We've Moved

Some people are having problems with the formatting of the last post (or just can't read). WE'VE MOVED! WE ARE NOW AT www.allthingsgo.wordpress.com. You can also reach us at www.all-things-go.com. Please change your links and join us at the new site.

It's Not Goodbye, It's ATG 2.0!

This is not the end of All Things Go. Adrian and I have had serious talks of ending ATG due to many issues (lack of excitement, weakening readership, copyright issues) but in the end, we decided that what we really needed was a totally fabulous makeover! All Things Go is moved! We've finally solved our webhosting issues (god bless Dreamhost), moving to a more professional hosting company as well as a new blogging service (hello wordpress). For this reason, we are moving links too! We are working on having this URL (www.all-things-go.blogspot.com) redirect over to the new URL, but for now we ask that you update all your links, as we are moving to a new URL THE NEW URL IS www.allthingsgo.wordpress.com! If this is inconvenient to remember, we have purchased a few extra domains so you can also reach us at www.allthingsgoblog.com or www.all-things-go.com (which used to redirect to this version of ATG). I know that this will lose us some readership as many lazy readers will be unwilling to update their links or make the transition, but we hope that if you care, you stay with us in this transition. AGAIN: WE ARE MOVED! We can now be reached at any of the following URLS: www.allthingsgo.wordpress.com or www.all-things-go.com Please update your links and feeds to the new site, and we hope to see you over there! (By the way, we are still working on updating all of the old .mp3s onto our new FTP so you can still download music from our archives. Bear with us.) And some music to help you move: Tom Vek - I Ain't Saying My Goodbyes -Zack

All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape

Note: The Borat contest is still going on, and it's ridiculously easy. Just leave your favorite Washington Wizard or Redskin in the comment along with your name and email. Please don't make me beg. It's been a while since I've posted a mixtape, but I've been working on perfecting the All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape for about a month-and-a-half. This mixtape blends more mainstream acts (Outkast, Jay-Z, Ludacris, T.I.) with lesser known artists (The Coup, Dizzee Rascal), and while it may feature more well known artists, it's still a refreshing mixtape full of tracks you might not have heard before. I do love hip-hop even though I write for a pretentious indie music blog. So here is the All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape. You can download the .zip file below or download each song separately. All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape (.zip) [follow link] 1. Outkast ft. Sleepy Brown - Morris Brown This song, off of the Idlewild soundtrack, may be all over the radio, but that doesn't mean I can't love it. I have a soft spot for songs that feature marching bands, especially ridiculous drumline-style marching bands like the one featured here. "Morris Brown" also allows one of my favorites, Sleepy Brown, to demonstrate his soothingly smooth verbal skills. 2. Dizzee Rascal - Fix Up, Look Sharp Grime at it's finest, Dizzee Rascal is pretty much the king of the up-and-coming British rap scene. Not only do I love badass people with British accents, but I also love fairly simple rap beats that don't get old. The simple drum pattern in this song has very little variation, but somehow doesn't come off as monotonous. 3. The High & Mighty ft. Mos Def & Skillz - B-Boy Document This song is for all the lovers of Tony Hawk Pro Skater 2 who remember all the songs on the soundtrack (probably because they played the game WAY too much). This song goes in many different directions, with a layered beat and numerous different rappers contributing a verse each. If you recognize the chorus, it's because Will Smith copied it for Willenium. Now that I'm writing this, I feel very stupid for not putting any Will Smith on this mixtape. 4. Clipse - Ma, I Don't Love Her I know what critics will say; that Clipse is not only mainstream, but also lacking in substance and original style. The twosome from Virginia Beach (what?) are obviously smart because anyone that hires Pharell and the Neptunes to produce their work is guarunteed to be sucessful. If you listen to the lyrics, you're probably jealous that Clipse can have sex with other girls and be smooth enough to keep his main-squeeze from leaving him. The beat is so fun and infectious, it's hard not to feel good. 5. Aesop Rock ft. Del Tha Funky Homosapien - Preservation I thought I'd fit two of my favorite hip-hop artists here in one song. Aesop is a great producer and lyricist in the vein of Atmosphere. Del, formerly from hip-hop supergroup Hieroglyphics, is most famous for his work with Gorillaz but here he truly demonstrates his lyrical talents. The piano loop in this song is so simple yet works nicely as a backdrop for these two talented musicians to showcase their first-class ability. 6. Jurassic 5 - Jurassic Finish First Let me start by saying that I love literally everything Jurassic 5 has ever done (up until that collabo with Dave Mathews on their newest album, Feedback). "Jurassic Finish First" was hard to choose because J5 is one of those groups that releases albums I can listen to from start to finish and love everything in between. I chose this song because it's a good introduction to J5: ridiculous Cut Chemist beats; back-and-forth vocals from Chali 2na, Soup, and Marc 7; and a fun-loving, positive nature. 7. The Coup ft. Black Thought and Talib Kweli - My Favorite Mutiny This song sounds like a call for revolution (or mutiny?), what with the epic, slowly building beat. Black Thought (vocalist for The Roots) lays down the best verse here, but Talib and The Coup are no slouches, each contributing fast-paced, politically-charged verses. Any rapper that says "I'm off the chain like Kunta Kinte with a Mack10" is alright by me. 8. Talib Kweli - Listen More Talib, this time from his newest release, Ear Drum, which will be the first album released on Talib's own label, Blacksmith Music. Just like the song says, Talib "spits rounds like a 9mm". This beat is fast-paced and bouncy, and features Talib's signature socially relevant lyrics. 9. Kanye West ft. Consequence & Cam'ron - Gone Kanye, the king of sampling, borrows Otis Reddings soulful voice here on "Gone", with positive results. Cam'ron's verse may be horrible ("you ever heard of the dealer, well here's the deal ma we goin' to the dealer"), but this track was my favorite on Late Registration because of an infectious beat and bouncy vibe. 10. Murphy Lee - Wat Da Hook Gon Be I love Murphy Lee. 11. Blackstar - Definition Blackstar (AKA Talib Kweli & Mos Def) was one of the most formidable hip-hop duo's in history, and this song is the highlight of their incredible album. My brother introduced me to this song 3 years ago, and I've been listening to it religiously ever since. 12. The Roots - Don't Feel Right The Roots put on probably the best live show I've ever been to a few years ago on New Year's Day in DC. This song, off of their latest effort, Game Theory, is a good introduction to a group with a unique feel and staying power. 13. Dangerdoom ft. Cee-Lo - Benzie Box DJ Danger Mouse and MF Doom are Dangerdoom, and Cee-Lo jumps in on this track to provide his typical smooth vocals. MF Doom has a very one-dimensional style, but it works well here as well as throughout the whole album, The Mouse and the Mask. 14. Blackalicious - Deception Every time Blackalicious releases an album, hip-hop critics expect it to catapult them into the upper echelon of artists, and every time they seem to dissapoint, through no fault of their own. They may be over-hyped, but with songs like "Deception", it's easy to see why some people get excited about these guys. 15. Ludacris ft. Sleepy Brown - Blueberry Yum Yum I know I'll be criticized for this pick, as many people write off Ludacris as mainstream, uncomplicated garbage but I have a soft spot for Luda. He loves his weed, women, and most of all, he loves life. I love him because he can make fun of himself and because he doesn't pretend to be something he's not (*cough* Lloyd Banks/G-Unit/Jeezy/Houston rap scene *cough*). 16. Lupe Fiasco ft. Jill Scott - Daydreamin' Lupe is taking over with his debut album, Food & Liquor. While "Kick Push" is the first single and his verse in Kanye's "Touch the Sky" was his big break, this song is his most polished and finest work. 17. Wu-Tang Clan - Protect Ya Neck (The Jump Off) What can I say about Wu-Tang that hasn't already been said? Just listen. 18. Lil' Wayne - Shooter I can't resist putting Weezy on this mix. "Shooter" is quite possibly the sexiest hip-hop song in the past few years. From the sensual bassline to the chopped up vocals, this song has quickly risen to the top of my most played songs on itunes. This is also the song of choice for power hours, and for (obviously) taking some shots. 19. Jay-Z ft. Chrissette Michelle - Lost Ones I already mentioned how much I love pianos, and this song coincidentally prominently features them as the melody that holds this whole track together. Jay-Z is much more relaxed and reflective on this track off of his newest release, Kingdom Come. This may be another mainstream rapper on the mixtape, but I figured I'd give you guys a taste of the new album (since "Show Me What You Got" sucks so much). 20. T.I. - What You Know I love this song for so many reasons, but mainly because of the blaring, badass synth line and epic beat. T.I. may be a little too serious sometimes for my tastes, but this song is just too monumental to leave off and perfectly ends the mixtape. So there's the All Things Go Hip-Hop Mixtape. Let me know what you think of the choices in the comments (songs I forgot/bad choices/etc...). Thanks for checking it out, and enjoy some quality hip-hop. -Zack

