Check it out:

Okayplayer – “A warm familiarity while still sounding like nothing I’ve ever heard… Constantly evolving soundscapes, each song moving in a variety of different directions without sacrificing coherence… A penchant for guitar and synth solos with an aptitude that conjures a Discovery-era Daft Punk. These sound as though they are as natural as breathing to Wilkis, and his ear for timing and melody is quite remarkable, pointing to the real star of Pink and Purple: taste… PAP could be dissected endlessly on a formal level, but their true merit lies in the fact that they are best enjoyed for the way they feel, achieving the balls-to-the-wall sense of fun that keeps people returning to the ‘80s.”

Tuftsmania – “I’m being completely honest here, I’d never heard of Alan Wilkis and now wishing I had sooner. This sound is pure and shameless pop with a healthy 150 u/L drip of IV funk… Hand claps, crunked vintage synth, sslaaappin’ da baaahhsss maaahhnnn, a HORN and SAX (!!!!!!!!)… I’m hearing throwbacks to so many great and different classics… Hall & Oates, Brian Eno, Bowie, of course Michael Jackson (RIP). Shit’s on lock… Make sure you drop by his space and listen to every track in the player.”

Popmatters – “AW has reinvented himself again… A slice of unadulterated electrofunk heaven… A multi-instrumentalist of considerable skill—his guitar playing, in particular, used to drop jaws. But he sits now with fellow literate-NYers Chromeo, restricting himself to a single style, and embracing it without irony for the pure fun to be had. And this is some kind of fun… Song after song of pristine genre pieces with the quality to become new parts of the canon. So much so that you get this warm familiar feeling listening to the EP—not that you’ve heard it before, but that you’re rekindling an old friendship.”

Pasta Primavera – “The grooves on this bad mamma jamma (thass right) leave everything else in the dust… This thing channels P-Funk soaked with Rockwell’s sweat. If you’re looking for some summer jammy jams….go ahead and get that Wilkis funk.”

Ears of the Beholder – “I can’t wait to bust it out at some parties… Packed with some delicious funk flavors including synths, background singers, thumping bass and even some rapping… Basically it’s a nice big chunk of funk.”

Pigeons and Planes – “Damn sure does not disappoint! From the melodies, to the instrumentation, to the lyrics and even voice effects; this EP is dope!!”

Les Enfants Terribles – “Some of the most dance-friendly summer jams to come across my speakers in a while… ’80s synthesizer funk a la Prince, Rick James, Funkadelic and Stevie Wonder… Saturday night roller skating music, so lace up those skates, free your mind and your ass most definitely will follow.”

AM, Then FM – “Alan has taken all kinds of musical influences, tossed them into the blender and come up with new sounds that nonetheless sound familiar. Made in 2009… straight outta 1984… This is the record of my summer so far… Kool and the Gang — no, that’s Earth, Wind and Fire — meet Jeff Lynne and Harold Faltermeyer… Echoes of Peter Gabriel, Queen and Prince… I mention the influences only as a guide. Alan has reimagined them in remarkable fashion.”

Katarokkar – “The 808/casio/hooks/harmonies/dance-off awesomeness exploding from multi-instrumentalist Alan Wilkis’ new EP ‘Pink and Purple’ is an obvious tribute to 80s pop and cheesy beats… [AW] has expanded his artistic abilities to the dance floor and the results are rewarding.”

Pelican’s Perch – “In a genre all it’s own. You’ll notice almost immediately how upbeat and fun his music is… Alan has crafted the best 80’s throwback album of 2009 and an album I couldn’t recommend more to brighten your summer days a bit.”

I Really Love Music – “Quickly found myself grinning from ear to ear… A lovely set of 80s referencing pop music… Just sooo damn catchy… Very enjoyable.”

Snob’s Music – “Who knew a pasty hipster from Brooklyn could make ’80s throwback music this funky?”

Silence is a Rhythm Too – “Delivers a slice of prime Minneapolis sound funk.”

A Shout and a Whisper [DJ set in Second Life!!! Straight up virtual reality, baby!!!]

Undomondo – “6 songs of laidback electropop.”

