5 records you may want to check out.

its official. its no longer summer. new seasons call for new music populating the speakers. are you looking for something fresh and new to break the monotony of all that taylor swift, one direction, and maroon 5 clogging up the air waves? heres a few of my recent favorites that you may want to give a listen to...

1. mumford and sons "babel"
this album just screams october to me. it takes the traditional americana-style instrumentation and song structure to new heights - recalling the grandeur of U2 and coldplay. its definitely the most powerful banjo-starring album you will have heard in a long time (or ever). special props go out to the 'deluxe edition', featuring a cover of simon & garfunkel's fantastic "the boxer", along with the album closer that somehow didnt make the album, "where are you now".

standout tracks (beside those two) are "i will wait", "holland road", and "ghosts that we knew".

2. john mayer "born and raised"
if you know any of mayer's previous music, this album wont come as too much of a surprise. luckily though, he kicks back a bit here, bringing out some of that california/country feel that just sets a great vibe throughout. its a solid listen from front to back... a true album in the age of $.99 single song downloads.

but... if you have to pick just a few, i'd suggest "queen of california", "walt grace's submarine test, january 1967", and "love is a verb".

3. the black keys "el camino"
hey - i like the black keys! i bet you didn't know that. as a matter of fact, im wearing a black keys shirt as i type this. this album has been out all year, and many people have come to know and love the keys from the album's standout singles "lonely boy" (have you seen that video!?!) and "gold on the ceiling". this album will rock your face off. it, along with their previous album "brothers" are perennial favorites in the stahl house (as well as my art room). if you haven't heard them yet, do yourself a favor and head over to itunes right about... now.

4. the avett brothers "the carpenter"
these guys played with bob dylan at the grammys (along with the aforementioned mumford and sons) a few years back. it garnered them a lot of much-deserved attention. their new record is another modern take on traditional american song writing and instrumentation. a variety of stringed instruments (including banjo, mandolin and acoustic guitar) take center stage, along with piano and the interweaving harmonies of the brothers scott and seth. its great crunchy fall music to go with your pumpkin spice latte (and yeah, starbucks probably sells it at their register)... and somehow it manages to rock pretty hard.

standout tracks are "february seven", "the once and future carpenter", and "live and die".

5. sea wolf "old world romance"

sea wolf finds itself in a realm somewhere between the cure and matt pond pa (if you've never heard those bands... what are you waiting for?!?)... or for a more recently comparison, they sound like the shins more mellow cousins. its the perfect music for a grey rainy day. good music to get lost in and make some art to.

top 3 tracks are "old friend", "priscilla", and "changing seasons".

mr. rogers 'garden of your mind' remixed

i'm sure that many of you share my fond memories of watching mr. rogers as a kid. learning about the world and all of its possibilities... and the importance of creativity and make-believe.
what a magical man.
check out this new video from the PBS digital studios. supposedly there are more to come.

Beatles mix

i call it a mixtape. they call it a playlist.
whatever you call it - this mix rules.

...as requested by drawing 2...

1. come together
2. across the universe ('let it be... naked' version)
3. dear prudence
4. here comes the sun
5. we can work it out
6. penny lane
7. while my guitar gently weeps
8. i'm only sleeping
9. the ballad of john and yoko
10. in my life
11. within you without you
12. norwegian wood
13. get back
14. don't let me down
15. the fool on the hill
16. blackbird
17. happiness is a warm gun
18. help!
19. a day in the life
20. eleanor rigby
21. strawberry fields forever
22. for no one
23. nowhere man
24. yesterday
25. let it be ('let it be... naked' version)

new mix :: the summer divide

you'll be hearing this a lot in class...

want a copy? let me know.

artroom playlist.

curious about this week's music... yes, it's a lot of bob marley.

a tribe called quest - mix
"almost famous" soundtrack
"amélie" soundtrack
the black keys - brothers
bob dylan - blood on the tracks
bob marley & the wailers - babylon by bus
bob marley & the wailers - kaya
bob marley & the wailers - live at the roxy
bob marley & the wailers - natty dread
bob marley & the wailers - rastaman vibration
bob marley & the wailers - talking' blues
john mayer - born and raised
michael kiwanuka - home again
morphine - the night
norah jones - little broken hearts
red hot chili peppers - mix
rubblebucket - mix
the xx - xx
"electronic meets organic" mix
"wayfarers" mix

artroom playlist.

some AP week artroom music....

beastie boys - mix

bob dylan - blonde on blonde

bob dylan - blood on the tracks

bob dylan - the freewheelin' bob dylan

bob dylan - highway 61 revisited

bob marley & the wailers - burnin'

danger mouse - mix

iron & wine - mix

new multitudes - s/t

michael kiwanuka - home again

norah jones - little broken hearts

rubblebucket - mix

vampire weekend - contra

'songs to stay in' mix

'focus' mix

'some wind' mix

'electronic meets organic' mix

its definitely been a bob dylan kind of week....

artroom playlist.

curious about this week's music???

