Legendary artist Dion masters "Tank Full Of Blues" with Joe LaPorta at The Lodge!

Rock-n-Roll Hall of Famer Dion is hitting off the New Year with the release of his album “Tank Full Of Blues” today!  The album comes out via legendary producer Richard Gottehrer's relaunched blues label Blue Horizon and will mark the third in a trilogy of blues projects Dion has created.

Mastered at The Lodge by Joe LaPorta, “Tank Full Of Blues” features 11 guitar driven tracks and a constant beating rhythm bound to keep you craving for more old school blues goodness.

If you don't know much about Dion, then you need to get your music history a good brush up.  Dion boasts a career in recording spanning 55 years and over 30 studio albums released.  He started out as lead singer of Bronx based band The Belmonts in the late 50's and was one of the top singers during the 50's doo-wop era.  Dion was the voice behind mega hits such as "I Wonder Why" and "A Teenager in Love".  After splitting with The Belmonts in the 60's, Dion embarked on a solo career that took a more R&B/pop flavor and continued to enjoy great success with classics like "The Wanderer" and "Runaround Sue".

This is Dion's second album mastered at The Lodge.  "Son of Skip James" was mastered by Emily Lazar & Joe LaPorta in 2007 and we are very excited about being part of Dion's incredible repertoire once again. 

Here's an exclusive listen to first single "I Read It In The Rolling Stone"

Foo Fighters Album Mastered by Emily Lazar & Joe LaPorta at The Lodge Leads This Year's Grammy Nominations

The nominations for this year’s 54th Annual Grammy Awards were just announced and legendary rockers Foo Fighters' "Wasting Light" album scooped up a total of SIX nominations including: Album Of The Year, Best Rock Album, Best Rock Song, Best Rock Performance for “Walk,” Best Hard Rock Performance for “White Limo” and Best Long Form Music Video for “Back and Forth.”   Butch Vig, producer for "Wasting Light,"is also nominated for Producer of The Year.

Mastered by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta at The Lodge earlier this year, “Wasting Light” (RCA Records/Roswell Records) charted at #1 across twelve countries marking this album as the band's first ever #1 record since their formation in 1994.  It was also certified gold immediately after it's release. 

An all-analog production, "Wasting Light" is a truly brilliant record that captures Foo Fighters at their rawest and tightest as a band.  This is thanks to Dave Grohl's insistence not to use a single computer throughout the whole record making process.  The album was tracked by James Brown using a 24 track Studer A827 and an API 1608 console in Grohl's garage and eventually mixed by Alan Moulder in the same garage!  The final mixes were transfered to 1/2" tape and mastered through an entirely analog signal chain at The Lodge.

From everyone at The Lodge, we wish to send our most heartfelt congratulations to Foo Fighters, producer Butch Vig and engineers Alan Moulder and James Brown. We are all extremely excited about this nomination, not only is it a milestone for rock music but it's also a great achievement for women in audio as Emily Lazar is the first female mastering engineer to be nominated in the Album Of The Year category.

And if you haven't seen it, here's Foo Fighters' video for “Walk” nominated for Best Rock Song.

Dan Vickrey of Counting Crows Masters Timeless Album with Joe LaPorta

Counting Crows' guitarist & back up vocalist Dan Vickrey has just released an amazing new album that took 20 years to complete! Prior to joining Adam Duritz and company, Vickrey was the singer and songwriter for his own band Tender Mercies.  Naturally, after joining Counting Crows as lead guitarist, working on his own band's debut album took a detour.

However, after two decades of artistic honing, Dan Vickrey has finally released Tender Mercies debut self titled album on Collective Sounds last month.  Mixed by Counting Crows' bandmate/engineer David Bryson, Vickery teamed up with his old pals and stopped at no expense to give these songs that mean so much to him the treatment they deserve.  The album was mastered by Joe LaPorta over the summer right here at The Lodge and we are all so excited to be part of Vickrey's incredible 20 year journey!

