oh! music is so important to me.
right now my playlists include severe chilled records by Hed Kandi, Fiona Apple, Sting (I'm going to his concert in Bergen in July!), Dimitri from Paris, Gomez, Kon & Amir, Steinski... I could go on forever!

I've never heard of any of the music you mentioned - I should check it out!

Btw, my favorite colors are pink and blue - in all shades!

music is so important to my creativity. I sometimes find myself working without remembering to put anything on and it is never quite as productive, always a bit sluggish. BUT when music is playing, I seem more relaxed and tend to just flow better with whatever project I happen to be doing. so...what I'm currently creating to: NPR has it's moments, Cass Mccombs, Cat Power (yes, I'm still listening to the new album tons), Willie Nelson (phases and stages does it for me) Bloc Party, Akron/Family, and the new Smog album is so so good.
thanks for the excellent post!

i really love say hi to your mom, goldfrapp, tracy + the plastics, lots of things. i am also currently obsessed with the old song "the sound of the crowd" by the human league.

ooooh oh ! lots of new ideas for music here. thanks ladies. i am checking everything out wildly on iTunes. cheers much!

death cab for cutie, jack johnson, angela mccluskey, over the rhine - my music tends to be mopey with really pretty lyrics.
can't wait to check out the comments at the end of the day and find out about tons of new music!
the were talking about arctic monkey on npr the other day - they sound great.
(are those are your records?! - great images)

oh also....... all of the bands you gals are liking are played quite a bit on KCRW ..... you should tune in!! k. cooper, they play goldfrapp all of the time!

wenders: those are our records. we have more actually. yikes! we don't buy CD's anymore. just vinyl or download.
are you liking the new death cab for cutie? i didn't like it as much as the older ones....

my current favorite music to work to is BareNaked Ladies Stunt album. I listen to it on my ipod mini plugged into tiny speakers. It's portable so i can drag it around the house with me, still filling up the air with all sorts of funky tunes. Good Times!
loves!!

oh, this is good, good, good. I've been spending a lot of time working in my room lately, and listening to crafty podcasts, which are great, but don't get me moving and creating the way music does. So, let's see--the stuff that really is making me *work* in a fun way right now is Feist(let it die), Sufjan Stevens (Illinois), M.Ward (Transistor Radio), and the new live Wilco. Good stuff. Can't wait to check back here later in the day to add new tunes to the list! Good thinkin', Mav!

music that makes me more me this week:
Ane Brun, Rufus Wainwright, The Beatles, Elvira Nikolaisen, Tom McRae, Teitur, Allison Krauss, Sondre Lerche, Sufjan Stevens, Baroque music, Ryan Adams("heartbraker"), Claudia Scott ("soul on soul", "flowers and thorns"), Magnet, Neil Young, Frank Sinatra, Anthony and the Johnsons, Joni Mitchell, Cæcilie Nordby, Dave Brubeck, the song "Lascia Che Io Pianga"(think it is Händel/Giacomo Rossi), The Streets, Skunk Anansie, Karin Krogh, Velvet Belly...

Hanne - you must be Norwegian with all thoose fantastic Norwegian artists. Sondre Lerche used to be my neighbour...

yes, I am norwegian...I see now that the list did'nt make that hard to see:) do you live in bergen since you have been his neighbour? In that case, I think we're looking at the same sky:)

good morning mav! really loved the self-portrait. t and i have lots of vinyl too. our most recent addition to the collection is the breakfast at tiffany's soundtrack. so great. in the mornings we enjoy listening to stan getz & joao gilberto. other faves: devotchka, matson jones (both from denver). xo shari

oh so many bands i don't know. it's so great. now, astrid or hanne, one of you must do a music exchange with me so i can get my hands on some of this Norwegian music!!! i'm so interested to hear it.

I am more than happy to burn a cd for you with norwegian artists! always willing to share pieces of norway. I'll start burning the next days:)

A music to work by mix cd sounds like a good idea to me, introduce everyone to eachothers creative music! I love the vinyl collection as my husband and i have accumulated a lot of vinyl and its all sitting back in a corner in boxes as our record player is broke. My work music is Belle and Sebastian, all of their 7 albums. I am also enjoying the Jack Johnson Curious George Cd, my son and i cant help but dance to it so theres no work getting done when its on! ps 15 comments by 10:30 am wow!