Now Shake, Rattle, and Roll [Spanish blog]

Synthetic Rocks [Spanish review]

Planeta Pop [Radio Show in Madrid, Spain]

We Love Donuts Too [German? I think this one's German... a little help!]

Speed of Dark

Listening to “Thriller” is my first musical memory, as I’ve told many a friend over the years, and as my parents know all too well. They played it for me when I was no more than 5-years-old, and I just freaked out. Ran around the house, danced like a maniac, and let it all hang out. And as I listened to “Thriller” again last night, I was consumed once again with that same joy and ecstatic, uncontrollable mania… If you can believe it, after the hundreds of listens I’ve had to each of his songs since childhood, I STILL managed to hear things last night that I’d never noticed before… That, folks, is just a TINY testament to the sheer genius and total mastery that is MJ’s music.

For every party that kicked off with “Billie Jean,” for every dance-off that “PYT” ignited, for every wedding/bar mitzvah/awkward-family-gathering at which “Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough” yanked people from their seats, there is still something current, fresh, and visionary in each of his songs… I never wanted to be one of those “they-don’t-make-’em-like-they-used-to” types, but for MJ, the rule actually applies.

His ability to reach people of all ages, races, and religions, from all around the world, decade after decade, is simply unparalleled – his music deserves the extremely rare title of “universal,” and believe me, there can’t be more than 5 or 10 other people on the definitive list… Bach, Mozart, Miles Davis, The Beatles, being a few others.

I’d like to take a moment to list some of his classics, because even though we all know every word to every one of these, it’s nonetheless remarkable to see them all side by side (and mind you, I’m not even getting into the Jackson 5):

Bad
Beat It
Billie Jean
Black or White
Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough
Heal the World
Human Nature
Man in the Mirror
PYT
Remember the Time
Rock With You
Smooth Criminal
The Way You Make Me Feel
Thriller
Wanna Be Startin Something

I’m not even close to listing everything here, but just reading these over opens the memory-flood-gates for me…

And on that note, I’d like to invite any and all of you reading this to comment below with a happy MJ memory of your own, or perhaps a way in which his music has affected you positively, or inspired you at some point in your life…

Michael, thank you. It goes without saying that your songs will live on, but we will miss you so much.

-Alan

Got another batch of nice write-ups this week – check ‘em out!

True to Sound – “6 songs which all offer something different vocally and all leave a distinct impression… If you like fun, synth driven pop you should like this.”

Hello, My Name Is Kevin John Gomez – “A funky adventure, and I want to invite you all along… The ‘beware of dance’ warning applies.”

Ickmusic – “In constant rotation since it landed in my inbox… There is something immediate and familiar about the tunes… Concentrated and intense… The juxtaposition of the electronic and analog meshes perfectly. ‘N.I.C.E.’ could bring a tear to George Clinton’s eye it’s so funky, and ‘Gotta Get You Back’ makes me long for the days of my youth and is a rollerskating rink classic… an early contender for the track that I will wear a spot on the hard drive with… ‘Time Machine’ builds to a completely unexpected epic guitar driven finale that absolutely begs for a continuation… if you still own a Swatch, love Hyper-Color, Rubik’s Cube and Brat Pack movies, look no further because it’s Mr. Wilkis’ world and he’s here to make you dance.”

Stop Okay Go – “The lazy Duane Allman-ish riffs, the falsetto and the echo effect …which could have possibly sounded a genre-mixing mess somehow all work together nicely”

Disco Demons – “Alan Wilkis shouldn’t be a new name to you… 80s-influenced, retro dance tracks with various vocalists and guest artists, definitely the right soundtrack for a nice summer day”

2 Trombones and a Crossbow (video blog… posted my only video, NOT from Pink and Purple, but who’s counting? LOL)

Feel It – “Full of songs with a feel good factor… All six tracks on the EP undeniably give more than a passing nod to the synthesised 80s (they tip the hat, and shake hands too!) but at the same time sound wonderfully fresh. There is something about Alan’s music that just makes me feel happy… Fresh AND Retro”

The Coolest Out – “It’s real cool, no really like really cool”

Mojophenia – “Deep retro beats, funkier at twenty paces than a classic Streetsounds compilation, Alan Wilkis verges precariously on the eccentric side of craziness. Unbelievably home-recorded, Pink And Purple is a non-stop Eighties freak show. A groovy basement of fuzzy beats, retro dance and big haired soul… Threw the tracks on my iPod and turned it up real loud, then God invented dancing.”