Tender Mercies is comprised of Dan Vickrey, Patrick Winningham, Kurt Stevenson and recent addition Jim Bogios.  The group assembled in San Francisco, writing music 20 years ago that would make up the album that was released last month. The timelessness of the album is a testament to Vickery's passion to his craft and candidly admits “What you’ll hear is the complete history of Tender Mercies all on one disc. The songs may be older than you are, but we stuck with them because of their timelessness.”   

If you have yet to purchase a copy of the self titled album make sure you preview and purchase it on iTunes or Amazon!  To get a first look and listen check out their bandcamp page for free downloads off the album! http://tendermercies.bandcamp.com/

Foo Fighters win the AMA for Favorite Alternative Rock Artist!

Congratulations to Foo Fighters for winning Favorite Alternative Rock Artist at The American Music Awards! Their most recent album "Wasting Light" was mastered at The Lodge by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta!

After an enormous 24 song sellout show at Madison Square Garden (they played well past the venue's 11pm curfew), Foo Fighters have just been announced as the headliners for the Lalapalooza shows in Brazil and Chile!

In case you missed it, here is Foo Fighters' awesome performance on The Late Show with David Letterman with rock icon Joan Jett.

Thievery Corporation Release New Album Mastered By Emily Lazar & Joe LaPorta

Electronic music pioneers Thievery Corporation are redefining the way artists interact with their fans.   The Washington DC based duo consisting of Rob Garza and Eric Hilton recently launched the world's first CHNL site on the legs of their recently released album "Culture of Fear", mastered right here at The Lodge by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta!

CHNL is a website that provides a direct & undiluted channel for artists to interact with their fans.  CHNL gives content owners a unified medium to sell their work, as well as stream videos and connect with fans through social networking.  "CHNL enables us to have a much closer and constant relationship with our fans," states Thievery Corporation co-founder Rob Garza. "Through the tour and into the fall, we're going to be revealing exciting new content and our CHNL will be the place to experience it."

With more than 1.2 million albums sold in the US over the past 15 years, the genre-smashing, establishment-thrashing Thievery Corporation continue to refine their craft. "Culture of Fear" their latest release is a self described, "cinematic-sounding inquiry into space rock that straddles the sweet spot between funk and soul, with a bit of dub and reggae thrown in for good measure."  Along with raving reviews, "Culture of Fear"spent 2 months on the CMJ Electronic Charts!

Check out world's first CHNL featuring Thievery Corporation below!

http://thieverycorporation.chnl.pro/

And check out the video for their first single featuring Mr. Lif!

Emily Lazar Moderates Rostam Batmanglij's Presentation at Apple Store SoHo

Rostam Batmanglij and Emily Lazar at Apple Store SoHo's "Meet The Musician" Presentation

Earlier this year, Emily Lazar, The Lodge's Chief Mastering Engineer and President, was handpicked to moderate Rostam Batmanglij's (of Vampire Weekend) presentation at the Apple Store SoHo, as part of their "Meet The Musician" Series.
The series features prominent artists, producers and music taste makers offering a deliciously in-depth glimpse into each artist's creative world and has hosted luminaries such as The Miles Davis Quintet, Anthrax and Hip Hop producer 9th Wonder.

Batmanglij is a man of many talents: a multi-instrumentalist, a producer and one of the main creative forces behind Vampire Weekend's infectious world-music bending pop gems.
Rostam's relationship with The Lodge started in 2007 when both Vampire Weekend albums "Vampire Weekend" and "Contra" were mastered at The Lodge by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta. A world-wide success, Vampire Weekend's second album debuted at number one on Billboard 200 chart with 124,000 copies sold in just the first week! A milestone for an indie band in this decade! Emily and Joe have also mastered several side projects for Rostam including his R&B synth pop collaboration with Wes Miles (of Ra Ra Riot) named Discovery.

With Emily as his moderator, the duo geeked out on everything from the recording process, the evolution of a Vampire Weekend demo, how the four-piece writes their songs to his production techniques. He even offered a sneak peak into his newest venture in film scoring! Rostam recounted his experience scoring his brother Zal Batmanglij’s psychological thriller "Sound Of My Voice" (which premiered at Sundance) and offered before and after sound clips to the audience. Check out a clip from the movie, featuring Rostam's first official feature film score!



