There is a band of revelrous young men, spreading cheer and ambience and wide-eyed wild wishing, like farmers spread seed to make dwindling crops grow. In this case, the farmers are grown men who harbour a fascination with strawberry jam, and have opted out of using the names their tentatively caucasian, middle-aged mothers game them, instead preferring the heartwarming titles of Avey Tare, Panda Bear, Deakin, and Geologist. This collection of revelrous creatures? Animal Collective.
Hailing from their Baltimore, Maryland home of ... well, Baltimore, Maryland, these four young men need not be introduced. If pieces of art that are titled Strawberry Jam, Merriweather Post Pavilion and Feels don't ring a bell for you, you need a new fucking bell. Animal Collective have been wildly and rightfully successful in 2009, releasing their most-acclaimed record to date. An Animal Collective fan, also known as someone difficult to find in a room filled with cardigans, knows one thing about this band, if they know anything. After every gracious album these men release, an EP must follow, still orbiting the themes and the sounds of the album that spawned it. The interesting trait of these almost expected EPs is that each one is equally reverent and independent as any album the band has produced. Fall Be Kind is no exception.
Fall Be Kind, the title of their new EP, and if fall was kind to them (ambient sunshine pop on the Billboard 100? That's beyond kind. That's life desiring to perform some blatantly sexual acts on them...), winter is looking just as hospitable. Beach Boy-esque rhythms, Richard Hell and the Voidoids exhilaration, and (this is the part where I stop comparing them to other people!) the exacerbated joy of pop that Animal Collective is known for bestowing are heavily 'stowed. There isn't much one can say of this EP besides, entertain a pair of shorts beneath your snow pants this winter, and a pair of headphones to circumnavigate your head, and you'll be just fine.
Good morning, world! Today is Sunday, one of my seven favourite days of the week, yet this Sunday is unique, as it is the very start of my Spring Break. With the amount of work, responsibilities (I have little, yet I enjoy complaining), and band practices weighing down on me like a enormous, atomic paperweight, I'm instantly illuminated thinking of the fact that it's over (for a week, at least). So without further adieu and bravado, have a ridiculously merry Sunday, and enjoy today's post.
Jack White Has Too Much Spare Time, I Think He Needs To Learn How To Do Sudoku/Yodel
As the subheading above these words states; Jack White has too much goddamn time on his blessed, musically adequate hands. So what does Jack White do with this surplus of time? Answer: He starts bands. These bands don't end up recording an EP, playing a mini-tour, and then disbanding. No, they become ludicrously popular, and awesome, i.e The White Stripes & The Raconteurs. Now it seems as if Jack White has canceled a lunch meeting somewhere, and had enough extraneous time to start a band. Good on you, Mr. White.
Jack White (of White Stripes fame), Allison Mosshart (of The Kills fame), Jack Lawrence (of The Raconteurs fame), and Dean Fertita (of Queens of the Stone Age fame) have decided to button up their coats, and form a band.
I'm, personally, intrigued by this band, and interested to hear the new album. Information below, sweethearts.
The stunningly hilarious (and hopefully somewhat sarcastic) interview above is of one of my favourite bands, Animal Collective. It actually offers some amazing insight into the band, yet I can't help but thinking that their answers may not be as serious as some would imagine.
Amazing Powers of Observation
Metric will be releasing a new album, entitled Fantasies.
There will be more information on this album in the upcoming days.
A Slew of Amazing Bands Decide To Ignore Michigan On Their North American Tours; This Humble Blogger Is Not Surprised.
