The pleasure’s all mine cuz we have seen good times

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Why didn’t The Little One submit a post on Friday? She was cheating.

She wanted to be able to submit the Anniversary post today. She’s selfish. What. Me. I’m The Little One. I’m selfish. I want this post all to myself. I’m sneaking it in here, too. No one knows it’s coming.

That’s right, you read correctly. Anniversary. One year ago, Mookie submitted his first post on our blog about this crazy new band he discovered when they opened for STP. It was Billy Boy on Poison. I don’t think either of us have spoken of that band since.

Mookie had been talking about starting an mp3 blog for some time. And I believe it was actually a year ago today as I lay in bed while he tinkered around in the office. He started shouting out blog names. Some were taken, others were shot down by The Little One. Well, me. We went through this already didn’t we? Anyway. I can’t help but go into all of this because I not only get to sneak this blog post in, I also get to claim credit for naming the blog.

That was me. IN ALL CAPS. I miss you, in all caps. I love you, in all caps. I totally heart you… IN ALL CAPS. And we both love the music just as much. We’re dead on serious and committed to this. And we’ve only made plans to hold your little hand -oops. Got ahead of myself.

Don’t say I ever rickrolled you. That was Tony Toni Tone, and they’ve done it again. I digress. Listen. We’ve discovered a lot of new and old music alike just by doing this blog, and I hope you’ve been able to expand your auditory horizons as well. Because I’m the one who chose to write this post, I’m going to be the one to pick the artists who have made me the most proud or excited about this thing, our big fat one year old bundle of joy.

Red of Tooth and Claw I was impressed with this band that Mookie found, Murder By Death. A gritty, testosterone laden sound accompanied by a cello. This is dark country rock infused with lyrics of death and remorse. I have tried to see them live once since hearing of them, and my quest isn’t over yet.

This is a cow The fascinating cult legend that is Daniel Johnston was shared with us by Walt Zink. Even Pearl Jam covered this tortured artist. He many times cannot recollect the lyrics to his songs due to the cocktail of drugs prescribed to him…

Wild Like Children Tilly And The Wall really touched me in so many ways. I can’t describe how their lyrics manage to figure out everything that my child id still wants to say. The upbeat but slightly underground and always witty music I loved to listen to so long ago.

Just Jack, Scanners, James, Kid You’ll Move Mountains, and Cursive are just a few more of the artists that make me ecstatic and proud to be a part of this great thing and this great guy.

Thanks Mookie.

Sometimes you just can’t hold back the river

Here you go… I’m on your side. We’re always right.

[Download American Analog Set – Punk As Fuck]

Buy a better life from the comfort of your sofa

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As a DJ, my main influences would be Daft Punk and Adam Freeland. We have mentioned Daft Punk ad naseum on the in ALL caps blog. It’s time to share some Freeland! For those of you who don’t have any clue who Adam Freeland is, let me get you up to speed.

Adam Freeland is a UK-based DJ and producer of rock and punk-infused breakbeat-based electronic music. He was a resident of Brighton and is now based in Los Angeles. He is the owner of the record label Marine Parade, which has released material by artists including Alex Metric, Evil Nine, ILS, and Jape.

I discovered Adam Freeland in a great vinyl dance/electronica record store in Orlando, Florida called The Drop Shop.

I was on a mini tour of Florida playing DJ gigs in downtown Orlando. One of the things I wanted to do while in Orlando was go to the popular record store to pick up some records. My guide was a DJ and promoter who goes by the name CB4. He takes me down to The Drop Shop, introduces me to everyone who works there and to every DJ he knows who walks in to see what’s on the new releases wall.

After we get all of that out of the way…I make my way to the new releases wall. I find the record “We Want Your Soul”. It was awesome. I started asking about it, and most of the staff was like, “um…yeah…it’s ok…I guess”. My eyebrows begin to raise in surprise. Well…I bought two. Soon enough it became a hit, and made itself into just about every mix cd at the time. It’s still one of my favorite songs by Adam Freeland.


Freeland ‘Do You’ UK Live Tour Video from Freeland on Vimeo.


Freeland recently released a new album. It’s called Cope, and it shoulda been called Dope! It features some great and surprising collaborations. You can expect to hear Tommy Lee of Mötley Crüe playing drums and Twiggy Ramirez of Marylin Manson playing bass. There are also collaborations with Soundpool, Vocals from Brody Dalle (Distillers / Spinnerette) and Gerald V. Casale from DEVO. Freeland’s new frontman Kurt Baumann also sings on four songs.