In the upcoming months Apple will be posting a recorded podcast of Emily and Rostam's entire discussion on their website- stay tuned!

Emily Lazar & Joe LaPorta Master Morgan Page's New Album

Two-time Grammy Award nominated artist Morgan Page released his new single titled, “In The Air” via Nettwerk featuring Sultan + Ned Sheppard, Angela McClusky, and BT.  Guaranteed to get your blood flowing, the new track is straight off his forthcoming LP mastered here at The Lodge.

The Los Angeles based DJ/producer's latest full length album titled “In The Air” was mastered at The Lodge by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta!

Since its release, “In The Air" hit the Top 10 (#9) on the Billboard Dance Radio Chart and iTunes and was considered the highest rated record on AOL Radio!  Currently on tour, Morgan Page is well known amongst house fanatics for his original productions and remixes for top charting artists such as: Madonna, Regina Specktor, Katy Perry, The B-52’s, Coldplay, Korn, Norah Jones and many others.

Check out the link below to listen to the new single.  Enjoy!

Large Professor's New Single "Key To The City" Mastered at The Lodge by Joe LaPorta!

Large Professor has resurrected an old school flavor with his recent single "Key To The City"! The limited edition 12" released via Fat Beats Records was printed on translucent vinyl and features an exclusive Large Professor remix of the track on the B Side.  There is also a bonus digital download for anyone who purchases the 12".  The single was mastered by Joe LaPorta, right here at The Lodge.
  
The Harlem born, Queens raised producer and emcee has been the force behind some of Hip-Hop's biggest names.  He's responsible for launching the careers of legends like Nas and A Tribe Called Quest as well as producing for a heavyweight roster including Slick Rick, Busta Rhymes, Diamond D, Common, AZ, Styles P and many others.  As an original member of the popular and highly respected group Main Source, Large Professor pursued a solo career in 1996 and hasn't looked back.  "Key To The City" is the first single from his upcoming album titled "Professor At Large" due out on Fat Beats Records early next year.

Click the link below to order a copy while supplies last!
http://www.amazon.com/Key-City-Large-Professor/dp/B005ERWTDA

Class Actress Release Debut Album Mastered by Joe LaPorta

Class Actress is Brooklyn's poppiest synth jam export and their long awaited debut album "Rapprocher" was just released last Tuesday via Carpark Records.
Mastered by Joe LaPorta at The Lodge this summer, Class Actress is fronted by vocalist/glam girl Elizabeth Harper along with producer Mark Richardson and engineer/multi-instrumentalist Scott Rosenthal.

If you've been around the Williamsburg indie music scene, then you would probably be familiar with Harper's prior solo work.  Harper was more known for her strummy/whisper-y love songs (more along the lines of a modern day Morrissey or The Smiths with female vocals).  After a unique meeting with Richardson at a club a few years ago, Harper decided to switch gears and replaced her guitar with a synth and the rest was as they say, history.
Citing influences like Depeche Mode and Human League, Class Actress is like an 80's new-wave time warp but with a more modern pop twist and tragically romantic lyrics that will make your heart swoon.

Follow the link below to hear out one of the standout tracks "Weekend" on Stereogum and be sure to catch them live!

http://stereogum.com/805142/class-actress-weekend-stereogum-premiere/mp3s/

Mastering Engineer Joe LaPorta with Elizabeth Harper & Scott Rosenthal

Debut Album by Boy & Bear Mastered at The Lodge Receives 7 ARIA Award Nominations!

 

Australia's nominations for this year’s 25th annual ARIA Award Finalists were recently announced, and folk/crooners Boy & Bear have pocketed a total of SEVEN nominations from ARIA (Australian Record Industry Association) for their most recent album debut, “Moonfire” including Joe Chiccarelli's Producer of The Year nomination!  

