Title: The Capsules
From: www.pitch.com by Chris Wagner

Revived as The Capsules, Julie and Jason Shields have updated the hypnotic sound their former group Shallow perfected on 1999's Jumping Away From Something Exploding. With Julie Shields' voice still a sweet recasting of Saint Etienne's Sarah Cracknell and the Sundays' Harriet Wheeler, the Capsules retain a sound unique to the area and seemingly ready for a nation of dorm rooms. Shallow's popularity has allowed the Capsules to swing into action with an instant fanbase.

Title: The Capsules
From: www.thezone.org

Shallow fans, take note: Jason and Julie Shields have taken a step sideways to form the Capsules, stripping down to a trio format to provide a mellower, simpler, more focused version of Shallow's lush brand of space-pop. Perhaps "stripped down" is the wrong term, though. Live, there are enough loops and samples incorporated into the set that it sounds like they have invisible members. With their debut CD due out later this year, as well as a song featured in a recent episode of Nickelodeon's SpongeBob SquarePants, the Capsules' profile is too high to be written off as a side project.

Title: The Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS - Low, The Winter Blanket, The Capsules
From: toomuchrock.com

More bands than you'd imagine make their stage debut before a large crowd. Due to some inside connection a band has a chance to get on a big show and decides ready or not, this is just too big of an opportunity to let pass. I'm sure it a similar story brought The Capsules to the stage, opening for Low. Although vocalist/guitarist Julie Shields admitted she was nervous, the band was definitely ready to play. Each and every dynamic was perfect and the band moved together flawlessly. Even treacherous devices like samplers went off without a hitch, due in part to the band's top notch equipment.

For Kansas City old-timers, seeing The Capsules was a sort of comfortable homecoming as band members Julie and Jason Shields not only comprised the majority of local space rock luminaries Shallow, but continue that musical vision. Julie Shields’ signature high, airy voice is accented along delicate guitar work, a bass that holds the melody and various effects and samples that complete the sound. Drumming for the duo is Kevin Trevino who was minimal, flowing and always appropriate.

Title: The Capsules - "Reverser" (Album Review)
From: thezone.org by Mark Cuthbertson

Long ago, from a galaxy far, far, away, a group of mysterious aliens landed in the American Midwest and formed a band known as Shallow. Their sounds were as vast as nebulae and as bright as stars. After a few years of playing their three-dimensional high-flying kid stuff to an international audience, the band jumped away as it exploded in the year 2000.

With Reverser, Julie and Jason Shields and Kevin Trevino have landed a new space vehicle from a more peaceful, more distant realm of outer space. The sweetness of Julie’s voice is captured in the most crystal-clear form to date on these dreamy space lullabies. Jason’s bass lines still follow the most melodic path to anchoring a groove with a more organic tone than in the past. In fact, the entire band has taken a positive step with more tasteful and restrained approach to its use of effects (the most effects-laden song is the instrumental “I Don’t Know Much About Zero”). None of these songs surpass a moderate ballad pace; rather, they float and drift in zero gravity while reflecting cosmic radiance. “They All Went Quietly” is the most up-tempo of the bunch with “I’ll Be the One” and “Bee Keeping” further exemplifying the relaxed atmosphere of the album.

Title: The Capsules – Reverser
From: Delusions of Adequacy by Kris

The Capsules are led by Julie and Jason Shields, who were formerly in the under-recognized band Shallow. They specialize in soaring melodies, with the beautiful vocals of Julie soaring over top. They create sparse, flowing, dreamy melodies with some very good pop hooks to keep the listener interested. The sparse nature of the music keeps the listener interested and hooked on what is happening in the song, creating a little bit of an ambient feel to some of the tracks.

"A Place To Stay" starts the disc off with a flowing dreamy melody mixed in with sound effects of crashing waves. Julie's vocals soar over the repeating guitar lines, sound effects, and rolling cymbal crashes. "I'll Be The One" makes perfect effects from mixing two vocal tracks with each other for a very interesting vocal melody. Julie's voice is very strong on both vocal tracks, and the soaring music eventually gives way to a more minimalistic guitar part. The Capsules prove that they are adapt at building up their momentum in their quieter moments and then bursting out with dream pop beauty.

"Bee Keeping" shows off how beautiful Julie's voice can be, and she puts the listener into a dream like state. Their are some swirling sound effects and keyboard work that lay down a cloudy track that accentuates the haziness of the song. "Lift Off" does exactly what its titles says, with soaring melodies building and dropping with some interesting effects adding to the song. "When You Were Young" uses the sparse music as a formation for some achingly beautiful vocals that can almost put the listener to sleep. The melodies just float in and out while the vocals combine perfectly, rarely interrupting the music.