St. Vincent Tour Dates:
03-18 Austin, TX - Central Presbyterian Church (SXSW) 03-20 Austin, TX - Antone's (SXSW) 05-19 Somerville, MA - Somerville Theatre 05-20 New York, NY - Webster Hall 05-21 Philadelphia, PA - Unitarian Church 05-22 Washington, DC - Black Cat 05-24 George, WA - Sasquatch! 05-25 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theater 05-27 San Francisco, CA - Bimbo's 365 Club 05-28 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre 05-30 San Diego, CA - Casbah 05-31 Phoenix, AZ - Modified 06-02 Denver, CO - Bluebird Theater 06-03 Omaha, NE - Slowdown Jr. 06-04 Minneapolis, MN - First Avenue 06-05 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theater 06-07 Chicago, IL - Epiphany 06-10 Lexington, KY - The Dame 06-11 Nashville, TN - Mercy Lounge 06-12 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo 06-16 Birmingham, AL - Bottle Tree 06-18 Dallas, TX - Granada Theatre 06-19 Austin, TX - Mohawk
No Age Tour Dates:
03-10 Phoenix, AZ - Modified 03-12 Flagstaff, AZ - Tacos Lacos 03-14 Albuquerque, NM - 1Kind Studios 03-16 Lubbock, TX - Bash Riprocks 03-19 Austin, TX - Bourbon Rocks (Sub Pop SXSW showcase) 04-02 Wellesley, MA - TBA 04-03 Saratoga Springs, NY - TBA 04-04 Iowa City, IA - The Picador 04-17 Indio, CA - Coachella 05-15 Portland, OR - Worksound 05-16 Eugene, OR - TBA
Grizzly Bear & TV on the Radio Tour Dates:
05-24 Portland, OR - Aladdin Theatre 05-25 Gorge, WA - Sasquatch Festival 05-26 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballroom 05-28 New York, NY - Town Hall 05-29 New York, NY - Town Hall 06-01 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club 06-02 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero 06-03 Boston, MA - Berklee Performance Center 06-04 Montreal, Quebec - Le National 06-05 Toronto, Ontario - Phoenix 06-07 Minneapolis, MN - Cedar Cultural Center 06-08 Milwaukee, WI - Pabst Theatre 06-09 Bloomington , IN - Buskirk - Chumley Theater 06-11 Carrboro , NC - Cat's Cradle 06-12 Manchester, TN - Bonnaroo Festival 06-13 Atlanta, GA - Tabernacle * 06-15 Dallas, TX - Grenada 06-16 Austin, TX - The Parish 06-19 Los Angeles, CA - Wiltern 06-21 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore 07-19 Chicago, IL - Pitchfork Music Festival
What's that? A competent artist that doesn't want to neglect Detroit (& her surrounding area)? I'll believe it when I see it... Oh God! There it is!
Bonnie "Prince" Billy Tour Dates
03-12 Bloomington , IN - Buskirk - Chumley Theatre 03-13 Urbana , IL - Independent Media Center 03-14 Chicago, IL - Vic Theatre 03-16 Des Moines , IA - Vaudeville Mews 03-17 Iowa City, IA - The Picador 03-18 Milwaukee, WI - Turner Hall 03-19 Minneapolis, MN - The McGuire Theater (Walker Arts Center) 03-21 Winnipeg, Manitoba - Pyramid Cabaret 03-22 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan - Broadway Theatre 03-23 Edmonton, Alberta - McDougall United Church 03-24 Calgary, Alberta - MacEwan Hall 03-25 Vancouver, British Columbia - The Vogue Theatre 03-26 Seattle, WA - Moore Theatre 03-27 Portland, OR - Crystal Ballroom 03-29 Santa Rosa, CA - Orchard Spotlight 03-30 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore 03-31 Los Osos , CA - South Bay Community Center 04-02 Los Angeles, CA - El Rey Theatre 04-03 Phoenix, AZ - Modified 04-04 Santa Fe, NM - Santa Fe Brewing Co. 04-05 Denver, CO - The Bluebird Theater 04-07 Lawrence, KS - The Granada 04-09 Omaha, NE - The Waiting Room 04-10 St. Louis, MO - The Pageant 04-11 Indianapolis, IN - The Vogue 04-20 London, England - Royal Festival Hall 04-22 Brussels, Belgium - AB 04-23 Amsterdam, Holland - Paradiso 04-24 Paris, France - Le Cigale 04-25 Bourges, France - Printemps de Bourges 04-26 Marseilles, France - Le Poste a Gallene 04-28 Torino, Italy - Espace 04-29 Bologna, Italy - Estragon 04-30 Foligno, Italy - Auditorium San Domenico 05-12 Pontiac, MI - The Crofoot Ballroom 05-13 Cleveland, OH - Beachland Ballroom 05-14 Toronto, Ontario - Queen Elizabeth Theatre 05-15 Montreal, Quebec - Ukrainian Federation 05-16 Northampton, MA - Iron Horse Music Hall 05-17 Boston, MA - Wilbur Theatre 05-18 South Burlington, VT - Higher Ground Ballroom 05-21 New York, NY - Apollo Theater 05-22 Philadelphia, PA - Trocadero Theatre 05-23 Alexandria, VA - The Birchmere 05-24 Charlottesville , VA - Fry's Spring Beach Club 05-26 Knoxville, TN - Bijou Theatre 05-27 Asheville, NC - Grey Eagle 05-28 Carrboro, NC - The Arts Center 05-29 Atlanta, GA - Variety Playhouse 06-05 Austin, TX - The Mohawk 06-06 Dallas, TX - Granada Theater 06-10 Nashville, TN - Belcourt Theatre
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.
