The expectation surround Animal Collective’s forthcoming album, Merriweather Post Pavilion, is already reaching ridiculous levels. The amount of threads about leaks on the band’s unofficial message board has spiraled out of control, and there is allegedly a cell phone recording of the album doing the rounds. Yes, you did read that right. Someone recorded the album on their cell phone, presumably at one of the listening parties the band has been holding.

Meanwhile, the band is working on a film, in association with longtime Black Dice/Animal Collective collaborator Danny Perez. Dave Portner (a.k.a. Avey Tare) told Billboard that it’s going to be a "visual record. The lines were really blurry when we started. It was going to be a film, like a feature film, but by no means a narrative.” He also says the band is recording demos for the soundtrack to the film.

In addition to the band's short January tour, they have also just announced an extra “secret” show in New York City. Animal Collective will be playing a venue they’ve now outgrown, the Bowery Ballroom, on January 21st. Tickets will be on sale via this link on Ticketmaster, but you need a password, which no one seems to have yet. Check the comments in this Brooklyn Vegan thread for the anguish it’s causing.

The band will appear at the following venues in January:

01.20 New York, NY: Grand Ballroom
01.21 New York, NY: Bowery Ballroom
01.22 Chicago, IL: Metro
01.23 Los Angeles: CA - Fonda