According to the acclaimed Grammy-nominated DJ/producer Adam Freeland, he always intended his groundbreaking new full-length Cope™, to be more than just another electronica album.

Adam says this about Cope:

I wanted to make more than just another artist project, I always saw Cope™ as a band album more than just another DJ slapping together a bunch of random club grooves.

It seems likely that if Freeland is coming to your town, that it’s not just going to be a DJ set, but a live performance. Adam explains further:

I’ve always mixed rock into my sets anyway, so having a band is just a natural progression from that. Freeland has all the hard-hitting grooves of my DJ sets, but played live they’re even more raw, personal and in your face. This is the sound I’ve always heard in my head, so now I want to hear it as loud as possible!

My favorite track on the album, and trust me it was hard as hell to decide on one, ends up being the one I also think will get you to buy the album. You tell me if you are not interested in picking it up after listening to it below:

[Download Freeland – Rock On (David Essex cover)]

You probably recognize it as a cover. It is David Essex’s song Rock On with
more awesome lyrics and a much darker groove. I can’t wait to hear some remixes of this one!

Speaking of remixes, I am going to drop a few at the end of this post, so look for them.

If you were lucky enough to go to SXSW (don’t rub it in if you did) then you possibly saw Freeland’s concert debut. I would love to see some comments if you caught it! (But promise not to rub it in…)

One last thing, if you are just now getting into Freeland, and like what you hear, then check out his DJ mixes and previous work. The Coastal Breaks album, Tectonics, On Tour and Global Underground mix albums, as well as a FabricLive mix, and groundbreaking Back To Mine are all gems to grab. Amazon links at the bottom as always.

BONUS REMIXES:
[Download Freeland – Under Control (Alex Metric Remix)]
[Download Freeland – Under Control (Evil Nine’s Graveyard Smash Remix)]

Daft Punk bootie here…..

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Yes, it’s a bootleg. I ripped this one from my personal collection. The B Side does have a lot of pops in it, so be warned. Thing is, I like the pops and hissing from vinyl. It creates a much warmer feel to the music. Unless it causes skips. Because there’s hell to pay, then.

Anyhow, this is a bootleg I picked up god knows when. Probably in 2001. If you want it on wax? Here is a link for you all. This is a bootleg of Daft Punk’s “One More Time”. I can still remember where I was when I first heard this. October of 2000, and I went to the event Monster Massive out in L.A., and Armand Van Helden started his set off with this. Ridiculous. To see probably fifteen to twenty thousand kids go nuts was surreal.

That said, the track hasn’t died off in popularity much at all. This is a DJ friendly bootleg, with the B Side tossing in this random vocals saying “Alright, alright, back to your stations.” Not sure why. Fuck it. A good bootie for you all if you’re a die-hard collector of their stuff. I’d only rate it a 7 out of 10, because it does get repetitive, and I feel that if it had used more of the original song’s vocals, it would have cut down on this.

Download and enjoy!

[Download Daft Punk – One More Time (Bootleg White Label mix – Side A)]

[Download Daft Punk – One More Time (Bootleg White Label mix – Side B)]

And since these are bootlegs, I’ll just say to go buy the authentic product. Because you’re awesome if you do.

For fear of being forgotten…

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I don’t think the artist named himself after photic sneeze reflex, but it might be taken from a famous quote from the movie Gremlins.

Bright Light Bright Light is Welsh songwriter, producer, remixer and multi-instrumentalist Rod Thomas who, over the last year or so has moved swiftly from bedroom producing to appearing at Glastonbury, Latitude, Camp Bestival, Green Man, Innocent Village Fete and Summer Sundae festivals.

Interestingly enough, I was just contacted By Rod Thomas after I posted his remix of a song from the band Run Toto Run. (read it here)

He gave me the song below to listen to. It’s called Blueprint. This is Mr. Thomas on vocals. He also plays many of the instruments on the album, with the exception of the drums.

[Download Blueprint – Bright Light Bright Light]

It’s a real good song isn’t it? I dig the lyrics and the vibe of the track.

A relentless live schedule has seen him appear alongside Sparks, James Yuill, Gotye, Noah & The Whale, Casiokids and Au Revoir Simone as well as doing numerous sessions for Radio 1, BBC Wales, BBC Bristol, Channel M and Balcony TV.

