Brooklyn Vegan — NY MAGAZINE: What was 2010's cultural highlight for you? Oliver Platt: Panda Bear's "Slow Motion" [B-side to July's 7" single "Tomboy"]. I'm a huge Animal Collective fan, and frankly, if Animal Collective had released something this year, it would be... more info

Totally Fuzzy — G O D said... FROSTY THE SNOWMAN -VOLUMES ONE AND TWO-Over 70 versions of the Xmas chestnut,in every concievable style,compiled in 20 degree weather in Florida!Drive everyone nuts,while singing along.Great fun,many spoofs,and adult versions,as well a... more info

We All Want Someone To Shout For — I’m a little bit backed up on the music news, but I’m playing catch up. Word is that Deakin is officially back in Animal Collective. I couldn’t be happier to hear that. I’m excited to hear his guitars in Animal Collective’s music once again... more info

Stereogum — After a sabbatical that saw him miss Animal Collective’s biggest crossover to date via Merriweather Post Pavilion, Josh Deakin has officially returned to the fold, according to P4K. By ATP 2009 the band was hinting that his time away was coming to ... more info

Radio Exile — Braids from Montreal once jokingly described their sound as “Textural groove-based aggressive pop” and has been compared to bands like Animal Collective & Caribou. But Braids brings to the table a fresh yet familiar sound of dreamy, shoegazy pop-... more info

NME — Acts will join Pulp at the Barcelona event more info

Guardian Music — After years of honing their tight harmonies, southern Californians Local Natives are breaking out. But they've suffered a few comparisons too manyImagine a band that sings harmonies like Fleet Foxes. Whose arrangements twist and turn like Grizzly Bea... more info

Guardian Music — The dexterous songcraft of these Oxford lads gets lost in live translation. So don't read them the riot actHometown: Oxford.The lineup: Jack Goldstein, Roo Bhasin, Michael Thompson, Christopher Dawson, Jason Warner.The background: You often hear it s... more info

Brooklyn Vegan — photos by Tim Griffin Deakin "This solo project from Animal Collective's Deakin (or Deacon, or Josh Dibb) was just as psychedelic, but in more of a dub vein, with spacey, ambient guitar over echoing reverberating distorted drum-pad beats. A pair... more info

Stereogum — The 2-Disc Tradi-Mods Vs. Rockers: Alternative Takes On Congotronics finds “indie rock” (and etc.) folks like Animal Collective, Micachu & The Shapes, Andrew Bird, Optimo, Oneida, Deerhoof, and Megafaun remixing and/or covering songs from Congotr... more info