Some New Music

It snowed in Madison yesterday. Awh yeah. Contest Update: some people (namely Claire "I can't take a challenge" Cafritz) have commented that the Borat contest is difficult, and that, teaming with the fact that we've gotten 3 submissions in 4 days, has led me to amend the contest. If you still want to come up with a movie plot, that is greatly encouraged, but as of now, all you have to do is leave a comment with your favorite Washington Redskin and/or Washington Wizard and your name and email address and ill pick 3 of them as winners. Maybe this will help me get over the fact that my 'Skins were emasculated by Philly 27-3 today. For those of you that already came up with a plot, you're awesome and I'll find a special prize for you guys. Now some music! Jim Noir - Key of C This song is just so damn infectiously catchy and simple. Perfect for walking the dog in the middle of a sunny day, "Key of C" is just too soft and adorable to be taken very seriously. But some music can be uncomplicated and unserious while still sounding quality and thoughtful. This song is just that. Damien Jurado - Denton, TX Damien Jurado has become my perfect study-partner this semester. His whole new album, And Now that I'm in Your Shadow, is a masterpiece, blending upbeat acoustic tracks with more mellow, thoughtful, ethereal ones. "Denton, TX" is definitely the album's highlight, and I definitely recommend this song to lovers of Iron & Wine, Sufjan. Also make sure you check out Damien's older work, including the song "Ohio", featured on Derek's M3 Volume 5 Andrew Bird - Tables and Chairs (Black Session 3/21/05) The original version of this song was featured on the All Things Go Sleep Mixtape and is, in my opinion, Andrew's best work to date. This Black Session version brings a whole new perspective on the song, featuring more varied vocals and rhythm. I've been listening to this one for a while, but I realized I hadn't posted it yet, so enjoy. Hellogoodbye - I Saw it on Your Keyboard Call me whatever you want, but I absolutely love Hellogoodbye. "Call and Return" popped my Hellogoodbye cherry, and I have been in love with their borderline ridiculous cute cuddlyness. This song borrows the melody of "Ode to Joy" in hilariously poppy fashion and, although it is completely unlike most other ATG music, I had to put it up. Page France - Chariot and Antarctica (Daytrotter Sessions) These more rough versions of two quality Page France tracks (much like Andrew Bird with "Tables and Chairs" above) take an already great song and approach it quite differently. I like these songs because I find it interesting when a band tweaks a song a little bit without fully remixing it, and I like comparing the new to the original. Definitely let this new version of "Chariot" put you to sleep tonight. Anyways, more updates on the way. Enjoy this tracks until then. And remember, the Borat contest is still going on (see top of post) so make sure you read the contest and comment either in that post or this post. -Zack

Borat Contest + Updates Galore

Hey everyone. I know, it's been over a week since we made a post (with the exception of Adrian's Brand New post today). I'd like to blame it all on the fact that Ezarchive is fairly incompetent but I must shoulder most of the blame. Basically I've been unmotivated and exhausted this past week, and that, teamed with the fact that everything here has been crazy this weekend (see: beer pong with my dad at 10am before the football game) has led to the lack of posts. I promise a more motivated Zack in the coming weeks. We have to switch away from Ezarchive now since they have totally ruined everything for us. This means we have to re-host all of the files previously linked to on All Things Go, which is a long and tedious process, so bear with us. We have made the switch, temporarily, over to FileDen, though their 10GB bandwidth limit is incredibly small and probably will force us to move again, maybe to DreamHost or maybe to some real webhosting (www.AllThingsGo.com anyone?), but for now, its FileDen. If anyone has any suggestions or a super-server sitting around shout us a holler so we can get this thing going. Also, we've been working on some new webdesigns, but since our budget is small (we're broke college kids after all), we haven't been able to come up with anything exciting. Our most professional new look (with a test post) can be seen over here. If anyone thinks they can make an awesome design for our site, please please please contact me at allthingsgoblog@gmail.com or at SmootIsMyIdol on AIM and I can discuss with you what we're looking for. Who knows, maybe a big surprise prize will go to the best design, if we get enough submissions! Anyways, the real reason for this post is to introduce the first of many All Things Go contests! I went to see the Borat movie last night, and I must say, it's the single most offensive and racist movie I've ever seen (besides most all Spike Lee joints), which in no way means I did not enjoy it. In fact, I was worried the other people in the theater were getting annoyed at how often I burst into laughter. I, along with pretty much all of America, have been a huge fan of Sacha Baron Cohen for years, and was slightly skeptical of a full-length movie about a character in a skit (see: all SNL-themed movies), but I was very pleasantly surprised. Highlights of the movie include the "Running of the Jew", Linnel the prostitute, and Borat referring to presidential candidate Alan Keyes as a "real genuine chocolate face". Our awesome friend Rosemary over at Cornerstone Promotion has hooked us up with some free stuff, and it's contest time bitches! In honor of the fact that Borat was originally a skit in Da Ali G show, the contest is as follows: In 2-4 sentences (please no more than that), pick a character from any TV show or skit from a TV show and give me a plot summary of a movie based on that character. For example, I believe that Wilson from Home Improvement should have his own movie where he has his own talk show along the lines of Oprah, Dr. Phil, etc... and at the end of the movie you end up seeing his face. Ok, that wasn't funny, but you guys get the picture. The Grand Prize Winner (AKA the person who makes me laugh the most) will receive a copy of the Borat soundtrack, Borat: Stereophonic Musical Listenings That Have Been Origin In Moving Film, along with a promotional Borat poster. I have a copy of the soundtrack, and this prize is well worth it. Also, if we get enough submissions, two runner-ups will receive the poster and a Borat sticker (also super-cool!) Just leave your summary in the comments along with your email address. I'll announce the winners sometime this week, assuming you people actually leave submissions unlike every other time I ask you to comment and you don't (it kills me inside). This should a fun contest, be creative and please actually participate! For those of you unfamiliar with Borat's style, check out this clip of Sacha (aka Borat) on The Daily Show last week: By the way, I had my horns surgically removed too. I look forward to readng the submissions. Welcome back readers, All Things Go is active again. -Zack