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.
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.
Good evening dear world, and welcome to another week, here on Looks Like Coffee, Tastes Like Juice. First of all, I'd like to wish all of you a happy Murder-The-Indians ... I mean, Thanksgiving Day, and I hope you all enjoy your stuffing. The reason turkey doesn't matter to me, is because the fact is, stuffing is incredibly superior to turkey. It's a fact of life and those of you who disagree will just have to deal with that. Anyways! This week in music has been a busy/fantastical one, and the post today will feature some awesome music/valuable information from the following artists; Deerhoof; Marnie Stern; Department of Eagles; Animal Collective; and JEFF MANGUM (deserves to be capitalized). So, enjoy the post today, as only you could. Ah, we'll also be featuring a very short review of The Awkward Stage/Hot Panda show I very recently attended.
Jeff Mangum Performs in New York City
Besides getting married in January, 2008 (as well as the last 10 years) has been a rather quiet year for Jeff Mangum. Since this story basically belongs to Stereogum, I'll just copy and paste from the site. Videos below as well.
We've checked in with Music Tapes a few times this year, and before that got all sincere over In The Aeroplane's 10th birthday, but things have been fairly quiet on the Jeff Mangum front in '08. (Though the Neutral Milk Hotel founder did get married in January.) So we were surprised to get so many e-mails about him this morning! Jeff made his first onstage NYC appearance in years at last night's Elephant 6 Holiday Surprise Tour ("a large gathering of Elephant 6 members playing the music of The Music Tapes, Circulatory System, Scott Spillane, Gerbils, Elf Power, Olivia Tremor Control, Nana Grizol, Nesey Gallons...") Here's reader Cait telling us about it, along with some video:
Jeff Mangum walked onstage 3 times last night at the amazing Elephant 6 collective show -- first just for the chorus of a song, about halfway through, then again for just a chorus, and finally at the last song ("The Opera House" by Olivia Tremor Control, before the encores) when he went NUTS and sang for the whole song. He was jumping around and sort of tackled Scott Spillane halfway through and put him in a headlock. He had the most intense look in his eyes the whole time he was on stage. Everyone chanted "Jeff Jeff Jeff", and someone was yelling for songs from Aeroplane ("anything from that album!!! you have to!!") but all we got from that album was Julian Koster and Scott Spillane doing a stripped-down, unpracticed version of The Fool, "dedicated to a friend", which Julian said they hadn't practiced in years. I'm sure you'll get more emails about it -- it was incredible.
Thankfully another email that came was from reader Brian H. who "shot some grainy, shaky video. Enjoy!" You'll find Mr. Mangum start singing at 2:06 here on "The Arrow Flies Close," and you will probably get goosepimples.
Animal Collective to Officially Release New Album
It has just been confirmed that Animal Collective, the object of my affection, will be releasing their new album, entitled Merriweather Post Pavillion, on January 20th. Here's the track listing, and two tracks (one of which is from their fantastic record Strawberry Jam).
This was just recently released on the Bradford Cox's blog, and I'm particularly fond of Coffin Trick (which has come just in time for several autumn mixtapes.)
The Awkward Stage and Hot Panda are amazing live, and both wonderful bands on record. I HIGHLY suggest, no, I command that you buy their collective shit/listen to their music/see them live very soon. Here are their myspaces; The Awkward Stage Hot Panda
Yes, I know today's post was layed out a bit different (short, sweet, sporatic and to the fuckin' point), and I sort of enjoyed doing it that way.
Tomorrow, which is a holiday here in Canada, will be a special holiday post, and will featuring part 3 of 4 in the Looks Like Coffee, Tastes Like Juice Autumn Mixtape Series.
Today, ladies and gentlemen, the entire world is celebrating the birthday of Jon Nehmetallah. Now, you may know Jon as the co-founder and contributor to the music blog MP3This, or perhaps from the weekly radio program The Breakthrough (On CJAM 91.5). I'd like to think that Jon and I are very close, in the way that only brothers can be close, so I today, I thought I'd post a couple tracks for him. Now, I'll skip all the corny, sentimental shit I could be writing about Jon, and I'll stick to posting a couple tracks about brothers in general. Big Brother - Kanye West Dancing With My Brother - Entire Cities Brother Sport - Animal Collective
