MIXTAPES

“The making of a good compilation tape is a very subtle art. Many do’s and don’ts. First of all, you’re using someone else’s poetry to express how you feel. This is a delicate thing. The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don’t wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off a notch. There are a lot of rules.”

- Rob Gordon (High Fidelity)

ARTIFACT CHRISTMAS CARD MIXTAPE 2021
"HAVE YOURSELF A MERRY LITTLE KENDRICK"

Kendrick is my dog. The 2021 Holiday Mixtape really doesn’t have much to do with him. I just like the play on words. And while there is no major theme to the compilation, I am proud of it. The track arrangement offers hidden gems, easter eggs, and connections between songs that have great flow. Also, thanks for sitting through 19 minutes of Lake Wobegon.

ARTIFACT CHRISTMAS CARD MIXTAPE 2020 - "SOMEBODY SNITCHED ON ME"
(Merry Impeachment)

Inspired by those on the naughty list, this collection of songs reflect the flavor of the dumpster fire of a year 2020. Enjoy these deviant carols of merriment this holiday season. (Parental Advisory Warning)

Thanks to Beeple for use of this Savage Santa. Check him out…
www.beeple-crap.com

MORE BLUEGRASS FOR ADAM

In March of 2020, we had the pleasure of releasing this Jeff Austin curated mixtape. It was created back in 1998 as a reference tool for the bluegrass tunes that became the foundation of covers which comprised early Yonder Mountain String Band sets. This Spotify playlist represents Side A of that cassette.

ARTIFACT CHRISTMAS CARD MIXTAPE 2019 - “sNOw MEANS sNOw”

Inspired by the #MeToo movement and the controversy around the song "Baby It's Cold Outside", this 2019 edition of the annual Artifact Christmas Card MixTape celebrates winter romance vibes.

NOT QUITE CHRISTMAS CARD - AUTUMN MIXTAPE 2019

I get excited about the onset of the Holiday season. In early October, when the first snow flies and the retailers stock the Christmas aisles, I try my best to hold back the melodies of Winter Wonderland and Let It Snow from exiting my speakers. This Autumn MixTape is inspired by soundtrack hero Carter Burwell and the DJs on Jazz24 who insert hidden tastes of Holiday music into their Fall programming. Without any true Christmas tunes included, this "Not Quite Christmas Card" assumes that a Holiday tune by any other name, still sounds as sweet.

DECIPHER MY VERNACULAR 40 : “LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE”

I try to send postcards from my travels as an expression of love. MixTapes are a similar vehicle to send a sentiment through song. With “Decipher My Vernacular 40 : Like Someone In Love” I sent Sheena a postcard for each song with lyrics that built a story from this soundtrack. Every time I placed a stamp above her address I smile, like someone in love.

MUSICAL INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX

Catalogs a period of my life when I was falling out of love with a two-decade career in the music industry.

CAPTAIN APOCALYPSE

An exercise in anxiety mitigation rooted from the Trump presidency.

ARTIFACT CHRISTMAS CARD MIXTAPE 2010 - “ALTifact Xmas”

Missing these songs, tweaks, and interludes :: MixTape starts with "O Holy Night" by Jim James | Pink Martini's "White Christmas Part 1" stops short after "Hear Sleigh Bells In The Snow" lyric | missing Julian McCollough's "This American Life" holiday story | Closes w/ Jim James "Silent Night"