'amelie' soundtrack
bob dylan - mix
bob dylan covers mix
bob marley & the wailers - catch a fire (jamaican version)
bon iver - bon iver, for emma for ever
danger mouse - mix
digable planets - blowout comb
the evens - the evens
iron & wine - our endless numbered days
michael kiwanuka - home again
norah jones - little broken hearts
radiohead - king of limbs, mix
ray lamontagne - mix
ryan adams - mix
sam cooke - the rhythm and the blues
thievery corporation - 'babylon central' soundtrack
vampire weekend - contra
zero 7 - simple things, when it falls
'electronic meets organic' mix
'showers flowers lion lamb' mix
&
lee perry - reggae genius: 20 upsetter classics

artroom playlist for the week

curious what you heard this week???

'amelie' soundtrack
band of horses - mix
beirut - the rip tide
the black keys - brothers
bob marley & the wailers- catch a fire
danger mouse & daniele luppi - rome
death cab for cutie - codes and keys, transatlanticism
the evens - the evens
jack johnson - mix
jack white - blunderbuss
little roy - battle for seattle
mazzy star - so tonight that i might see
nick drake - bryter layter, pink moon
norah jones - little broken hearts
mozart - violin concertos 1 & 2
real estate - days
the smiths - mix
thievery corporation - the mirror conspiracy
haydn - string quartet in c major, piano concerto in d major
'under the covers' mix
'snow day' mix
'wait, snow?' mix

artroom playlist

curious what you heard in class this week???

the black keys - brothers, el camino
bob marley & the wailers - catch a fire (jamaican version)
crosby, stills, nash & young - mix
death cab for cutie - mix
gorillaz - demon days
gotye - making mirros
horse feathers - house with no name
iron & wine - mix
jack white - blunderbuss
jakob dylan - women and country
new multitudes - s/t
jonsi - we bought a zoo (score)
m. ward - mix
morphine - the night
nick drake - bryter later, pink moon
norah jones - come away with me, little broken hearts
the notwist - neon golden
mozart - violin concertos #1-5
portishead - dummy, s/t
sam cooke - the rhythm and the blues
'wait, snow?' mix

artroom playlist for this week

curious what you heard this week in the artroom?

"amélie" soundtrack

birdy - birdy

the civil wars - barton hollow

disable planets - blowout comb

dr. john - locked down

efterklang - magic chairs

iron & wine - our endless numbered days

norah jones - come away with me

mozart - violin sonatas (andrew manze, richard egarr)

the postal service - give up

rubblebucket - mix

sam cooke - the rhythm and the blues

thievery corporation - "babylon central" soundtrack

zero 7 - simple things

zero 7 - when it falls

my 'be present' mix

my 'solitude' mix

my 'focus' mix

my 'wait, snow?' mix

my 'old windows let the cold in' mix

artroom playlist for this week

wondering what you heard this week? here it is:

the civil wars - barton hollow
digable planets - reachin'
digable planets - blowout comb
efterklang - magic chairs
great lake swimmers - lost channels
haydn - symphonies #45, 94, 101, & 104
mazzy star - so tonight that i might see
mozart - violin concertos #1-5
the postal service - give up
ryan adams & the cardinals - cold roses
the shins - my classroom mix
the xx - s/t

zero 7 - another late night (dj compilation)

zero 7 - simple things

'the hunger games' soundtrack
my 'focus' mix
my 'wait, snow?' mix

artroom playlist for this week

curious what you've been hearing in class this week?

dawes - nothing is wrong
the delkany string quartet - haydn's string quartet in c major
the head and the heart - s/t
jose gonzalez - in our nature
junip - fields
moby - play
tuatara - breaking the ethers
the wooden birds - magnolia
zero 7 - simple things
zero 7 - when it falls
the hunger games soundtrack
my 'wayfarers' mix
my 'first sun again' mix

new mix.

sun and summer weather in spring inspired this new mix. let me know if you want a copy.

new mix.

tons of new great rock 'n' roll lately. 

if you want a copy, let me know.

new mix cd!

curious what you're hearing in the artroom recently?
here is the new mix that we've been listening to. if you want a copy, let me know.

'70 million' by hold your horses

thanks to krysta, claire, and jean for sending this my way.
what a great utilization of art history...
who ever said music video was not art?

see how many paintings you can name...

70 Million by Hold Your Horses ! from L'Ogre on Vimeo.

mark lanegan imix.

i published my first imix last night on itunes. its a collection of songs that mark lanegan sings on.
if you dont know who he is, you should check this playlist out - he has the kind of rich voice that you dont find often, something like a mix between johnny cash, tom waits, and kurt cobain.

my top 12 albums of the decade

so its that time of year where people are making lists... and theres more of them this year than most because not only is it the end of the year, but its the end of the decade. it got me thinking about making my own list. my top albums of the 2000's. i gotta say, i was worried about music around the turn of the century/decade. really worried. but there were a ton of albums that given me confidence about the state of music, and creative thought in the world... and by the end of the decade, it seems that alot of this independent-minded music has started to win.

so here ya go - 12 albums to check out if you havent already. and if its been a few years since you've heard them, dig out the old cd or look them up on itunes and give them a fresh spin.