Lately I've been listening to a lot of my older albums. I've been on a big Queen kick as of late. Johnny Cash + June Carter Cash. Stevie Wonder, Sly and the Family Stone, Parliament/Funkadelic. When I work I like to listen to really fun, dancey music, just to get me moving and my blood flowing.

This all makes for such great reading!!..great topic mav!
I listen a lot to my wee roberts radio to a local station (Q-96)with a big mix of music..(but it's on the blink just now) so...Snow Patrol (final straw), Cat Power (am loving it..thank you so!), old Mowtown with emphasis on Otis Redding, Candi Staton, Scissor Sisters, Travis, Elvis!, Sade, Devon Sproule, and on the comp..lots of those excellent 80's rock ballads by folk like All Star, Guns n' Roses, Bryan Adams, Bon Jovi and the like....OH YEAH!! I really like anything and everything when I am making..but when I am designing, thinking or writing I need total silence...wierd right?! xx

well, my sister may always be thinking ahead, but i am always a day behind. my favorite colors: natural linen (the kraft paper of the fabric world) and, of course, turquoise blue.

i have music playing all the time and also enjoy streaming kcrw. yesterday i listened to: andrew bird (the mysterious production of eggs), yo la tengo (summer sun), laura veirs (carbon glacier), and clap your hands and say yeah (this cd is a huge hit with my kids). wish i had time to check out all the music listed here today...i'll have to come back!

my favourite music right now to listen to as I work is James Blunt. His music is so inspiring, and his voice is so calming and unique.

Yes, I live in Bergen, Hanne - you too? cool!
I'll burn a couple of Norwegian artists that Hanne didn't mention, mav.

hmm so fun!

first... hubby would love the fact that you have albums... he has thousands of them and still prefers to buy them over CD's...

music? can you believe i still have neko case blacklisted on permanent repeat? haven't heard the new record yet, but eager....

others? [to work by - which somehow feels different than just listening? and i'm not lisitng albums] iron and wine, calexico, abbc, sufjan stevens, billie holiday, tom waits ....

woosh, it looks like you've hit a popular nerve here. how exciting...i'm sensing a cd swap in the making! here are my current favs: (songs not albums)buddy guy (somebody's sleeping in my bed),paul simon (obvious child),alejandro escovedo string quintet (rosalie), be good tanyas (it's not happening), deb talan (my coat), hanner (write my name), rufus wainwright (i don't know what it is), the innocence mission (when mac was swimming), ron sexsmith (gold in them hills), jack johnson (staple it together), crowded house (something so strong). sloan (i love a long goodbye) ray lamontagne (how come), and bob dylan (things have changed)...going to go check out some of the norwegian stuff, the only one i've heard is sondre lerche...

yay!! KCRW - Nic Harcourt is a treasure and part of my morning! Now I have lots of other sounds to check out too!

yay for KCRW! (I volunteer for the pledge drive every year!)
The tunes vary depending on whether I'm printing/doing produciton or doing computer work.
some current faves: Ben Folds, Iron & Wine, Shakira, Seu Jorge, Fiona Apple
some classic faves:Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake, Rufus Wainwright, & don't laugh but I love Lyle Lovett (Road to Ensenada is a favorite album)

Hey Mav, I know I dont leave comments as often as I want to. But I do read your blog daily - lovely inspirations to share everyday. Everyday is a brand new day and we all shall enjoy it and be thankful. Thanks a lot for keeping it alive.

