My bed is a pool and the wall's on fire.

Bonjour mes amis! Welcome to another week of Looks Like Coffee, Tastes Like Juice goodness. This week has been particularly fruitful in the world of music, with releases from Animal Collective (you have NO idea how strongly I feel about this) and The Steps. Jesus, in hindsight, it really hasn't been a fruitful week for the music world. I guess that we'll have to make the best of it. So, enjoy. Onward, Russia!

The Steps' Steps

If you live outside Austin, Texas, or Japan, you most likely don't know who The Steps are. Hey, you might not even care. This is my blog though, so I'm going to tell you about The Steps.

From www.wearethesteps.com

The Steps are: Will Thompson (vocals and guitar), Sam Thompson (lead guitar), Stephen Ross (bass), and Z Lynch (drums). In 2005, the band took flight on a journey to bring a classic sound back to modern rock. Making their home in Austin, a city with a voracious appetite for music, The Steps became darlings of the rock scene with their incendiary live performances.

In 2007, The Steps went into the studio with producer Chris "Frenchie" Smith (Dandy Warhols, IV Thieves) and emerged with an album that caught immediate international attention. Young and Lost Club Records in the UK released a 7" vinyl single, Outlaw, in November 2007. Shortly thereafter, Japanese label, Kurofune Records decided to release the full album. Having toured both countries, The Steps continue to prove their mettle on the world stage.

I suppose you know the band just as well as I do now, but it's impossible to really KNOW the band, without hearing their debut record, The Steps. The Steps is, essentially, a good record, but it is made even better by the little tidbits of other bands that can be uncovered once you sit and peel through the music. My personal favorite track on the album, Cold Floors, screams with echoes of Jonathan Richman (of The Modern Lovers) mixed with the angst-ridden wails of Mick Jagger. Yes, you can make your Strokes comparisons here, but just try and tell me that The Steps aren't an original band, and I'll call you a filthy liar. Sure, they've obviously borrowed concepts and attitudes (and maybe even some chord progressions?!) from other very well known bands, but The Steps create something that is, described at best, exciting to listen to. One could mask this spark of originality under heaps of comparisons, but it remains clear; The Steps are a band who are at least worth listening to. Besides, if Will Thompson's perfectly idiomatic drawl doesn't make you want to keep listening, there is not much I can do.

Regular readers of this blog will know, though, that I don't really know much. So, don't take my word for it. You can download two tracks from the album below.

Cold Floors - The Steps

Dagger - The Steps

You can purchase the album here.

Animal Collective's Merriweather Post Pavillion

Okay, here's the deal. I was going to review this record. Honestly! I'm not just being lazy! I sat down, listened to it, and wrote down a slew, a cornucopia, of wonderful things to say, glowing words of praise. But, c'mon, EVERY OTHER FUCKING BLOG IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE HAS REVIEWED THIS RECORD! Most of them have proclaimed the same thing as well, "This is the best album of 2009." Even though we're only 11 days into 2009, they're probably right. This album IS amazing. It's fantastic, it's a reason for people who don't enjoy Animal Collective to take umbrage, because I can't think of any reason why one wouldn't be pleased to hear this record.

The album starts with a susurrus, and ends (dear God) with the melting of some major organs. Don't really understand what I mean? Here, I'll show you.

Summertime Clothes - Animal Collective

Bluish - Animal Collective

Animal Collective definitely proves that blips and bleeps, screaming and Strawberry Jam, can most likely be the most canorous thing I've ever heard.

Here's the awe-inspiring Pitchfork review. I really didn't think I had a chance against it.

Nearing the end of this post, I'd like to offer a little foreshadowing:
Exams are drawing near. This, being my first year of highschool, is going to be my first set of exams, and I'm a little frightened. Therefore, if you don't find there is the usually plethora of posts up here, don't be alarmed, it'll all be over soon.

Until ... tomorrow!