After more than two decades of collaborative work with Animal Collective, Brian Weitz, known by his musical alias Geologist, has announced his first solo studio album, *Can I Get a Pack of Camel Lights?*, set for release on January 30, 2026, through Drag City Records.
With this debut, Weitz becomes the final member of Animal Collective to release a solo project, ending his distinction as the only holdout in the experimental group’s lineup.
Brian Weitz completes the solo discography puzzle for Animal Collective with his long-awaited independent debut.
The album’s sound centers around the overdriven hurdy-gurdy, an unusual choice inspired by Weitz’s transformative experience watching Japanese experimental musician Keiji Haino perform at New York City venue Tonic in 1998. The video for “Tonic” was directed by Molten Synapse, showcasing the song’s experimental aesthetic. This influence is directly referenced in the album’s lead single “Tonic,” which was recently released alongside an official music video. The track features contributions from Animal Collective bandmate David “Avey Tare” Portner on bass and drummer Alianna Kalaba providing rhythmic foundation.
Weitz has described the album’s conceptual approach as imagining “an 80s SST Records hurdy-gurdy album produced by Ethan James,” creating a dense, propulsive sound that blends his signature experimental techniques with electronic distortion. The underwater qualities in several tracks showcase his mastery of sweeping filters to create immersive, submerged soundscapes. The album will showcase a diverse roster of musical collaborators, including Emma Garau and Ryan Oslance on drums, Shane McCord on clarinets, and Mikey Powers contributing cello. The five-track album includes songs titled “Oracle Road,” “Tonic,” “RV Envy,” “Not Trad,” and “Color in the B&W,” emphasizing instrumental compositions over vocal work.
In support of the release, Geologist will launch on a limited tour in late 2025, with performances scheduled in Washington, DC, New York, NY, and Baltimore, MD. These shows are expected to showcase his solo hurdy-gurdy drone performances alongside material from the forthcoming album, presenting fans with a new dimension of his musicianship outside the collective environment.
The album represents a significant artistic step for Weitz, who has adapted his teenage guitar-based influences into a distinctive sound fusing post-punk energy with experimental drone elements.
His solo venture maintains connections to his Animal Collective work while establishing an independent creative identity centered on textural exploration and sonic innovation. Fans can engage with Weitz’s creative journey through a pre-save campaign that will provide early access to exclusive content before the album’s official release date.
