movement (love it or hate it) was sort of a spin off of Animal Collectives approach to music.
Oh. My. Goddess!!! This is awesome, I am currently downloading the entire Discography that is how much I am digging this!!! Thank you!!!!! Anyone here like Reptar or Cults? If you haven't heard of them they're both on YouTube, saw them in concert with Foster the People and fell in love with both bands.
