
Although most people don't enjoy having to dispose of all the falling leaves, Autumn is a difficult season to dislike. Before becoming a chore, those same leaves morph into brilliant splashes of color and combine with crisp, sunny days and chilly nights to create a time of year that's almost magical. In our area of the Midwest there are a lot of forested hills and valleys that not only provide a gorgeous view for the locals, but also draw a lot of visitors from outside the area. In addition to the leaves, a big part of the [...]

I know it feels like a lingering summer out there, but I'm anticipating the upcoming chill and crunchy leaves that so often brings vaguely gothy new wavey stuff like this to mind. Is it overwrought? Will I ever outgrow it? Listening to these tracks back-to-back, gotta say no and no. I don't even care if the second one is double its appropriate length, that chorus is just tasty. Sad Lovers and Giants - Vendetta Sad Lovers and Giants - Man of Straw
Artist: Meta.83 Title: Autumn Leaves EP Label: Liebe*Detail Digital Cat nr.: LDD007 Genre: Electronica Quality: 320 kbps Source: WEB Rls date: 10-01-2011 Webstore: beatport.com Tracks: 01. Opening Titles 5:16 02. Metropolis 6:13 03. Alles Ist Triphop (Remix) 6:03 04. Antrieb 5:20 05. End Titles 5:12 Download from Oron

I'm very selective when it comes to jazz artists, but Chet Baker is one of my favorites. What I love most about his music is precisely what he is often criticized for - his voice. Chet's warm, subtle croon and skillful trumpet playing are exhibited splendidly in She Was Too Good For Me . Originally released in 1974 and viewed by some as Chet's great "comeback," the classic album has been remastered by CTI Records for its new 40th anniversary edition. Beginning with a lovely rendering of "Autumn Leaves," this moody and romantic collection remains one of Chet's best. [...]

Oh snap, it's Bill Nelson again! Songblague has been showing him a lot of love this year , and it's because he keeps filling my head with notes that sparkle. It's actually a little alarming how much I'm not getting sick of him. Or maybe I'm just tired, and fatigue makes you reach for unambiguous pleasures. At any rate, here's one for your dreamy Autumn pleasure. Enjoy it slowly, because the 'blague will be silent while I go for a little vacation/recharge. See you in about a week and a half. Many good [...]
Donal Dineen has curated an Autumn mix featuring songs from James Blake, Adebisi Shank, Moondog, Meljoann, Bingo, Visionair, Tricky Major Grave, Solar Bears, Caoimhin O Raghallaigh and more. Follow Donal on Twitter .

Apt song title. Indeed, I am the October man. It houses my birthday, and every time it comes around, its air gets deep inside. Here's a song that fully belongs to the season. Sparkling and crisp. And while we're on it, let me re-iterate my ongoing admiration for Bill Nelson, who is shaping up to be my MVP of 2010. Past posts certainly get at some of his appeal, but I keep finding reasons to live inside his albums from 1979 to 1983. Do check 'em out. Meanwhile, [...]

This is a last minute fill-in. I'm in the mood for something incongruous to the day—an autumnal, instrumental, vintage 4AD brood job. Go listen to this and fill up your journals with poetic musings, betches. Dif Juz - No Motion
I've been listening to the debut album "Sounds People Can Hear" by The New Limb over the weekend (thanks to Ash for sending it to me!) and one thing that struck me is the various different influences you can hear from various different genres. Sufjan Stevens, Coldplay, The Strokes, and The Shins could all be found here, set to operatic crescendos, heavy guitar work, and late 80s synth-pop which they manage to bring together into tightly wound and emotive knot. Their 14 song album plays from start to finish effortlessly, each song transitioning perfectly into the next. The [...]

As promised in my last post about the Manics show in Toronto, one of this week's mixes will be Manics-themed. It couldn't just be a bunch of Manics album tracks, nor even a bunch of b-sides (frankly, I do enough of those in other mixes and posts, and that would all be too easy). Since they are one of the most dynamic live bands in the world, this mix is comprised of tracks from various bootlegs of Manics gigs. I have nowhere near the amount of bootlegs other Manics fans have, but I delved into what I did have and [...]
Today is July 14, 2009, and the beans have officially taken over the garden! I've never been a huge Coldplay fan. I remember when their first hit "Yellow" was released. Boy was I underwhelmed, while everyone else went nuts! Through the years I've grown to respect them, but can not say they've grown on me. Yet [...]
Jill & The New Wahinis have been practicing a bit in my basement for this benefit. Tonight @ The Eagle's club! Musical Entertainment UPDATE! 6-1-09 approximate times and order of appearance UPDATE! 6-1-09 THIS SHOULD BE CLOSE TO REALITY!! The Whole Lotta Loves w/Scott & Jim Browning, Mark & Alma Engebretson, R. Seeling - 7:15 Stephanie Says about 7:45 David Beckey of the late/great Autumn Leaves about8:15 Brian Tighe & Allison LaBonne (w/ Jacqueline) of The [...]

As an attempt at full-disclosure I will admit that I am a member of that coveted male 25-54 demographic and as such I find myself tuning into local sports radio station 1310-AM The Ticket --probably a lot more than I should. Judge if you must, but once you make it past the obligatory fart drops you discover bits of gold, such as local country act the King Bucks . The band features former members of the Drams (Chad Stockslager and Keith Killoren), members of Sorta (Danny Balis and Chris Carmichael) and a one [...]

October Onion His life is in the dreaming vegetable; Months of rain, sun, and moon. In the dank cellar he cans his onions and seals in the seasons. Breathing gym-like air, he stews flabby, pungent late tomatoes, and suns the yellowed skins soft to score and peel easy with a knife. In the late afternoon he picks the last October onion remembering a faint kiss he once tasted on a girl's tear trailed cheek, a kitchen window pierced by sunlight falling on the necks of canning jars, and foil-wrapped potatoes baked beneath a fire [...]

I've been listening to new music, I swear! But somehow the Jesus and Mary Chain keep running through my brain. So I put Psychocandy on the other day, just for fun, and what do ya know? Aside from the upfrontness of all that feedback (which, oh my god, I love!) it really reminds me quite a bit of what bands like Glasvegas are doing with a kind of surfer sound. Here, have a listen and tell me I'm wrong! The Jesus and Mary Chain , You Trip Me Up (1985) [...]

I've been listening to new music, I swear! But somehow the Jesus and Mary Chain keep running through my brain. So I put Psychocandy on the other day, just for fun, and what do ya know? Aside from the upfrontness of all that feedback (which, oh my god, I love!) it really reminds me quite a bit of what bands like Glasvegas are doing with a kind of surfer sound. Here, have a listen and tell me I'm wrong! The Jesus and Mary Chain , You Trip Me Up (1985) [...]

October Onion His life is in the dreaming vegetable; Months of rain, sun, and moon. In the dank cellar he cans his onions and seals in the seasons. Breathing gym-like air, he stews flabby, pungent late tomatoes, and suns the yellowed skins soft to score and peel easy with a knife. In the late afternoon he picks the last October onion remembering a faint kiss he once tasted on a girl's tear trailed cheek, a kitchen window pierced by sunlight falling on the necks of canning jars, and foil-wrapped potatoes baked beneath a fire [...]
13) Lundstroms-The Joys of Christmas Day From their 1981 release "Best of Christmas." They actually have quite a few Christmas releases under their belt. There is one more LP I have to transfer to MP3 to share later on in the year, and I hope to come across more as my collection grows. I can't say I think their music is the best...it capably written and enjoyable and at times it hits a good mark. However, what I appreciate most about this family's music is that Lowell Lundstrom managed to [...]