He’s also playing with Run Toto Run this Wednesday. Which is sort of how he found this here blog. He came across our blog on elbo.ws, while looking for Run Toto Run news/tracks.

Rod’s material has become increasingly multi-layered and textured as his production skills have gone from strength to strength. Working with Boom Bip (of recent Neon Neon fame) on key Bright Light Bright Light tracks ‘A New Word To Say’ and ‘Disco Moment’ has paved the way for a more shimmering and shiny outlook which fills dancefloors just as much as the softer tones of ‘Same Old Lines’ gather crowds at festivals.

Speaking of Same Old Lines, I scrounged up a remix of this also awesome song by Thomas. It’s funky pop loveliness that makes me move my shoulders in time with the beat. Try it! It feels good!

[Download Same Old Lines – Rod Thomas (James Yuill Remix)]

The original of Same Old Lines is even better than the remix. It really shows the mastery of Rod Thomas to create what might be the perfect, catchy, can’t get it out of your head…but that’s ok, because it’s wonderful, kind of song.

Learn more at the Bright Light Bright Light myspace page, and pick up his album ‘Until Something Fits’

Until Something FIts

Click HERE to order direct

The canary sings with such particular instruction

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everybody runs when the telephone rings but nobody’s making a call

Their second EP, Bridges and Tunnels, came out last October. They’ve spent a lot of time playing gigs in bars where they weren’t even old enough to be in the audience. And they’ve been compared no less than eighty-four times to The Strokes.

The Strokes? What the hell? I don’t hear it. Odd coincidence that I just this week started listening to Gaslight Anthem again, because that’s who I would compare them to if you made me. Or The Offspring.

Haha. Caught you there. No, really. Because I am so batshit bonkers for The Offspring, I can hear an indie interpretation of the opening to “Half-Truism” in Static Jacks'”Resistance/Self-Control.” Go ahead, tell me I’m wrong.

There is something that makes me so happy in the music on this EP. I can’t put my finger on it; could it be the line give up on hope, cast out your dreams? I feel like I am back in SoCo Dabbs’ bedroom being schooled on The Violent Femmes and Morrissey and listening to the way he pronounced Ralph Lauren as if it were an Italian name. I could be thirteen again, trying to decide if I was the preppie with high bangs or the skater chick with an asymmetrical style. I’ve always been a triberunner, it’s true.

I want you to take a listen to “Wine Cellar.”

[Download The Static Jacks – Wine Cellar]

I love it. The boys at Static Jacks may have given us the latest EP for free, but I became and instant fan and bought the previous one, Sonny Halliday straight away. Now I’m going to ask Daddy if we can finally start a label, because the next one they record needs to have better sound quality.

Uh oh, we better hurry, because the Jacks’ guitar player Henry tells me they’re recording it now and it should be out this fall. They are releasing their stuff via RCRD LBL, the online label/blog network.

In the meantime, here is a remix of a song I’ve been singing all day. At least in the remix the vocals have a chance to shine.

[Download The Static Jacks – RAC Maury Remix Fire On The Bridge And In The Tunnel]

Have I dispelled any conception that these guys sound like The Strokes? I still don’t get that association. Did the guy who said that just have them next to each other in his iTunes? Because Stevie Ray Vaughn follows them in mine. And speaking of shining, I am really appreciating the guitar licks in this track off the old EP. Not that I’m making a comparison… But… Check out The Canary Sings.

[Download The Static Jacks – The Canary Sings]

the storm that brought the flood which kept me cold
was brought by you thats what i was told
and i bet that it’s true

There you have it. Between The Static Jacks and Middle Distance Runner, I am really thankful that we started this blog because I love that I was able to discover bands like these and share them with you. I would say those are my two favorite finds of the past year.

So make me happy and buy these EPs. And if you’re in New England, go catch a show. I wish I could be there. I bet they are absolutely loverly to see live. They’re in NYC, DC, PHL, and some Conn/Mass too. Tell me how the shows are!! That’s an order!

No Amazon links for you this time… Just go straight to iTunes and nab some indie delights. And picture The Little One floating through the office during the day singing I see the fire on the bridge and in the tunnel below…

Weird electro and some new shit

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Yes. Chromeo is weird electro. They’re really hit or miss with me because they essentially update a type of music I drink heavily to forget. So now they make my drinking problem worse. Fuckers. This remix of “Me and My Man” I’ve liked since I bought it off of Beatport a few years back, however.