More Tracks From Brand New's The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me

UPDATE: The links to the music in this post had to be removed at both the author and the RIAA's request. We sincerely apologize and did not mean any harm, we only wanted to get people even more excited about an album we can't wait for. If you wish to hear the tracks, buy the album when it is released. We know we will. Sorry for the inconvenience. Sorry for the downtime everybody. But as a gift to you, here's a bunch of new tracks from Brand New's The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me. I am so psyched for this new album - there's nothing bad I can say about any of these tracks. After listening to them, I can say that Brand New has moved even further from their Your Favorite Weapon past. Although they may fall into the greater realm of rock music, these songs are epic to say the least. I'm not going to delve into the specifics of the songs, other than I love how Jesse Lacey's is stretching his vocal boundaries for this album - although I find nothing wrong with his voice on Deja Entendu, I'm glad that the frontman ventures into different singing styles, including some falsetto here and there. Alright, enough talking - behold the musical goliath that is Brand New! Update: The links had to be removed, sorry :( -Adrian P.S. Again, if there is a problem with the posting of these tracks, let us know and we will gladly take them down

Be Patient

As you may or may not know, ezarchive (our file host) is undergoing a serious makeover and will not be operational fully until either October 27th or November 1st (It's not clear from the e-mail i received). Anyways, we're sorry that this means you cannot download anything previously posted for a little while until we update all of the links. we might try to host some of our songs on sendspace or yousendit until the new ezarchive is ready to roll, but until then, stay with us while we undergo this change. Love Management

Of Montreal Live 9/28/06

I'm still astounded by the number of great bands that stop in Virginia. UVA has a reputation, a deserved reputation for being Dave Matthew's perpetual jock itch. He's already played at least 3 times here in a matter of months. But enough about Dave. The latest of the live line up that I looked upon was Of Montreal. I know, we here at ATG have hard on's for certain bands (TED LEO), and Of Montreal is no exception. How could we not when their live performances include band members in dresses, hot pants, and are half naked. The make-up was a nice touch. Other theatrics included coming out hiding behind gigantic masks, use of nunchuks and a katana, and what appeared to be a murder. I couldn't see very well, but of course these were accessory elements to the show. Instead of relying on their airy, 60's pop-esque music, Of Montreal devoted a large portion of their set to playing material off their new record. The whimsicality has been replaced with an almost sexual, electronic element. Of course, their new album is planned for a release in the near future (sorry I can't be specific).

Brand New - Sowing Season (Yeah)

Update: Thanks for Derek of GWFAS letting us temporarily link to the song. Finally - the world's first taste of Brand New's upcoming album, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me. "Sowing Season (Yeah)" has proven to be a hit on the band's recent strings of shows with crowds instantly singing along the simple driving refrain of "Yeah!" The album version of the song blew me away upon first listen. Words need not describe the glory of Brand New, so without further ado, here is what you all have been waiting for... Updated link via Good Weather For Airstrikes: Brand New - Sowing Season (Yeah) -Adrian

PJ Hill + Some New Enjoyable Music

In more Wisconsin football-related news, PJ Hill was featured in an article on ESPN.com and compared to former Badger star and Heisman winner Ron Dayne. This worries me because Dayne has had quite possibly the most disappointing pro-career of any Heisman winner. PJ is quoted in the article, saying: "I don't like to be compared to other backs," Hill said. "Don't get me wrong, it's an honor to be compared to a back like Ron Dayne. But I just want to be P.J. I have my own style. I like to be patient and I like to be as physical as I can. I like to wait for my opening and then deliver the blow, not take them. That wears down a defense. Just keep hitting them and hitting them and hitting them. That changes their approach to how they play you." What a man. Anways, onto the music. I'm thinking about making this a (bi)weekly thing, just giving you all anywhere from 3-8 songs that I love right now and just doing a little description rather than doing more artist profiles. Let me know what you guys think/prefer. Anyways, here are some more songs for your listening pleasure. Takka Takka - We Feel Safer at Night My friend Sabrina actually told me about these guys because she went to see Architecture in Helsinki in concert and Takka Takka was one of the opening bands. This song is very soft and enjoyable, with airy noises and vocals. In other words, if this song was a blanket, I'd cuddle with it alot and feel all warm and fuzzy. I feel like former writer Alex would absolutely love this adorable track. T.I - Why You Wanna I know this isn't a typical All Things Go track, but I can't get enough of T.I. Call me a sellout for liking mainstream hip-hop but I can't help my love for this song. The beat reminds me of the times I used to ride around on jetskis in the Caribbean with my bitches riding on back. The Rapture - Whoo! Alright - Yeah...Uh Huh (WAYUH) I know Austin has been loving The Rapture for quite a while now, and with all the buzz surrounding them recently, I figured I'd give them a listen. I first heard this song on the Madden 2007 soundtrack, which always seems to feature some quality music (Spank Rock, Hot Hot Heat, etc..). "WAYUH" is one of those songs that requires the listener to move around and or shake his junk. Plus it features a cowbell. Brett Dennen - When You Feel it Expect a massive writeup on this guy in the near future. Brett is normally classified in a category with Jack Johnson, John Mayer, Michael Franti, and other singer/songwriters with a relaxed vibe. Brett takes this genre to a whole different level with his new album, So Much More. I never thought I'd be a fan of this type of music, but Brett's vocals and beautiful guitar-playing are so infectious and addictive. I really can't describe in words how much I love Brett Dennen, or how surprised I am that I enjoy this style of music. Jens Lekman - Maple Leaves (7" Version) This song perfectly exemplifies my mood in Autumn. I'm one of the few people who love Jens' voice, and this song's unorthodox melody really catches me. To me, Jens can be very hit-or-miss, but here he definitely scores a direct hit. If you can get over the awkwardness of Jens vocals and the off-beat style, this song is quite enjoyable. That's it for now. Remember, leave me some comments and let me know if you guys like this set-up. Also, just leave comments because it boosts my struggling ego. -Zack

Brand New Cover Art

Behold, the album cover for Brand New's upcoming full length, The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me. As you can tell, it bears few similarities to the cover art for their previous releases. Thoughts? Unfortunately, no new material by the band has yet surfaced. Until it does, here's a repost of the demos I wrote about a while back... Brand New - Untitled Track 1 Brand New - Untitled Track 2 Brand New - Untitled Track 3 Brand New - Untitled Track 4 Brand New - Untitled Track 5 Brand New - Untitled Track 6 Brand New - Untitled Track 7 Brand New - Untitled Track 8 Brand New - Untitled Track 9 The Devil and God Are Raging Inside of Me hits stores November 21st. Pre-order the album here. -Adrian

Another Great Weekend/The Bishops!

