I’m an independent journalist, and I'm currently writing a thinkpiece for a popular website outlining the problematic aspects of the band, and flirting with the idea having social media amass a solidarity-army to have media channels deplatform Animal Collective. I've basically been working on it ever since I saw that guy in the Animal Collective shirt knock out that anti-racist protester a while ago.
The gist of my article so far is that Animal Collective is implicitly racist, which is actually more pernicious than "blatant" racism because dudebro allies give the band a pass under the guise of them "technically not being racist."
But when you really look at what the band is about, they don't look so apolitical afterall.
There's their song about “(opening) up your throat” (A popular dogwhistle among fascists.)
There's the libertarian imagery and blatantly nationalist lyrics on Strawberry Jam (and nationalism is literally the father of fascism). "It's family beaches I desire/A sacred night, we'll watch the fireworks"?? Combined with the racist-sounding synthesizer riffs in songs like “Derek,” it's no real mystery why so many Animal Collective dudebros are secretly or openly into white supremacy.
There's also the fact Animal Collective music has been used to torture Iraqi civilians at Guantanamo bay, which converges in a disturbing way with the pro-war lyrics in songs like “Sweet Road.”
Finally, I've uncovered some actual racist, socially darwinistic lyrics in their early albums.
From "Spirit They've Vanished":
“Round a name/In the faceless age"
"In the faceless age"? Seriously?
Basically, it's time to realize experimental music has a bigger nazi problem than a handful of obscure noise bands. Sometimes the popular blonde jock guy has views that are just as shitty as the views of incels, and Animal Collective is proof of that. And I'm tired of them going unchecked.
If anyone has anymore evidence I can use for my article, let me know.