The Capsules first release shows just how beautiful a good band can be, when they know what they are doing. The music flows on a dream-like level throughout the whole CD with Julie's voice being a powerful enough tool to break through. The songs occasionally blend into each other, at points making it hard to discern which song is which, but with such beautiful music it doesn't make that much of a difference. Reverser is a soaring dreamy release with some ambient moments that lets the listener know what the Capsules are all about.

Title: The Capsules – Reverser CD
From: Collective Zine UK by Ian Cavell

I wonder sometimes if I have any quality control left anymore - whatever the record if its nice, soft indie music and has a girl singing then I'm hooked - its that simple. Which means The Capsules were never going to fail because not only do they fulfill that criteria conclusively but they get me in a way no band has achieved before. The promo sheet went missing a long time ago so I know next to nothing about who or where the band are from - only that the warm, soothing music that is currently ebbing forth still astounds me with each and every listen. Vocals that are both strong and tender and perfectly set against the soft, ponderous music that it accompanies. One of those albums where each song causes some sort of emotional disturbance and you wonder how the next song could EVER hope to top the previous, but you're never really surprised that it does because by then its evident that this album is pretty fucking special. The best album I've heard all year, you will not find a better collection of lullabies for those quiet evenings alone.

Title: Reverser (Album Review)
From: lawrencerock.com by Fadil El Mansour (Editor)

If my memory is exact, on January 6th of last year, I made my way down to the Bottleneck along with a friend to watch the Appleseed Cast play with Everest and the Capsules. It was the time of year when Lawrence is basically dead for a couple weeks, so we jumped at every opportunity to watch a good show and share a pitcher of beer in the warmth of the Bottleneck. That evening, however, was suddenly interrupted by an invitation to leave the building due to the X’s on my hands; we were soon back out in the cold! But in the midst of all of this, I wasn’t terribly bothered, for I had just witnessed the brilliant musical performance of new local band the Capsules. Instead of upset at my plight, I felt relaxed and satisfied, which was a rather odd attitude to adopt after being kicked out of the Bottleneck. It wasn’t until a year later that I understood the serenity of that evening. The understanding came when I played Reverser, the recently released debut album of the Capsules.

The Capsules (Julie and Jason Shields from Shallow and Texas native Kevin Trevino who has played with the Kansas City Symphony) are not your average Lawrence musicians, and Reverser will prove it. “A Place to Stay”, the first track of the album, sets off the mood before the music even starts with the soothing sound of waves crashing on the beach, and an atmosphere reminiscent of Pink Floyd’s High Hopes, inviting you to sit back and close your eyes throughout the entire recording. This feature makes Reverser one of those albums that you just cannot interrupt without the feeling you haven’t finished something.

The Capsules give the classic guitar, bass and drums combination a whole new definition. It is a constant dialogue between Jason’s directing bass work - coupled with various effects here and there – and Julie’s soothing vocals which she complements with ornamental and delicate guitar play. Kevin Trevino’s simple, but carefully controlled drum/percussion work keeps a very precious rhythm going without disturbing in the least the serenity, and sometimes the “mystery” of the songs. In that respect I think “Goodbye Now”, the sixth track on Reverser, is a perfect example of the brilliant combination the Capsules have put together for the pleasure of our ears and also our visual minds.

There is a special ingredient in The Capsules' debut album. It makes the images that our brain visualizes in association with the music even more vivid and shapes them more precisely. It may be the clever combination of the lyrics and various sound effects as in “A Place to Stay” (crashing waves) or “Bee Keeping”. It could also be due to the somewhat mysterious, dark atmosphere generated by the songs (Goodbye Now, Reverser). Whatever it might be, The Capsules manage, hands down, to stimulate our senses and immerse us in their carefully written music, which makes Reverser one of those records that you just cannot play if you don’t have time for all of it.

Julie, Jason and Kevin knew it all along. You get a hint of it as soon as you go through the track list: the last track is “Reverser”, basically meaning that you're starting all over again, back to track 1. The progression of the theme through the song titles and the lyrics follows a cycle of feelings; a story in which the songs are the chapters. The opening tracks, “A Place to Stay” and “I'll be the One”, seem to communicate a positive desire for emotional stability ("Carry me … My heart will find a place to stay"). By tracks 5 and 6, “Lift Off” and “Goodbye Now”, there is a clear mind change and feelings move on gradually as we make our way through the album. The concluding tracks, “When You Were Young” and “Reverser”, denote regret, a look back at the past, a wish to start all over again and, once again, the desire for stability. This brings us to track 10 and draws our finger towards the Play button again (or the Repeat button if you're a maniac).

The Capsules' debut album, as a result, becomes a precious one, which could be a problem for those, like me, who love Reverser but have very little time to enjoy it the way it should be enjoyed: sitting back comfortably and riding it straight through. I can praise myself for recognizing good music when I hear it, and The Capsules' Reverser holds a very special place in my CD collection, and might soon do so in yours.