So my brother comes to visit me here in Madison for this homecoming weekend. My Badgers split a series with North Dakota in hockey, and the football team CRUSHES the Minnesota Gophers 48-12 to keep Paul Bunyan's Axe, the prize for the victor of the storied rivalry. People are wearing shirts that say "Fuck Em Bucky" with a picture our mascot, Bucky Badger, throwing a football into the ass of Goldy the Golden Gopher. Other shirts simply say "Minnesota Golden Gophuck Yourselves". Add in some heavy drinking, Chipotle burritos, sleeping on floors and sofas and you have the ingredients to a perfect weekend. Now onto some music: The Bishops must be from the 1960s, because not many bands since have been able to almost perfectly emulate the feel and style of music that The Beatles and The Kinks developed in the golden age of simple pop music quite like these guys. They've already created some buzz for their debut EP "The Only Place I Can Look is Down" and will release the album on California's I Am Sound Records in November. With 2 to 2 and a half minute long pop gems, these guys have brought the 1960s BBC pop back in a big way. The first single and title track, "The Only Place I Can Look is Down" features harmonies similar to The Beatles and Kinks, and for some reason this song reminds me of Super Furry Animals. "In The Night" is more dancy and much more of a throwback. With drum rhythms almost identical to those played by Ringo Starr and layered harmonies, a signature of the 1960s brit-pop, The Bishops have turned back the clock. I played these two songs for my mom (who grew up in the 1960s and idolized The Beatles) and she fell in love with both. I'm pretty much repeating myself in different ways so why not just give you the music and let you draw your own conclusions. Jump on the bandwagon now, because soon it'll be full. The Bishops - The Only Place I Can Look is Down [download or die] The Bishops - In The Night [download or die] -Zack

College Update/Songs I Can't Get Out of My Head

So I haven't spoken to you guys much about my college experience thus far. And I wont. You guys dont read this blog to hear about me and my escapades, but instead to hear about our incredibly refined, often sexy music choices. Before I get to the music, I must make one plug for my school. The University of Wisconsin-Madison Badgers are now, according to the AP Poll, ranked 25th in the nation in college football, after thouroughly trouncing Northwestern, 41-9. The team, led by senior QB John Stocco, and freshman stud RB PJ Hill (who, by the way, is second in rushing yards in all D-I), are now 5-1 heading into this weekend's homecoming game against rival Minnesota. Not only that, but our men's and women's hockey team (both of whom won the national championship last year) are both ranked #1 in the nation. And as if that weren't enough, our men's basketball team has a preseason ranking as #8 in the nation, led by Big-Ten Player of the Year candidate Alando Tucker and senior point guard/Chris Rock lookalike Kammron Taylor. We also have some creative cheers for our student section (one half of the section yells "Eat shit", the other responds with "Fuck you"). But enough about our dominant sports, lets get on to the music... I've had a few songs completely stuck in my head the last week or so and I have no idea how to get them out. I thought maybe sharing them here with you would help, so here goes. +/- (plus-minus) - Summer Dress 2 [Iodine] This song is ironically named, because in my opinion, this song is very fitting for Fall. Airy, sweet vocals and gorgeous piano-ing make for a perfect song to listen to on your porch while watching leaves fall and curling up to your favorite book. I can only assume that would be perfect because, alas, me and books don't exactly get along. Definitely check out this whole album, Let's Build a Fire, and pretty much anything else +/- has put out. Tap Tap - Way to Go, Boy I know these guys have been blogged to death recently, but I'd like to think that I jumped on the bandwagon early. This summer, I was in love with Tap Tap's other single "100,000 Thoughts", but never really got around to writing anything about it (surprise surprise). This song reminds me of a somewhat more upbeat, less refined Arcade Fire, and it's definitely completely stuck in my head. The Blow - True Affection Another band that's been getting lots of blog love recently. I picked up this song in my first week here in Madison and it's been on heavy rotation since. The beat reminds me of D4L or Dem Franchize Boyz with the goofy, deep synth and snaps, but the song couldn't be any less hip-hop. I must warn you before you download. You will be snapping your fingers and imitating a girls voice for the next 2 weeks if you listen to this song. The Decemberists - The Crane Wife 3 The Decemberists need no introduction, so I'll cut to the chase. My favorite song off of their newest effort, The Crane Wife, this song is absolutely stunning both vocally and musically. Colin Meloy perfectly blends feelings of nostalgia and melancholy into this track, while somehow coming out with a finished product that cheers me up every time I listen to it. Teddybears - Cobrastyle Now here's a song that's been blogged to death. I picked up this song after I heard it on Entourage, and I've come to the conclusion that this song will NEVER get out of my head. It's Swedish/Rasta/Hip-Hop/Awesomeness, and i've put it on at every Badger tailgate party so far. Voxtrot - Trouble We here at ATG love Voxtrot, and this song just reaffirms our love. A little more upbeat than most of their work, it's definitely got the catchy chorus that will make it difficult to forget. The Whigs - Technology I'd never heard of these guys before someone sent me the song a few weeks ago. It's definitely got that catchy, upbeat vibe. Recommended for those unwilling to give up the fact that it's no longer Summer. These are the songs stuck in my head. Hopefully now you can all share my agony (or joy). Meh. On Wisconsin. -Zack

My Chemical Romance - Heaven Help Us

There's no question that My Chemical Romance's upcoming release, Welcome to the Black Parade, will eclipse their major-label debut, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge in grandeur. While their earlier release received high-acclaim for its infectious yet aggressive punk-revival attitude, it has been stated that their next album will carry with it a much more epic sound. Some have gone far enough to liken Black Parade to operatic-rock legends Queen and Meatloaf. Although that may be too extreme of a statement, you can definetly notice the change in the album's already released single/title-track. The reason I post this is because of the release of the album's single in the UK, which comes with a non-album track, "Heaven Help Us". The best way to describe this is, as alluded to earlier, a tame yet grand version of TCfSR's "Thank You For the Venom". My Chemical Romance - Heaven Help Us -Adrian

Happy Columbus Day!