317 Electro – “Has an 80s synth vibe that resembles a hint of Chromeo. Catchy, vibrant, and upbeat… Check it out for some fresh Electro-Funk / Retro-Pop”

Azltron – “Reminiscent of Prince playing with Cybotron. Hand claps and synth bass cascade over pure pop seduction… If you’re looking to get a house party started, Alan Wilkis’ ‘Pink and Purple’ will not dissapoint… Electro-funk with a retro-futuristic edge.”

Snob’s Music – “Alan Wilkis’ music isn’t what you’d expect to hear in 2009… a throwback to the decadent days of the 1980s… Dance/glam/techno pop fusion… Reminded me of summer road trips in the early ’80s… Wilkis has no problem filling these tracks with hooks. Songs like “Dance With You” and “N.I.C.E.” are instantly catchy. He also deserves credit for making a record that relies heavily on synthesizers and keyboards, yet doesn’t overwhelm the listener with those sounds… One of those summer records that you can’t help but embrace”

America Runs on Starbucks – “Wilkis continues to blow me away with blasts of mid-80’s inspired pop reminiscent of a Michael Jackson swagger… Wilkis blends a futuristic flock of beats with vintage synths to create a melodramatic pot of electro-pop stew… A non-stop roller coaster ride filled with frenzied loops and laden in high flying handclaps… Genre jumping at its finest”

KO The Legend – “ITS NUTS. It’s on iTunes so buy it!!” (Yes, please… BUY IT, INDEED [click here]!)

Ickmusic – This one is a guest post I wrote for my pals at Ickmusic (which you should check out and read for your daily music fix, ANYWAY). It’s called the “Friday Five,” and entails me hitting shuffle on my iPod and writing about the first five tunes that come up. Some good stuff in there: Earth Wind and Fire, Squarepusher, The Kinks, André Popp, and my beloved Tortoise… And you get to read me rambling on like a big dork… What could be better, honestly?

Thanks to all the kind writers out there that took a chance on me this week, and thanks to YOU for reading HERE!

Much love,
Alan

New AW song posted online today – it’s called “Dance With You,” and it’s about the feeling of wanting to dance with someone… clever, I know… I like to describe this one as a “Jump” contest between Van Halen and The Pointer Sisters – check it out at any of the following:

Myspace
Muxtape
Facebook
Audio/Video

And re: the Van Halen vs. Pointer Sisters contest, please watch the following videos because they a) are amazing, and b) I need your help deciding which song really JUMPS higher:

If you haven’t yet, go pick up your copy of “Pink and Purple” today!

PINK AND PURPLE on iTunes
PINK AND PURPLE CD’s

Lastly, thank you so much to those of you that made it out last night for my little release party! I had so much fun, devoured many a cupcake, and I hope you did, too!

From Russia With Love,
Alan

“Pink and Purple” is now officially for sale on iTunes, and you should go buy yourself a copy IMMEDIATELY! And while you’re at it, be a sport and drop me a review – I’d REALLLLLLLLLLLY appreciate it:

PINK AND PURPLE on iTunes

Also, posted another song from the record today for y’all to check out – this one’s called “Snuggle Up to Nail Down” – I like to think of it as a Michael Jackson cameo in the movie, “Beverly Hills Cop.” Check it out at your preferred method of audio-streaming:

Myspace
Muxtape
Facebook
Audio/Video

And lastly, don’t forget to visit wilcassettes.bigcartel.com to pick up a CD – limited supplies left, so get ‘em while there hot!!!

I LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOU LOVE YOUUUUUUU!!!!!

Love,
Alan

The “Pink and Purple” reviews are starting to trickle in… Here’s what some of the kind bloggers out there have to say so far:

Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner – “It’s a freaking blast with an 80’s/electro flashback.”