 

Mastered by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta, the 11-track album “Moonfire” (Universal Republic/Island Records Australia) is in the running for the following categories: Best Adult Alternative Album, Breakthrough Artist – Single, Breakthrough Artist – Album, Single of the Year, Best Group, Album of the Year and Producer of the Year. 

 

“Moonfire” also peaked at #2 on iTunes Australia and #2 on ARIA Top 50 Album’s chart!

From everyone at The Lodge, we wish to send our biggest congratulations to the band: Dave Hosking, Jake Tarasenko, Killian Gavin, Tim Heart, Jon Hart and producer/longtime The Lodge client & friend Joe Chiccarelli!  To get a sneak peak of Boy & Bear be sure to watch the video for the lead single “Feeding Line” below. 

New Dum Dum Girls Video "Bedroom Eyes" Just Released!

The first video from the Dum Dum Girls' new LP, "Only in Dreams", is out! "Only in Dreams" was released last week via Sub Pop, and was mastered right here at The Lodge by Mastering Engineer Joe LaPorta.

The song is called "Bedroom Eyes" and is catchy and upbeat in classic Dum Dum Girls form. The video was directed by Sam Macon, and is a retro live performance that takes a kaleidoscopic twist. Check it out below. Also get some free downloads and more info about the band straight from Sub Pop here or http://www.subpop.com/artists/dum_dum_girls

tUnE-yArDs Release Self-directed Video From Recent Album Mastered by Joe LaPorta!

tUnE-yArDs have just released a new video for their second single "Gangsta" off their recent sophomore LP, "w h o k i l l"! The album was released in April via 4AD and was mastered at The Lodge by Mastering Engineer Joe LaPorta.

A schizophrenic black and white dance party, the video for "Gangsta" was directed by tUnE-yArDs' mastermind Merrill Garbus herself. A funky compliment to an already eccentric and energetic song, check out the official music video as well as the killer TV debut performance on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon earlier this August. tUnE-yArDs are also currently touring in the US and Canada, click here for a complete listing of show dates! http://www.beggarsgroupusa.com/tuneyards/tours/

Emily Lazar & Joe LaPorta Master The Raveonettes' "Rarities & B-sides" Album

Pop/noise cult favorite, The Raveonettes (VICE Records/The Orchard) are due to release twenty-eight unreleased b-sides and rare cuts on their aptly titled album “Rarities and B-sides".  The album was mastered earlier this year by The Lodge’s very own Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta.  Fans will be happy to hear that the album will be released on both CD and double vinyl!

Since the Danish duo’s discovery in 2002, they have released five studio albums, and five EP’s.  "Rarities and Bsides" will be the band's fourth album mastered at The Lodge. 

A long way since their first 2002 EP "Whip it on", Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo have continued to master their brand of fuzzed out 60's-noir rock gems with notoriously sinister lyrics.  With the highly anticipated release of "Rarities and B-sides", the band recently featured their track "Aly, Walk With Me" from their 2007 album "LUST LUST LUST" (also mastered at The Lodge) on HBO’s season four finale episode of True Blood.  The band is currently working on their next full length due out next year.

Check out the official video for "Aly, Walk With Me" mastered at The Lodge!

Emily Lazar & Joe LaPorta Master Ólöf Arnalds New EP!

Icelandic folk artist Ólöf Arnalds is slated to release yet another captivating studio project, "Ólöf Sings," on November 7th via UK Label One little Indian (Bjork, Sigur Ros). A delicate five-song EP, "Ólöf Sings" was mastered by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta at The Lodge.

Containing covers of some of the great songwriters of our century "Ólöf sings" is seventeen minutes of vivid performances only Arnalds herself could pull off with such sincerity. Produced by frequent Lodge client Skúli Sverrisson (who also produced Arnalds' debut Lodge-mastered LP, "Innundir Skinni"), the upcoming EP includes charming renditions of Arthur Russell's "Close My Eyes" and  Caetano Veloso's "Maria Bethânia," which fans may recognize from Arnalds' live sets. 