Today (and last weekend) we celebrate a glorious event in 1492 when Columbus indeed sailed the ocean blue. We don't exactly celebrate the fact that Columbus cut off natives fingers if they didn't give him what he wanted, but really that's not important. What's important is that America (fuck yeah) wouldn't be here without this guy. Well, it would be here. Whatever. On with some themed music. Weezer - Across the Sea The Format - Oceans Air - Universal Traveler The Roots - Livin' in a New World The Album Leaf - Into the Sea The Weakerthans - Our Retired Explorer (Dines with Michel Foucault in Paris, 1961) So go eat a hot dog and sit on your La-Z-Boy. It's Columbus day, so be patriotic. Buy one of those mini American flags if possible too. -Zack

Ane Brun

Ane Brun had a lot of success with her release in May of this year with the extended version of 'A Temporary Drive.' She has an album 'Duets' out for everyone to purchase. As the title would suggest, the album is simply duets with a number of artists. I was unfamiliar with many of the artists she performed with on this album, but a few I knew included Syd Matters and Ron Sexmith. Other artists include Madrugada, Liv Widwell, and Tobias Froberg. Hands down, the best song I've heard on the record is "Love and Misery" which is a duet of Ane Brune and Tobias Froberg. It's flawless and beautiful. Ane Brun is from Norway, but since 2000 has lived in Sweden, where she runs her label DetErMine Records. Ane Brun - Love and Misery [Featuring Tobias Froberg] Ane Brun - Headphone Silence -Samantha

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists A to Z

Yes, I do have an unhealthy obsession with Ted Leo & the Pharmacists. In our second installment of A to Z (See Sufjan here), we take a look at Ted Leo and his fantastic crew, from Me and Mia to Kelly Clarkson. Note: Due to the large volume of songs in this post, I am only making the songs available for download for 1 week. Please go buy the albums if you haven't already. A is for "Army Bound", a demo track that Ted made available for download on the band website back in late February. This song, along with "Some Beginners Mind", was reviewed here in February. B is for "Biomusicology", off of The Tyranny of Distance. This is possibly my favorite song by my favorite artist off my favorite album, and it was featured on the All Things Go Night Drive Mixtape Two. C is for Concerts. Ted Leo is widely renowned for his incredible, passionate live performances. I am lucky enough to have seen him 6 times in person, and each show reaffirms my feeling that nobody puts on a show like Ted and his merry band of Pharmacists. C is also for "Counting Down the Hours" and "Criminal Piece", both off of Shake the Sheets (but I didn't make them available for download because I'm trying to let Ted sell some records.) D is for Washington, DC (the Dirty District), Ted's hometown, and the hometown of yours truly. Ted worked at a Potomac Video near my house and lived in Mount Pleasant, a neighborhood only five minutes from me. My brother actually met Ted in the bathroom of Spices, a thai-fusion restaurant in DC. If Ted reads this, he might be a bit creeped out. E is for EP's. Ted Leo & the Pharmacists have released 3 EP's; Treble in Trouble, Tell Balgeary, Bulgary is Dead, and Sharkbite Sessions. F is for Fort Reno. For those of you unfamiliar with Washington, DC, Fort Reno is a park right next to Wilson High School where local artists play free shows every Monday and Thursday during the summer. Artists such as Q and not U and Ris Paul Ric have played at Fort Reno, and Ted Leo has blessed the stage with his presence a handful of times. G is for "The Gold Finch and the Red Oak", off of The Tyranny of Distance, and also featured on the All Things Go Night Drive Mixtape. H is for Hearts of Oak, the Pharmacists 2003 LP, and also one of the best songs on that album. I is for Intelligent, Insightful, and Intellectual, all words used to describe Ted's lyrics. Many of his songs (My Vein Ilin, The One Who Got Us Out) have strong political messages. Others (Heart Problems, Me and Mia) discuss social and societal issues. All of his songs have some sort of message, and all the lyrics to the songs are well thought out and meaningful, something that is rare in today's music. J is for teJ leo(?) Rx/Pharmacists. This was the band's first official album, although Chris Wilson (drummer) and Dave Lerner (guitar) were not on the album. K is for Kelly Clarkson. Ted Leo has made an acoustic cover of Kelly's breakthrough hit "Since U Been Gone", which turns into a cover of the Yeah Yeah Yeah's "Maps". Download the song here. L is for "Looking Through You", a cover of The Beatles hit, which was featured on This Bird Has Flown: A 40th Anniversary Tribute to The Beatles Rubber Soul. L is also for "Little Dawn", another of my select few favorite Ted songs. AND, L is for Lookout! Records, the label that TL/Rx now release their music on. M is for "Me and Mia", the first single off of Ted's 2004 release, Shake the Sheets, and also probably the most popular and well-known TL/Rx song to date. The song sounds upbeat and dancy, but the lyrics are quite disparaging, as Ted addresses the controversial issues surrounding eating disorders. N is for Notre Dame. Ted graduated from the prestigious university in 1993 with a degree in English. That's right, Ted was, and still is, a Fighting Irish. O is for Octaves. Ted has the ability to sing in octaves so high I am completely humiliated when I try to sing along to his music in front of anyone. Ted has the amazing ability to prevent this high, at times falsetto, voice from sounding whiny, something that many artists these days fail to do. P is for "Parallel or Together", one of my favorite songs off of The Tyranny of Distance. I know I keep saying that every song is my favorite, but I truly feel that all of Ted's music is worth listening to and I really truly am in love with all of it. Every time I listen to a TL/Rx song, I feel as though that particular song is my favorite, until I put another TL/Rx song, which then becomes my favorite (does that make sense?). Q is for "sQueaky Fingers", off of The Tyranny of Distance, which features as gorgeous guitar line that takes the song out (ok ok, it's a stretch. You try finding something relevant with the letter Q). R is for Rx, the abbreviation for Pharmacy/ist/s. Hence Ted Leo & the Pharmacists becomes TL/Rx. S is for Shake the Sheets, Ted's most recent full-length release (2004), which is, in my opinion, his most upbeat and refined work to date. T is for "Timorous Me", off of Tyranny of Distance. "Timorous Me" features one of the coolest breakdowns in a song. EVER. Also, Timorous Me is the name of the fanblog for TL/Rx. (T is also for Ted Leo, but I figured you guys were smart enough to make that connection without me). U is for Updates. Ted constantly updates the band's website with his thoughts and critiques of contemporary issues (such as My Super Sweet Sixteen). V is for "My Vein Ilin", off of The Tyranny of Distance. This song has a very strong political message, and also is structured very interestingly, featuring only one long verse and building guitars and drums until an instrumental climax at the end. W is for "Walking to Do", by far Ted's most upbeat and positive track. This song also features a DC shoutout ("Rock Creek Park to the Ave., and on past the Zoo..."), making this song a favorite of me and my fellow chocolate city compatriots (alliteration!). X is for X-treme, an awesome adjective used to describe Ted in any situation. Y is for "You Could Die (Or This Might End)", off of The Tyranny of Distance. This song sounds like a demo, but to me it truly displays Ted's passion and emotion in a quick one minute and thirty seconds. Z is "Yo Zack! Love, Ted", which was what Mr. Leo wrote on the back of my t-shirt after a concert at the 9:30 club in DC. As you can see from this incredibly long post, I love pretty much everything about Ted Leo & the Pharmacists. I hope you enjoyed this mini-anthology. Again, due to the large volume of songs I'm putting up, I am only making these songs available for download for one week. Please please go out and buy all of Ted's albums. If anyone deserves the money, it's these guys. Here are the links to buy all the albums: Buy Shake the Sheets here Buy Tell Balgeary, Bulgary is Dead here Buy Hearts of Oak here Buy The Tyranny of Distance here -Zack