My favs:

Stereolab, The Fall, Broadcast, Uncle John & Whitelock (glasgow band), Barbara Morgenstern, Super Furry Animals, Beta Band, The Buff Medways, Ian Brown...

fabulous photos and nice together! will have to post my favorites all on one day this week i think. fun things to think about/share. you with your good ideas!! :-))

hello!
i am quite the lurker so i must first say hello!
i host a weekly radio show in troy, new york. i post my playlists on my website.
i play many of the artists mentioned here and other artists from smaller labels but with similar sounds.
i'm a new fan of a man named "micah blue smaldone." check out www.northeastindie.com for some samps. (other bands of note on the site: deathvessle and alec k. redfearn.) bye!

oh my gosh ... i can't keep up with everyone. i think i'll dedicate a week to must in early April. we need more time... and more space to write.

a few comments --
hanne & astrid, thanks for the offer to send me music. i'll take it. i'll email you seperately my address.

mandy: i love belle & sebastian but was thinking lately how i was not wild about the newest CD. were you?

stephanie: i think you listen to KCRW too ... i see we have some of the same faves on our list. i did not list those but i love them. sometimes "clap your hands" can get on my nerves {the singers voice} but overall i just love how it rocks out!! i can see why the kids love it.

so many other artists i have not heard of ... ones i have heard of too. i'm going to make up a list and post it tomorrow so we can all see it better.

also, it's fun to hear from people who have not commented before. it's no big deal to read p2p and not comment ... i don't mind the lurkers .. but it's nice to hear from you too! i am like that too. when i have something i must say i say it ... when i don't, i don't! perfect balance.

laura: your radio show sounds fab. cacn you listen online?

bye for now all!

hi!
the radio station offers a real player audio stream. it may be unreliable though. i'd like to podcast but the station will not let me. sometimes i record the show though.

Hey Mav--
I've been totally addicted to Morning Becomes Eclectic lately too. Right now I'm really excited for the new Josh Ritter album to come out (check him out if you've never heard of him, he's just the best). I'm also really enjoying the new Beth Orton. It was perfect February music for me.

That's kewl, I love the reflection in the photo.

mav,
The new belle and sebastian album is different, i borrowed it from a friend just to have a listen to see if i like it or not because i had heard it was not your typical belle and sebastian album... i probably wouldnt buy it. A great website to find new music to is last.fm you type in bands you like and it finds them and others that are similar and you get a great little personal radio station! I have found a few new/old bands to add to the collection. Im also going to have a listen to that radio station you mentioned!

OH Elbow, what a band! And what a wicked image too!

Music changes as the project does. Anything with a Latin beat for getting revved. Classical when spinning/weaving--to keep the beat even--and Soundscape for knitting. For some reason I attack knitting rather karate-like. Any other project brings music like Erin Bode's Don't Take Your Time or the above mentioned Latin-style.

(Hooray for KCRW!) Lately I have had a narcotic need to listen to Iron and Wine's "Trapeze Swinger" - its hushed, lulling melody makes me smile, and lends itself well to the flow of my pen. Kings of Convenience are also at the top of my list, along with Matt Pond PA. For the quirkier times, I enjoy Ben Folds - I am a bit of a geek for him!
(On a side note, I have long admired your site, and feel compelled to step out of my comfort zone and let it be known. =) )

hi mav, thanks for the radio hint. I listen to it right now.... KCRW in Cologne :-) I love to listen to african sounds (esp. Ambiances Du Sahara - Desert Blues), while working. I don´t know why, but something in this music brings me in the right mood for creating and inspires me over and over again.

This is my first comment to your blog. But I've been a fan fore sime time now. I'd like to tell you about some wonderfull Swedish musik: the concreates, Jose Gonzales, the knife, radio department, det gamla landet.... but Cat power is fab to and Rosie thomas.

Right now: Missy Higgins (sound of white). I ordered it from UK and just got it two days ago.

Also Ashlee Simpson and Sugababes when I feel too lazy and need to get it going on.

And Jack Johnson is always lovely!

i still can't get enough of that Feist album. just got into the Broken Flowers soundtrack which is terrific! as much as i dig Jarmusch, that movie was a little weak for me. the ladies of that film were pretty one-dimensional.

I forgot to mention anything by Innocence Mission (hooray for small-town Pennsylvania bands - I highly recommend their album "Befriended"), Andrew Bird, Devendra Banhart, the Ditty Bops, and the Weepies. =)