Talk Normal making waves!

Lodge mastering engineer and total badass Sarah Register's band Talk Normal has been making some serious waves in the NY indie music scene. They just landed a cover spot on The Deli Magazine and recently opened up for Sonic Youth in late 2009 (gasp)!! Kim Gordon is apparently such a devoted fan, she has a Talk Normal painting as part "The Noise Paintings" exhibition held at an Upper East Side bookstore. Here's a link: http://70.32.78.35/sonicnews/?p=747

Click H E R E to check out The Deli magazine cover

And here's the video for their insanely awesome single "In A Strangeland". Yeaaah!

The Morning Benders Bring "Big Echo" to The Lodge

It seems as though nothing can stop this talented quartet as they continue to cause quite the stir in the indie blog music world. Their recently released sophomore album, "Big Echo," (Rough Trade) was co-produced by Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor and has established this group of young men as one of the most popular and sought after bands out there. "Big Echo" was mastered at The Lodge by Emily Lazar and Joe Laporta.

The band was founded by frontman Chris Chu, who began by releasing a few EPs on his own. By late 2006 the band filled out with Julian Harmon on drums, Tim Or on bass, and the multi-instrumentalist, Joe Ferrel switching between organ and guitar. With the complete band in place, they released a full length album, "Talking Through Tin Cans," (Brown Bottle) in 2008, which was mastered by The Lodge's Sarah Register.

With "Big Echo", Chu and the group have proved themselves to be thoughtful, sophisticated songwriters while maintaining their incredible pop sensibility. With sweet, looping singles like "Excuses" and the thundering drums and gentle vocals of "Mason Jar", this album sucks you into their lush Spector-esque "wall of sound" and exemplifies the kind of growth and musical maturity that makes a perfect second album. We're all really excited about this one!

Check out the first video from "Big Echo," "Promises":

Against Me! Masters "White Crosses" at The Lodge

Gainesville's Against Me! has returned to The Lodge to master their second major label record, "White Crosses" (Sire), with Chief Mastering Engineer Emily Lazar and Mastering Engineer Joe LaPorta. The latest project, produced by Butch Vig (Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins, Garbage), will be released on June 7th and 8th this summer .

Against Me!, which started off with just Tom Gabel and an acoustic guitar, has evolved over the past thirteen years through different permutations of band members and record labels to become the internationally-loved punk rockers they are today. The band currently consists of front man and guitarist, Tom Gabel, guitarist James Bowman, bassist Andrew Seward, and drummer George Rebello and has found a home at Sire Records.

For the latest, "White Crosses," the band has returned to Nevermind producer, and the man responsible for their 2007, "New Wave," Butch Vig. Aside from his production fame, Vig is also known for his work as drummer of the Post-Grunge, alternative rock group Garbage, whose 2005 Bleed Like Me and 2007 Absolute Garbage were mastered at The Lodge.

As a preview to "White Crosses," Against Me! has already released a video for "Rapid Decompression" and as well as an EP, "I Was A Teenage Anarchist," featuring two songs from the album and two bonus b-side tracks. The band begins their summer tour of North America in Orlando, Florida on June 15th, so be sure to check them out!

Check out their new video for "Rapid Decompression" off of "White Crosses":

New Ravi Shankar!

Ravi Shankar celebrated his 90th birthday last week with the launch of his new record label, East Meets West, and a sneak preview of his new album, Nine Decades: Volume 1 (1967 - 1968), mastered by Joe LaPorta at The Lodge.

Shankar, world-reknown for his work in incorporating traditional Indian Sitar music into the West's mainstream culture, has released nearly fifty albums over his sixty year career, collaborating with artists like George Harrison and Phillip Glass. His new album, the first of what will most likely be a series of releases on his new label, will officially hit stores tomorrow, April 13th. It is a look back at a never-before mastered concert from 1967, and contains some cool extras as well.

Though Shankar has now entered his ninth decade of life, he shows no signs of slowing down. With the new album, the new record label, and a recently completed tour through New Zealand and Australia, it seems as though we may have another ninety years to look forward to from this musical visionary.

Check out this video of Ravi Shankar playing live at the Monterey Pop Festival as a young man. It is explosive!

Minus the Bear Masters OMNI at The Lodge!

Minus the Bear stopped by The Lodge to work with engineers Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta on mastering their new album OMNI, produced by Joe Chiccarelli. The band has already unleashed a single called "Into The Mirror", with a B-side bonus track, "Broken China". OMNI is all set to be released on May 4th of this year on their new label, Dangerbird, and promises to be yet another indie treasure from this talented group.

Formed in Seattle in 2001, the band consists of lead singer and guitarist Jake Snider, guitarist Dave Knudson, bassist Cory Murchy, drummer Erin Tate, and Alex Rose (picture above) who joined the band playing keyboard in 2006 when producer Matt Bayles decided to give up his career as a performer in order to focus on producing. He went on to produce their 2007 album, Planet of Ice.

However, with their new album being released on their new label, it was only fitting that they get a new producer-- Grammy Award-winner, industry legend, and longtime friend of The Lodge, Joe Chiccarelli (The White Stripes, The Shins). Between him and the Minus the Bear boys, "Into The Mirror" and OMNI will knock your socks, shoes and leggings off!

Check out this live performance of Minus the Bear's new single, "Into the Mirror"