Ruby Hornet – “6 heavily 80’s inspired joints”

Attack! Attack! Attack! – “An incredible 80s future funk masterpiece, reminiscent of Prince and akin to earlier Chromeo.”

Daftwho? – “Brings back good memories of innocent and new electronic sounds… It is a journey of soothing melodies, island sounds, rock riffs, haunting vocals and computer music.”

Too Many Sebastians – (Referring to “The Hustle”) “Quite frankly a very magical piece of music, it has some similaraties to somebody like Ratatat and has this very melancholic M83 vibe too… a testament to how talented and diverse this guy is.”

Ederblog – “From another dimension… Melodies that stick, fresh sounds that last, licks, and hooks… Alan has something new here… When this EP is fading out, you will be there pressing for repeat, wanting more, that’s for sure.”

Snooty – “Gave the album a spin and was really impressed, this guys got talent.”

B-Town Hit Parade – Uhhhh… I don’t speak Icelandic, but hopefully this one’s good :)

Chic Moustache Club – “It’s like very good old funk but it’s just released! Pink and Purple is our favorite, really adorable.”

Revenge of Rob Gordon

Something Chewie – “Filled with enough energy to power an entire city… The vivacious energy and its determination to break typical genre definitions make it a perfect choice for the eclectic musical choices on Something Chewie.”

etnobofin – “A deep dive into the synthesised swamp of Reagan-era soundscapes and electrolysed beats… Wilkis always sounds like he’s having a great amount of fun, whether its dressing up as Rick James backed by the Nintendo Sisters on Snuggle Up to Nail Down (complete with ridiculous-but-appropriate autotuned vocals), or filtering percussion through a DeLorean’s flux capacitor on the EP’s title track. On N.I.C.E., Wilkis’ white-boy disco fiend is out on the town looking for his material girl, and everything on the scene is pitch-perfect: the swirling synth pads, the rap outro and ‘Ooh boy, show me whatcha got’ female BVs… With music as wilfully wrought as this, Wilkis takes it to another level.”

What to Wear During an Orange Alert? – I’s on the WATCH LIST! Woo hoo!

Thank you thank you thank you to all of you wonderful people for listening to my lil’ EP!

That’s all for now! Shake it a little for me this weekend!

Much love,
A

In anticipation of the full-scale digital and physical release of my new record (”Pink and Purple” for the short-term-memory-deficient), I’ve begun putting up the new tunes to stream on my Myspace, Muxtape, Facebook, Audio/Video page, etc…

Today’s new tune is the title track, “Pink and Purple,” and at the moment, my personal favorite (although that changes every other day, for me at least…)

I will be putting up one song every couple of days to give y’all a moment to process, digest, smile, laugh, play, hopefully not reject, and REALLY dance to each one. So keep checking back for the new tunes, ENJOY EM, and spread the word!!!!

Also in other news, I’ve succumbed to the powers of Twitter! FOLLOW ME on there to keep up to date with all things AW, what I’ve been listening to, shows I’m checking out, and other mundane things I tend to do on a daily basis.

Lastly, don’t forget to pre-order your physical copy of the record by visiting wilcassettes.bigcartel.com!!!

That’s it for now, babies!

Much love,
Alan

Friends!

Happy to announce that the “Pink and Purple” pre-sale officially begins tomorrow – you will be able to purchase CDs directly from me from my store at wilcassettes.bigcartel.com for the incredibly low-price of $6.99 + shipping/handling! And while you’re at it, if you haven’t already, grab yourself a copy of my last album, “Babies Dream Big.” I’ve only printed up a limited number of discs, with beautiful artwork from the unbelievably-talented Chad Rush, so get ‘em while they’re hot!

I’m so intensely pumped about this album – it’s been a long-time coming, almost a year since I started working on it, and I’m so happy to finally share it with you.

I will be posting songs from the album every few days, starting Monday next week, so you’ll be able to stream the tunes from my Audio/Video page, as well as all the usual suspects (Myspace, Last.FM, Facebook, Muxtape, etc…)

And also, if you’re not a CD-buying type, the record will be up on iTunes, Amazon, eMusic, and what not within the next few weeks.

Stay tuned for more info, and keep it ridiculously real!