12. mastodon - crack the skye :: there are few really heavy albums that i can listen to on a regular basis (achilles and metallica withstanding)... but this is an album that consistently finds its way back into rotation. i think its because there is a real soul to it. its not just blast beats and screaming or groaning. the music is is powerful and heavy, but there seems to be a heart beating below the weight of the music. and there's great vocals.

11. pearl jam - backspacer :: a true return to form - full of muscular pop and rock songs and a few spectacular ballads. the vocals are strong, as are the melodies and hooks. if you liked pearl jam back in the 90s, you should definitely check this album out. its a concise half hour of great rock n roll.

10. john mayer - continuum :: i realize that this pick sounds wussy, but its a solid blues/folk/soul/rock album. its pretty perfect if you take off 'waiting for the world to change' (and just make it its own single). it sustains a continuous vibe throughout, and doesn't go in the normal cheesy lyrical directions that his records typically do.

9. the postal service - give up :: i think i have listened to this album more than any other album that has come out this decade, because it is perfect artroom music. when i first heard it, it was so fresh and different. ben gibbard's voice floats perfectly above and amongst the textural electronic beats. i can't wait for more music from this duo.

8. my morning jacket - it still moves :: my first introduction to one of my favorite bands. they are a wonderful mix of neil young and radiohead. it just feels like REAL music. 'nuff said.

7. modest mouse - the moon & antarctica :: to be honest, i didnt begin to love this album until after i heard their 2 more recent albums. but after hearing this album, it is obvious that it is their best work. it has an energy and flow that the others lack. this is a real gem of the turn of the century.

6. the black keys - attack & release :: i remember reading about the black keys in rolling stone - 2 dudes from crumbling urban ohio playing indie garage blues. it sounded like a cool premise, and with the addition of producer danger mouse, this album cooks. it has a wonderful atmospheric presence that accents the texture and sensitive muscle of the music.

5. arcade fire - neon bible :: indie rock that channeled springsteen. recorded in a church. tons of interesting instruments and multiple vocalists, both creating unique sonic textures. its a little dark but still manages to be uplifting. the perfect winter album.

4. radiohead - kid a :: this one shows up at the top of many many decade-end lists... and it deserves to be there for sure. i didn't think they would be able to top 'ok computer', but this took their fusion of rock and electronic elements to a new level. they were able to fuse passion and detachment into one cohesive package.

3. death cab for cutie - transatlanticism :: i have to thank rob & mandi on this one - they suggested i check this album out. i did, and havent looked back since. death cab has become one of my favorite bands - they have continued to grow and push since this record, but it still stands as their most complete statement. it felt so fresh when i heard it, and it remains that way today.

2. iron & wine - the shepherd's dog :: i loved sam beam's voice from the first time i heard it. but at the time, i was a bit bored by the minimalist instrumentation that backed it (basically just his guitar... very lo-fi recording). 'the woman king' ep came out, and i was more interested. but it lacked a full, solid body of songs. then came the 'the shepherd's dog', recorded with a full band. this, to me, is the quintessential indie folk album. off-kilter rhythms and instrumentation, dynamic shifts within songs as well as between songs, and abstract thought provoking lyrics. this album has been in constant rotation since it was released - and i have a feeling it will continue to be that way. it takes me someplace far away, but is still grounded here in the earth. listen to it and you'll get what i'm saying.

1. wilco - sky blue sky :: this album was all i could talk about for 6 months after it came out. its all i wanted to listen to, it was the first thing i recommended to anyone, and it showed up on all my mix cds. it is the closest thing to a perfect album that i can find - not just in this decade, but its up there with jeff buckley 'grace', pearl jam 'ten', and miles davis 'kind of blue' for me in the realm of complete, perfect musical statements. its not the most exciting album of all time (that title may to go mastodon 'crack the skye'), but with the addition of nels cline on guitar, jeff tweedy found his classic rock and avante-garde partner. this album is escape. its a worship of love and life. its simplicity and subtlety. if nothing else, listen to 'impossible germany' and see for yourself.

elvis costello and u2 mashup live.

so cool.

the snow falls, its time for the black keys...

i woke up this morning at 5:21.
it was december, and there was snow on the ground.

i've been listening to "we brave bee stings and all" by THAO WITH THE GET DOWN STAY DOWN for the past few days on heavy rotation ((highly recommended))... but the blustery morning seemed to call out for THE BLACK KEYS last album, produced (and heavily influenced) by danger mouse. its called "attack and release".
it was the perfect choice for this morning... some garage blues, some sludge, and just enough aged texture to make it sound as if it had been around for longer than 2 years.

i'm looking forward to the drive home.