New Animal Collective is Unbelievable

Animal Collective's 8th studio album, Merriweather Post Pavillion, is due to drop Jan. 20th. There are very high expectations sorrounding the album--according to Panda Bear it's their best recorded album--and the first couple tracks that have been released are pretty damn fine. "Brothersport" is my early pick for track of 2009. It is pure bliss from the first synth line

I've only become a fan of Animal Collective after Strawberry Jam but I'm convinced they are the most innovative band out there.

This video courtesy of Pitchfork Media

Download "Brother Sport" Here

My Stereogum Award Picks

Stereogum announced earlier this week their 3rd annual Gummy Awards. Vote for yours. Below you'll find my choices.

Top 3 Albums

1. Vampire Weekend -Vampire Weekend

- it just never gets old

2. Ra Ra Riot - Rhumb Line

- Vampire Weekend meets Arcade Fire

3. Portishead - Third

- haunting masterpiece

Best Music Video

"Pork and Beans" - Weezer

-there might not be a better music video ever filmed

Best Live Act

Radiohead

- simple fantastic live

Indie Rock Crushes

Ezra Koenig

- you could just eat him up with a spoon

Santi White (Santogold)

- there is just something irresistible about her music and the way she carries herself

Most Overrated Act

Kings of Leon

- I just don't get it

Best Blog That Isn't Stereogum

Hype Machine

- very helpful

Best TV Show

1. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia

-best show on TV

2. 30 Rock

-Tina Fey doesn't get enough credit

3. Colbert Report

- never gets old

Best Movies

1. Dark Knight

- really?

2. Juno

- I'm not proud, but you just can't not like this film

3. Iron Man

- it was just such a man movie

My Visit to the 2008 mtvU Woodie Awards

Last week mtvU recognized the hottest acts on college campuses in 2008 at the fifth-annual Woodie Awards in New York City. College students across the country cast over 5 million votes online to determine the winners and Paramore, the pop-punk band from Tenn., took home the big prize—Woodie of the Year.

Tyson Ritter, lead singer of the All American Rejects announced the winner by tearing his shirt to reveal the winner’s name written on his bare chest.

“I’m the first girl in a band to get a Woodie!” exclaimed Paramore’s lead singer, Hayley Williams, upon accepting the award from the All American Rejects.

Other Woodie winners included There For Tomorrow (Breaking Woodie), Chromeo (Left Field Woodie), Motion City Soundtrack (Best Video Woodie), and Jack’s Mannequin (Good Woodie).

The Nov. 22 show featured powerful performances from the likes of Vampire Weekend, Santogold, Chromeo All Time Low, Lykke Li, The Cool Kids, Asher Roth, DJ A-Trak, and a surprise performance from Q-Tip.

Andrew McMahon, the brains behind Jack’s Mannequin and leukemia survivor, won the Good Woodie for the Dear Jack Foundation he began to fund cancer research.

McMahon said he established the charity when he realized he had a lot of fans who were very passionate about the cause of blood leukemia.

“We just try to do our best to make sure that someone who encounters what I encountered that they’ll be closer to a cure,” said McMahon.

Motion City Soundtrack’s “It Had to be You” award-winning music video was unique because it was directed by a Texas A & M student who won a music video contest.

When indie kings, Vampire Weekend performed their newest single “Kids Don’t Stand a Chance,” P-Thugg (Patrick Gemayel) of Chromeo was right alongside them on keyboard fully-equipped with a talk-box. Vampire Weekend finished their set with “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.”

Hip-hop artist Asher Roth kicked off the night with “I Love College” before crowd-surfing to the Cool Kids’ performance of “Delivery Man.” Lykke Li was joined on stage by surprise guest, Q-Tip, for a hip-hop collaboration of “Can I Kick It” by Tribe Called Quest of which Q-Tip was a member. Pop-punk upstarts All Time Low were joined by scantily clad dancers for “Dear Maria” and “Poppin Champagne.” Woodie of the Year nominee, Santogold performed her hit “L.E.S. Artistes” before Naeem Juwan of Spank Rock joined her for “Shove it.”

A half-hour special “Best of the mtvU Woodie Awards” will air on Nov. 21 at 7 pm on MTV2 and Nov. 22 at 10 pm on MTV.

Read more about Joe's and my night here.