Redskins 36, Jaguars 30 (OT)

Best....weekend...ever. Music will return next week. -Zack

Look Mexico - The Crucial EP

I found this little gem of a band when I heard that Lujo Records (Drugstore Cowboys, Roy) had some new signees. Florida's Look Mexico is the closest any band has come to in recreating the sound of American Football - they pull it off phenomenally. However, I would hardly say they're the same. Firstly, the obvious difference in the production quality of both band's material - rather than possessing a rough, atmospheric sound, Look Mexico's recordings are more lush and vibrant. Look Mexico also demonstrates difference from its harbinger in style - while the band at times may share the same post-emo sound of American Football's "Honestly?", the guitarwork also falls into a more arpeggiated landscape, sometimes resembling the intricate yet driving hooks of Minus the Bear. Comparisons aside, Look Mexico's The Crucial EP makes me feel warm inside. It's feel-good music that should appeal to pretty much anybody. Look Mexico - Call Off Your Lap Dog Look Mexico - Guys I Need a Helicopter -Adrian

Ben Folds - Such Great Heights

This is pretty nifty, why not post it? I'm not sure whether this has been floating around the internet for a long time, but this is the first time I've ever seen it, so here you go. -Adrian

The Dear Hunter - Act I: The Lake South, the River North

The Dear Hunter is the opus of Casey Cresenzo, former vocalist, guitarist, and creative force behind Boston electro-posthardcore outfit, The Receiving End of Sirens. Cresenzo impressed many with his work in TREOS; their combination of traditional instruments with carefully synchronized electronic segments and anthemic hooks brought the band much acclaim from critics as well as establishing a dedicated fan base. But now all that is past and frankly, without Cresenzo, the band will never be the same. Fortunately he has decided to keep pursuing his musical endeavors through the Dear Hunter. Act I: The Lake South, the River North is the most well-orchestrated music I've heard in a long time. Each song, save for the short ones, is comprised of so many different segments. Within each song Cresenzo brings an amalgam of instruments together, including traditional, electronic, and orchestral (at times it seems like an entire symphony is backing him up). Cresenzo deservingly earns himself the title of maestro with Act I; it takes an advanced, musical mind to even begin constructing a mental image of the epic songs found on this EP. It's hard to fit the Dear Hunter into one genre, but I can tell you this: if you don't like Cresenzo's sound (which you honestly must be crazy not to) then you'll at least respect the music immensely for its intricate arrangments. That's something that can't be said for most artists today. The Dear Hunter - City Escape The Dear Hunter - The Inquiry of Ms. Terri The Dear Hunter - 1878 -Adrian

Georgetown Radio

If any of you remember, I took over my friend's radio show for a little bit last year. Well this time I've managed to snag my own slot, Tuesdays from 12-2pm on Georgetown Radio. So if you've got nothing else to do tomorrow why not listen to my first show? I haven't decided on a title yet, which I have to do at some point soon, so if anybody has any suggestions leave them in the comments. If you have any requests feel free to IM them to me (AIM: WGTB Requests). Thanks everybody! Click here to listen to Georgetown Radio -Adrian

The Flaming Lips in Charlottesville- 9/12/06

I experienced history. This past week, the Flaming Lips made their first stop ever in Charlottesville, VA, playing at the outdoor Charlottesville Pavillion and was without a doubt, one of my most memorable concert experiences ever. I was surprised to find only one opening band, Deerhoof. A three piece from San Francisco, Deerhoof's surprising combination of manic drumming, experimental art-rock, noise, and an adorable japanese singer caught my attention, but it was too difficult for me to appreciate the music, which I had never heard before. Also, considering how it was still light outside, Deerhoof had to play without the benefit of a serious lightshow. Interesting music, yes. Interesting live music, not quite. Putting Deerhoof behind though, I didn't know what to expect from the Lips. I have to say that I wasn't sure what to expect until after the girls in alien and santa claus costumes came out on stage. The band quickly followed them, without Wayne Coynes. Suddenly a huge plastic ball rolls out onto the crowd, containing Wayne inside. Then it all started. Wayne assumed his position on stage, the lights flared, and countless huge, blue balloons appeared out of thin air. I've never seen a show quite like it. Confetti cannons aimed out of the crowd at either end of the stage, while all manner of LED, strobe, and conventional lighting illuminated the stage from both the front and behind the band. The biggest eye catcher was the huge screen used as a backdrop for the show. They used the screen to project a wide variety of synchronized videos, from music videos, to pseudo-psychedelic images, to clips of japanese game shows. The most unique images, however, happened to come from a small camera attached to the microphone point up to Wayne's face, letting the crowd really see the emotion in his face as he adressed the crowd. They played all of their hit songs, and a few more that I had never heard, making a total set list of around 12 songs, including a double-encore. Like many bands, they encouraged crowd participation through sing-alongs, but I've never before heard a louder "YEAH-YEAH-YEAH...." You get the idea. Just to wrap up, there's no possible way that I can package the Flaming Lips' live experience in words, so I'd like to thank my friend Corrine for helping me capture the concert on video and putting it online.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ht06amGM2gU

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEhonskAIvs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=442adhGh_b0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jaNIvqs0T88

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHxbkog_QfE

-Ryan (finally writing again)

The Matches - Decomposer

What made the Matches' E. Von Dahl Killed the Locals stand out from the rest of their pop-punk compatriots was their spin on the genre. There was something about their sound that was raw and uncontained. Obviously something had to stand out in order to get signed to punk-pioneering label, Epitaph. This time around the band tweaks their sound a bit and tries to show that they're capable of more. Their sophomore effort, Decomposer, demonstrates efforts to play around with keyboards and electronics. Although it doesn't sound bad, it's difficult to see how the band will play some of these songs live unless there's a) an extra guy on stage or b) they simply press a button a la Panic! at the Disco to get the desired results. The band also takes it a lot easier on the pop-punk on their second album and takes an artsier approach to their music. As a result, they end up with a solid, refined rock album. Although this may not be their catchiest collection of songs, Decomposer is definetly a showcase of the band's maturing abilities as songwriters. The Matches - Salty Eyes The Matches - Sunburn vs. the Rhinovirus The Matches - Didi (My Doe Part 2) The Matches - Drive -Adrian

Finest Dearest

I can remember roughly a year ago downloading ‘Idaho’ by Finest Dearest and it playing in my iPod over and over… and over. Now, one member short, the five-piece group from San Francisco is mixing together a lovely little 7-inch that will come out at some point (though nowhere have I been able to find out when). Accompanying the release will be a tour through the northeast, so if you want to groove and you’re in the Seattle-Portland area, check them out, and then report back to me what you think of them live. From ‘Idaho’ to their new song off their 7-inch, ‘Making a Sound 1,’ the change in sound shows quite a leap in musical growth and maturity for them. Their sound has a bit more edge and everything sounds a lot more alternative. Though the instrumentals are noisier, Carly’s vocals remain wonderful as ever. You can befriend them on MySpace here, where you can find tour dates and listen to older songs. Finest Dearest - Making a Sound 1 Finest Dearest - March into Flames -Samantha

