Grizzly Bear photo by Ahmed Klink"Brothersport" was the first earful the downloading public got of Merriweather Post Pavilion, Animal Collective's forthcoming follow-up to 2007's most excellent Strawberry Jam. But we weren't supposed to hear it quite yet. Merriweather Post Pavilion comes out January 12 in the UK and January 20 Stateside."Brothersport" made its way to the internet well before Animal Collective's label Domino intended it to. The members of Grizzly Bear got their hands on the track and linked to it from the blog on their website this past Wednesday, with singer/songwriter Ed Droste noting that he hadn't "fallen in love with an Animal Collective song so hard since 'Leaf House'!"But the love was fleeting, thanks to the internet's own Inspector Clouseau, the Web Sheriff. According to a message from the Web Sheriff posted on the Grizzly Bear blog [via Stereogum], the Sheriff accused the Grizzly Bear blog of serving as the "global-leak-source of the track." The message continued, "As such, both the individuals collectively trading/performing as 'Grizzly Bear' and, indeed, yourself are personally liable for to our said clients for all commercial and other losses arising from this blatant act of piracy." ("Our said clients" means Animal Collective.)The band took down the MP3 of the tune, and posted an apology to Animal Collective, Domino, and the Web Sheriff, as mandated by the Sheriff. The text of the apology: "Following contact from Web Sheriff, we can confirm that Grizzly Bear has withdrawn its stream of unreleased material by the Domino Records artist Animal Collective: Grizzly Bear wish to apologize to Animal Collective, Domino and Web Sheriff for the disruption caused to their marketing and release plans by this leak."The Sheriff continued, "As you will appreciate, this is no laughing matter and, as such, should you refuse or otherwise fail to comply with the above request, we would ask you, in the alternative, to simply provide us with the details of the US attorneys, UK solicitors, French advocats and German advocats whom you would instruct in relation to the service of such multi-jurisdictional proceedings as shall ensue."The band are required to keep the apology up on their site for a week.Neither Grizzly Bear, Domino, nor Animal Collective had a comment on the matter, though Domino did confirm that they hired the Web Sheriff. Many labels use the Web Sheriff to combat leaks; hell, we wouldn't be surprised if Warp uses it (him?) for the next Grizzly Bear album.Speaking of that next Grizzly Bear album, the band members are currently recording their follow-up to 2006's Yellow House and last year's Friend EP, and if they're not in internet prison by then, they'll join Final Fantasy and the Brooklyn Philharmonic February 28 at the BAM Howard Gilman Opera House.Animal Collective, meanwhile, take to the road in January.read more