[Download Chromeo – Me and My Man (Fly Whitey Remix)]

Next up is the first track from the latest Yeah Yeah Yeahs release. Yes, I understand it’s not being posted here two months before it’s released. I don’t care. I like this. So there. I’m posting it because I like it. It makes me happy in my no-no spot. Which actually kind of creeps me out. The aforementioned drinking will come in handy.

[Download Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Zero]

Last up is just a really strange remix of the Designer Drugs track “Zombies”. It’s by the Montreal duo Nrotb, and considering the sound they have here, I found it quite odd that house label Coco Machete brought them on board. Well, perhaps they fit the niche since I last bought house records. Here’s their remix of “Zombies”. The oddly titled “Nrotb Dandy remix”. Lovely.

[Download Designer Drugs – ZOMBIES! (Nrotb Dandy Remix)]

Ah, yes. The time where I make some half-assed comment telling you to buy the stuff listed. Well, I’ve got nothing. Just go buy it. Now.

Don’t be silly, Toto. Scarecrows don’t talk.

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Courage! What makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage! What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the muskrat guard his musk? Courage! What makes the sphinx the seventh wonder? Courage! What makes the dawn come up like thunder? Courage! What makes the Hottentot so hot? What puts the “ape” in apricot? What have they got that I ain’t got?

Run Toto Run!

Cool name for a band. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain though, because it’s a woman that we should be looking for.

Rachael Kitchenside, the lead vocalist and songwriter, seems to be the wizard of this magical group.

Like Dorothy, she is not alone. She is joined on a fantastic journey by her band mates Mike, Cazz, and K!d Farthing.

Mike Colombian born Mike or “The Hobo” as the rest of the band like to call him is the nicest guy on the face of the planet. Fact. Mike cut his musical teeth at the YMCA roller disco, and often fondly reminisces about it. (synths, backing vocals, keys and guitar).

Cazz is way prettier without the mask. Hot even. She used to drum for Stickboy, She is the only remaining UK Hanson fan. (keyboards, backing vocals, percussion, recorder, electronics)

K!d Farthing has a tattoo in Hungarian reading “born under a bad sign” and is the coolest kid to ever graduate from the RNCM with a first-class honours degree in violin. (violin, keyboards, electronics and clever stuff)

I was sent an amazing cover of Passion Pit’s Sleepyhead in my DropBox 4 days ago, recorded by Run Toto Run. I fell in love. Then I watched the video for the cover, and fell in love further. Like falling down the rabbit hole.

[Download
Run Toto Run – Sleepy Head (Cover)]

Isn’t that voice angelic? I also love the re-imagining of the music and ambiance of this. It’s fantastic. The video is adorable. Rachael looks adorable and the animals are so silly you can’t help but smile! Especially the very end…

You may have noticed that there is only one hot chick and two animals in the video. Shouldn’t there be a fourth? Rachael sent me an email this morning telling me that Cazz was at work when they recorded the video. I wonder if Cazz was mad about being left out? I’m a little sad about it. Maybe she’s the tin (wo)man that can’t get her feelings hurt, since she has no heart?

I suggest picking up their new EP from iTunes. It’s called The Plastic Gold. If you live in the UK, you can catch them on tour starting this Friday.

BONUS TRACK:
The B-Side of the bands first single was called Alice. Enjoy this remix of “Alice” by welsh synth-pop wizard Rod Thomas.

[Download
Run Toto Run – Alice (Rod Thomas Remix)]

the shiniest pretty penny

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Jessica rambles on her blog about being a mom and her views on life and popular culture. She will be writing for inALLcaps on a monthly basis and she loves to read comments, so make her feel at home!

The End’s Not Near, It’s Here.

That grabs your attention doesn’t it! The first time I heard this, I was watching an episode of The OC and I thought the song was so fitting for the episode. A year or so passed and I gave this song no more thought, until one day randomly, Pandora spouted it from my computer. I stopped in my tracks and turned up the speakers, then frantically checked out the artist and song title which propelled my search to get my hands on it and everything else this band put out.