Want more Ólöf? Be sure to use the download code packaged with your copy of "Ólöf Sings," or download the EP straight from iTunes to receive several digital bonus tracks including Kyu Sakamoto's sunny"Sukiyaki," and a b-side of Arnald's Björk collaboration,"Surrender"!

Keep an ear open for more details on the release of Arnalds' sophomore full length rumored to be out next Spring and, in the meantime, check out this video of Arnalds effortlessly covering Arthur Russell's "Close My Eyes" below!

Joe LaPorta Masters Katie Herzig's "The Waking Sleep"

Grammy Award Nominee Katie Herzig released her fourth studio album "The Waking Sleep" on September 20, her first on Marion-Lorraine Records/Mercer Street Records. The album was mastered at the Lodge by Mastering Engineer Joe LaPorta. 

A Colorado native, Katie Herzig's catchy folk/pop tracks have been featured in several TV shows including Bones and Bored to Death. With her new album, Herzig has revamped her singer-songwriter sound, experimenting with dance-pop beats without losing track of her folky roots. The album was produced by up-and-coming producer/composer Cason Cooley, and mixed by frequent Lodge client Justin Gerrish (Vampire Weekend, The Strokes, Ra Ra Riot).

Check out the inspiring behind-the-scenes clip here on Katie Herzig's site as well as the crafty new music video for "Free My Mind" below. Herzig is also just about to kick off on another cross-country tour, which promises to be a great time. Don't miss it!

Joe LaPorta Masters Vinyl Box Set By Neutral Milk Hotel

Just a few weeks ago, Jeff Mangum of iconic lo-fi folk band Neutral Milk Hotel very pleasantly surprised the world by coming out of a 13-year hiatus with announcements of a massive, vinyl box set due out November 22! Mangum visited The Lodge to participate in the critical mastering process with Joe LaPorta.

Known as the quintessential indie rock group before 'indie rock' had even become a common genre,  Neutral Milk Hotel's discography has reached almost legendary status over the years, influencing a slew of recent artists including Wilco, Franz Ferdinand, Rilo Kiley, and even pop producer Danger Mouse. To be the first official release since the band's critically-acclaimed "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" and their subsequent break-up in '99, this upcoming box set will undoubtedly be like magic to fanatical ears. According to a brand new Neutral Milk Hotel website, the box set will include:

"...two gatefold 12" records (In the Aeroplane Over the Sea and On Avery Island), two 10" records (Everything Is EP with bonus tracks and Ferris Wheel on Fire EP featuring eight previously unreleased acoustic recordings), two 7" records (Little Birds and You've Passed/Where You'll Find Me Now), one 7" picture disc with fold-out poster (Holland 1945/Engine), and two 24"x24" posters."

To top it all off, $1 per box set will be donated to Children of the Blue Sky foundation, and every newly-released song will be available as a pay-what-you-will download via BandCamp as of November 22. If you're dying for a sneak peek, head on over here to stream to "Oh Sister" and "Ferris Wheel On Fire" or listen to Mangum's eclectic and personally-crafted playlists to get yourself ready for the upcoming tidal wave of all things NMH. Oh, and don't forget to catch Mangum on a solo tour (yes, he's actually touring!)- complete list of dates here.

Emily Lazar & Joe LaPorta Master Solo Debut By Grizzly Bear's Chris Taylor

In the few years since joining crossover pop band Grizzly Bear, Chris Taylor has claimed a permanent place among indie royalty, extending his production credits to include debut albums by Twin Shadow and The Morning Benders, co-founding the brand new Terrible Records, and most recently, releasing his first ever solo album, "Dreams Come True." To be released on September 13 under the moniker CANT, "Dreams Come True," was mastered by Emily Lazar & Joe LaPorta right here at The Lodge!