Samantha's Mix

Hey, I’m Samantha and I’m new to writing for All Things Go, and I’m pretty excited to be doing so. I’m 16 and a junior in high school in the city of Laurel, Maryland, a lovely suburb of DC. I enjoy the simple things in life, like waking up and walking around the house naked while drinking coffee (Fair trade coffee). It would be helpful to give readers some insight into my musical tastes, so naturally, I’m posting a ten song mix that represents my tastes. The music I like tends to be more on the eclectic side, rather than something that I could simply define in a few words. Karate – With Age Karate is just one of the few bands that can pull off guitar solos in every single song that I can actually enjoy. Karate broke up late last year (or early this year) and Geoff Farina is off doing his own solo thing that I haven’t been able to get into yet. The Decemberists – Los Angeles, I’m Yours This song has sentimental value, as it was the first “indie” song I ever heard. They also happen to be one of my favourite bands to see live, and I’ll be seeing them yet again when they come to DC in late October. Kings of Convenience – I’d Rather Dance With You All songs with anything orchestrated are always a great idea. Piano can also upgrade a song as well. Anything different then the simple guitar, bass, drum pattern is willing accepted in my book. Spoon – The Way We Get By (The Devil’s Dishes Rarities) The Way We Get By is hands down my absolute favourite Spoon song, and since the original version of The Way We Get By has already been posted, I’ll just post this [much better] version. It's a rough version, but the more rough, the better it is. Interpol – Slow Hands (Britt Daniel’s remix) I’m probably partial to this song because of a. Britt Daniel; b. added in piano made this song infinitely better; and c. there is a killer bass solo. I think 'a.' explains it all, but, who knows. Jose Gonzalez and The Knife – Heartbeats This is most likely the greatest idea for a mix ever. This song is stunning with either the Knife's version or Jose's. Jose has a talent like no other musician I've ever heard to take any song and make it even better than the original. Swan Lake – All Fires Essentially this song ties together my love for Wolf Parade, Sunset Rubdown, and Swan Lake all in one lovely piece. Jason Anderson - So Long Lo-fi or die? Jason Anderson is an amazing musician who used to bang the drums for Microphones and then went solo. Personally, I think it was a brilliant idea, because his lyrics are so simple, yet moving. Animal Collective – We Tigers May I bang like this? We Tigers is the song most likely to be heard in my car, and the most likely to annoy whichever car is next to me at a red light. Animal Collective is a band I couldn’t stand for the longest time, and now I am obsessed with everything they do. I try not to be close-minded when it comes to music, but it will sometimes take more than a push to get myself to like something. Sufjan Stevens - Borderline (Live at Judson College 11-19-03) It's Soof! 'Nuff said. Ennnnjooyyy. -Samantha

Fear Before the March of Flames - The Always Open Mouth

Colorado's Fear Before the March of Flames are back with a record that is sure to surprise awaiting fans. The Always Open Mouth, the much anticipated follow-up to 2004's Art Damage is the band's third Equal Vision Records release. What separates TAOM from their previous material is their expanded roster; with the induction of second guitarist Zach Hutchings and Billy Johnson on keys, the band has been able to add a new level of sound to their music. You can sense a certain "epicness" in every song. The guitar work is phenomenal; rather than constantly using distinct math-riffs in most of their songs (as it was in AD), the guitars experiment with other sounds, at times sounding ambient while at others uncharacteristically melodic and catchy. The keyboards go a long way as well, adding a well-placed electronic vibe to their music. Another thing I find great is the change in vocals. One complaint that I've had with the band in the past is the raspiness of David Marion's vocals. It's not that they're bad or anything, but at times it seems so inaudible that there really doesn't seem to be any use in writing actual lyrics. TAOM changes that; as well as tweaking the aforementioned problem, Marion switches it up more often, either speaking or giving a shot at singing himself (at least I think he does). There's still plenty of singing on guitarist Adam Fisher's part; his voice has always gone well with the band's music and only gets better this time around. Fear Before the March of Flames - Taking Cassandra to the End of the World Party Fear Before the March of Flames - Of Horses and Medicine Fear Before the March of Flames - Complete and Utter Confusion... Fear Before the March of Flames - ...As a Result of Signals Being Crossed All in all, this is a damn good album and was definetly worth the wait. Fans should be please once The Always Open Mouth hits shelves September 19th. -Adrian

Single: Plus 44 - When Your Heart Stops Beating

Word on the street is that the title track is going to the first single of Plus 44's debut album. "When Your Heart Stops Beating" has a very different vibe than the rest of their released material; it's a lot poppier than "Lycanthrope," even sounding 80's-ish at times. I'm still really excited to listen to the entire album. So far Hoppus has demonstrated that no track sounds the same. Hopefully the same can be said when When Your Heart Stops Beating hits stores in November. Plus 44 - When Your Heart Stops Beating -Adrian

Technology

I've meant to post on Chris Tsagakis' side project, Technology, for quite some time now. Tsagakis is more commonly known as the drummer for the Rx Bandits. In his spare time however, as well as being an accomplished artist on canvas, he also records electronic music of his own. I've only been able to find a couple of songs online, but I'm planning on ordering a copy of his cd in the near future. I suggest you all do the same (it's only six bucks, why not?). Until then, here's one of his tracks for download. "1337" is a fabulous, instrumental combination of electronic music with Tsagakis' innovative drumwork. Be warned though: the song clocks in at over thirteen minutes long. Technology - 1337 -Adrian

Plus 44

Now that the hype over Angels and Airwaves has settled, it's now time for the second of two Blink182 side projects to fully emerge. Plus 44 (Mark Hoppus, Travis Barker, Shane Gallagher of the Nervous Return, Craig Fairbaugh of The Mercy Killers), contrary to Mr. Delonge, have taken a more modest approach to their music. Everything's been kept pretty much under wraps until recently. Only now are we getting glimpses into what the album may sound like, as well as Mark's insight into the Blink breakup. Although only two songs have been released (one of which is only demo quality), I've got a feeling that Plus 44's debut album, When Your Heart Stops Beating, will be better than AVA's We Don't Need to Whisper. P44's two released songs, "No It Isn't" and "Lycanthrope," are both great yet completely different. Fortunately, Hoppus says we should expect a very diverse album, which should come as a sigh of relief for those of us who have become bored with AVA. As much as I enjoy Delonge's latest efforts, every track feels like some toyshop rendition of a U2 song. P44's WYHSB should be a well-rounded effort, containing plenty of electronic tracks as well as standard band tracks. Plus 44 - Lycanthrope Plus 44 - No It Isn't Dates for the band's first tour have been released. I suggest buying tickets for these show once they're on sale. It may be the first and last time they'll be playing club shows. -Adrian