I discovered it was “The End’s Not Near, It’s Here,” a song by The New Year which Band of Horses covered for The OC Mix 6. I found two other albums by Band of Horses, which I wasted no time in downloading and repeatedly playing. They have a somber sound to them, but in the dark time of my life when I discovered them, I was somehow comforted and soothed by their soft angsty sound. Some of the song titles are head-scratchers, but the lyrics and the music are so powerful to me.

[Download
Band of Horses – To The Barn Because I Like The]

“Go To The Barn Because I Like The” lyrics:

Well I’d like to think I’m the mess you’d wear with pride.
Like some empty dress on the bed you’ve laid out for tonight.
Outside by your doorstep
In a worn out suit and tie
I’ll wait
For you to come down
Where you’ll find me
Where we’ll shine


It’s like when you were a kid… You almost didn’t pick up that penny on the ground because it was old and dirty, but you did it anyway and found a treasure: it was the shiniest pretty penny, and you were so proud of this little fortune. That’s the picture that this song brings to mind to me, but throughout my life that penny, of course, is the metaphor for bigger things or people at one time or another.

“Monsters” lyrics:

A tree for all these problems
They can find you for the moment
Then for all past efforts
There buried deep beneath
Your heart and somewhere in your stomach

And hey, transform all others
When awful people they surround you
Well hey, they just like monsters
They come to feed on me
Giant little animals to feed

I get goose bumps when I hear this song. How long will you keep those people in your life who feed on you and drain you of all emotionality? One day will you wake up and realize that they ate everything you had to give?

The slow pace of their songs and the words that cut through me and bring such emotion to the surface also manage to comfort me like a soft warm blanket.

I think they are definitely worth a listen, so please, check it out for yourselves.

A couple from the latest Grizzly Bear album

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Here’s a band I am sure most of the indie kids are lapping up right now. I got a chance to catch Grizzly Bear before Radiohead last August, and while they were good technically speaking, they were….well….rigid. Staying in one spot for the most part, and sans any real energy. Then again, it’s sort of who they are. They don’t make songs – for the most part – that really make someone energized and jumpy. Their music is often atmospheric and chill. Hell, when Adult Swim starts using your music for their now almost legendary Bumps? You’ve made it. Here’s a clip of the Bump using their cut “Easier”.

Well, these two songs here are from their latest album, Veckatimest. The tracks are somewhat of a departure from Yellow House, and this is a pretty good thing. They offer a more full composition in regards to songwriting and melodies, and tend to be less rough around the edges. So here are the tracks “Two Weeks” and “Cheerleader”. Now go buy their album!

[Download Grizzly Bear – Cheerleader]

[Download Grizzly Bear – Two Weeks]

Now, get your ass in gear and go buy this. Or I tell your mom. After I’ve slept with her, of course.

Electro Pop and Indie Rock

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I am a sucker for these kinds of bands. They just get me on both sides of what I dig. The indie rock sound with its DIY ethos, and the DJ friendly-ish electronic pop sensibility.

The thing is, my love for them is shallow and fleeting. As soon as the next indie-rock/electronic-pop band/song/release/remix comes out…I just move on to that. Leaving a veritable graveyard of bands in this genre, in my wake.

Passion Pit is a band like this for me. Soon to be thrown in the trash like a paper plate. It’s hard to say that now, because I am totally digging it.

The more I listen to it, the more it reminds me of everything I liked about Prince.

Is it possible that this particular band with this particular album could remain in my heart?

[Download Passion Pit – To Kingdom Come]

The lead singer and songwriter, Michael Angelakos, says he wants to be the next Randy Newman. Whenever I listen to the song “To Kingdom Come”, I think I hear the influences of Newman. Maybe.

The best part of this album? The remixes that people have done off its release! I share one below from Wallpaper:

[Download Passion Pit – Reeling (Wallpaper Remix)]

Passion Pit even gets in on the remixing, taking on Dan Black of the now defunct The Servant.

[Download Dan Black – Symphonies (Passion Pit Remix)]

You may not have heard of Dan Black or The Servant. Dan Black has an album coming out, so keep an eye out for that. The song Symphonies was once called HYPNTZ and was a funky cover of Biggie Smalls track. Sadly, Big’s estate red-lighted that, and Dan had to write new lyrics. I am sure you are never gonna hear the old version on the radio, even though it’s super hot. So…we do it for you.

THE BONUS TRACK!

[Download Dan Black – Symphonies (Passion Pit Remix)]