Typical of Taylor's musical endeavors, "Dreams Come True," is drenched in nuance, layered in effects and a shivers with a genuine sense of humanness. What's new to the scene, however, is 1) the heavy use of synthesizers opposed to his typical array of acoustic instruments and 2) Taylor's voice finally snags the spotlight! Self-produced/mixed/engineered, Taylor also called upon musical comrade George Lewis Jr. of Twin Shadow, whose critically acclaimed debut was also mastered at The Lodge. Mark it on your calendars, "Dreams Come True" will be released in less than few weeks via Warp Records/ Terrible Records and you won't want to miss the boat on this one!

Listen to the lead single "Believe" here and watch some sweet footage below of CANT's debut show at Mercury Lounge earlier this week to see how wonderfully the songs translate into a live set.

Emily Lazar & Joe LaPorta Master Boy & Bear's Debut "Moonfire"

 

Crooning Aussie folk band Boy & Bear are on their way to the top with the recent release of their debut, "Moonfire," via Universal Republic/Island Records Australia. The lush 11-song album was mastered by Emily Lazar and Joe LaPorta.

Boy & Bear have come a long way since lead singer Dave Hosking started the group just over two years ago. Their debut EP, "With Emperor Antarctica," released in 2010, reached #63 on Australian ARIA charts, led to a series of performances supporting Mumford & Sons during their Australian tour and even caught the attention of their current labels Universal Republic/ Island Records Australia.  Fast forward past hundreds of shows and months of relentless songwriting/recording in Nashville with producer Joe Chiccarelli (The Shins, My Morning Jacket, Minus the Bear) and the band is now celebrating the release of a stunning debut LP! 

Peaking at #2 on iTunes Australia and #2 on the ARIA Top 50 Albums chart, Boy & Bear's "Moonfire" is taking them places, fast. If you missed them on their recent US tour, keep an eye out because their three-part harmonies & jangling guitars will surely be coming this way again soon!

Watch the video for the band's leading single, "Feeding Line," as well as "A Short Documentary On Boy & Bear" below for some behind-the-scenes footage and insightful commentary on the band's creative process and inspirations behind "Moonfire." 

Joe LaPorta Masters New Converse Single With Matt & Kim, Soulja Boy & Andrew W.K.

A party anthem just in time for the end of summer, "I'm A Goner," is a brand new collaborative single by Matt & Kim, Soulja Boy and Andrew W.K. released exclusively through Converse! Both Matt Johnson and Kim Schifino stopped by to master the song with Joe LaPorta who has also mastered their last two full length albums "Grand" and "Sidewalks." 

Download the track for FREE, check out the gruesome music video for "I'm A Goner" (starring a room full of corpses dancing like there's no tomorrow- huh? exactly.) and a watch a brief behind-the-scenes clip of the recording at Converse's free studio 'Rubber Tracks,' all right here! 

Want more free singles? Click here to listen & download last year's Converse single, "All Summer," by Best Coast, Kid Cudi and Vampire Weekend's Rostam Batmanglij- mastered at The Lodge by Emily Lazar & Joe LaPorta

Mirror Mirror Master "Interiors" with Joe LaPorta

Brooklyn synth pop group Mirror Mirror have just released their sophomore LP, "Interiors," today via RVNG INTL.! Masterminds David Riley and Ryan Lucero both stopped by The Lodge to master the album with Joe LaPorta.

Reeling in layers of analog synths, brooding vocals and lyrics about "deals in themes of secret societies, escapist fantasies and psychological extremes," (RVNG INTL.), "Interiors" is a perfectly appropriate second step in the psychedelic excursion Mirror Mirror embarked on with their 2009 debut "The Society of the Advancement of Inflammatory Consciousness." Recorded in two parts, half of the record was produced by frequent Lodge client Chris Coady (Cold Cave, Smith Westerns, Beach House) and is centered around the duo's trademark entrancing electronic beats. The equally moody and expansive second half features production by Thomas Asenault and Zeljko McMullen as well as the pulsating live drumming of Joshua da Costa (Dinowalrus, Regal Degal).

Stream the album in all it's glory on Fact Mag's site here, download the eponymous lead single on Stereogum here and watch its video featuring Rumi Missabu of '60s San Franciscan drag queen troupe The Cockettes on Fader's website here.