Labor Day (It's a Holiday)

Cheers to a holiday that every child laments. Labor Day signals the start of a new school year, and while some old folks might be getting a day off from work, every child across America is pained to hear these two simple words. Here are a couple Labor Day-related songs to get you young chilluns ready for another year. You'll notice "Labor Day (It's a Holiday)" by Black Eyed Peas isn't available for download here. That was intentional. The Format - If Work Permits Hanalei - Nothing Works J Dilla - Workinonit Modest Mouse - The Devil's Workday Talib Kweli - Work it Out Aesop Rock - Labor Have a good Lazy, er Labor Day. Also, be sure to check out the Instrumental Mixtape below this post. It took me a while to put together, so you better appreciate it. bitch. AND, I'm still looking for an invite to Oink so someone help me out please. -Zack

All Things Go Instrumental Mixtape

Am I alone in thinking that sometimes lyrics or singing can get in the way of a beautiful song? I appreciate artists that can form a mood and feeling of a song without having lyrics to help listeners understand. I also hate songs that have no body but just monotonous "background" music and a voice to carry the song (see: Dave Matthews). Anyways, I thought it was about time that some bands that create excellent instrumental tracks get a chance to shine here at All Things Go. These may not be the best of the best, but these are songs that either I am into completely right now or that really capture a mood perfectly without lyrics. With that being said, here is the All Things Go Instrumental Mixtape. Enjoy. As usual, you can download the Mixtape as a whole directly below or download each song individually. All Things Go Instrumental Mixtape (.zip) (follow link and instructions) 1. Ratatat - Lex I am completely and totally in love with anything that Ratatat does so it comes as no surprise that this song, off their latest release, Classics, made it onto the mixtape. When the album first leaked, I had only had a chance to listen to "Wildcat" and "Tacobel Canon" (which I posted on earlier), but, on my trip to Martha's Vineyard, Derek of GWFAS informed me that "Lex" was the real gem of the album. With powerful drums, overdriven guitars and helicopter noises (yes, fucking helicopter noises), this song might just give "Seventeen Years" a run for it's money as the best that Ratatat has to offer. 2. Air - Alpha Beta Gaga Air is another one of those bands that puts out alot of instrumental music, but they aren't completely one-dimensional and do occasionally add lyrics to their work. This track, however, substitutes lyrics for whimsical whistling (alliteration!) and adorable synths. I can't tell if the melody towards the end of the song is a guitar, banjo, mandolin, uekelele, or whatever but I can tell that it makes me quite happy. 3. Royksopp - Eple I originally heard this song on Derek's Dance Dance...Dance M3, and immediately fell in love with the catchy, upbeat vibe. I am completely unashamed to say that "Eple" is actually my cellphone's ringtone and I double dog dare you readers to listen to this song and not get the whistling melody stuck in your head. When intoxicated, a listener of "Eple" might feel as though they are actually inside the song. True story. 4. DJ Shadow - Organ Donor I was first introduced to DJ Shadow by my brother Alex, and "Organ Donor" was the first song I heard. I wrote it off as semi-techno and forgot about the song altogether. I then listened to all of DJ Shadow's finest album, Endtroducing, including another Shadow favorite of mine, "Building Steam With A Grain of Salt", and I listened to "Organ Donor" again, this time with a more open mind. I took the song in a completely different way that time, so here it is on the mixtape. 5. Mountains in the Sky - Noah's Arkestra I wrote a post a few months back asking you guys to help me find the song from the NBA Playoffs commercial (no, not Remember the Name by Fort Minor). It turns out others were looking for it too, and we eventually found it. The creaky, almost spooky beginning segues perfectly into the drum beat, much like "Ghostwriter" (the next track on this mix), and climaxes quite nicely. 6. RJD2 - Ghostwriter This song is far and away my favorite song in this mixtape, and has been in heavy rotation for me all summer. Structured very similarly to "Noah's Arkestra, "Ghostwriter" is the creation of one of many beat-making white guys that have done some serious work with hip-hop artists, such as DJ Shadow, Keiran Hebden, and Cut Chemist. This song has that ability that I talked about of changing a mood and setting a tone, and, in my opinion, is the ideal summer chill song. 7. Four Tet - Everything is Alright I'm not going to pull a Derek and use words (or in this case, compound words) like demi-god to describe Keiran Hebden AKA Four Tet, even though I'm pretty sure that's the most fitting description. Four Tet was featured on the second edition of the Night Drive Mixtape, and he appears here again with his masterpiece "Everything is Alright". I don't know how to put into words how much I love this song, but I can say that when I listen to it, I picture myself in an indie film driving at night through the rain, possibly in a high speed chase. PS: I love you Derek. 8. A Small Good Thing - Saloon Dreams Another track that I discovered through on of Lizzy's sweet mixes, "Saloon Dreams" is a quiet, unobtrusive lullabye that's perfect for a relaxing night of reading or something (note: I don't read, so thats just a guess). While it is fairly monotonous, it's perfect background music in my opinion and really holds up without lyrics. 9. The Album Leaf - Twentytwofourteen I know I know. It's an unwritten rule that you can't feature the same song on two separate mixtapes. Well I say fuck unwritten rules. This song is too good to not be featured again. I'll be posting a little piece on these guys in the very near future as I just came across the advance for their newest album, Into the Blue Again. 10. Dntel - Your Hill Let's do some math. 1/2 Postal Service + Dntel + James Figurine = Jimmy Tamborello. While Jimmy is best known for his work with Ben Gibbard on The Postal Service, he does have a few projects of his own, including Dntel and James Figurine (who's been going around the blogs recently). Dntel is a favorite of ATG writer Austin, and he's the reason I first heard these guys. This song features an accordian and, even though this is the Instrumental Mixtape, Jimmy's quivering voice towards the end of the song. "Last Songs", another Dntel track from Jimmy's 2001 release, Life is Full of Possibilities, was featured on the ATG Sleep Mixtape. Bonus: Sebastian Tellier - La Ritournelle Only because I love you did I include a bonus track. I can't say I know much of anything about Tellier, other than that Derek and Everett are absolutely and completely in love with this song. I made this track a bonus because there are lyrics towards the end of the song, and because it needs to be heard. An incredible beautiful song beginning to end, and a great ending to the Instrumental Mixtape. I hope you all enjoyed this as much, if not more, than the previous mixtapes. As always, hit me up with some feedback in the comments. Let me know what songs you like most or songs that you think should be on the mix (for example, ask me why there is no Explosions in the Sky on this mix. Except don't. The answer is I forgot to put it on.). I'm interested to see how you guys feel about this mix in particular. Just remember, lyrics are nothing without the music behind them. Also, on a completely different note, I am desperately looking for an invite to Oink or even to borrow someone else's username. I'm willing to pay and it'd really help fuel my writing to get even more advances and singles and whatnot. So if you have an account or invite, please help me out and e-mail me at allthingsgoblog@gmail.com. Thanks. -Zack