Desert Island Discs originated as a BBC program in which guests listed the eight gramophone records they would bring along if they were to be stranded on a desert island with a record player and an endless supply of needles. The “records” they listed in this case were singles, but many radio stations that adopted the idea asked listeners to list the three full albums they would take with them instead. One such station was Seattle’s own 103.7 “The Mountain,” which I grew up listening to and which did one of these specials every week. So starting at a pretty young age I learned to appreciate the experience of listening to a full album over listening to songs individually. This also sort of turned me into Rob from High Fidelity, at least in that I look perpetually upset and in that I constantly think about and re-evaluate the role certain albums have played in my life. And yet no matter how hard I think, I can never narrow my Desert Island Discs down to just three albums—the twenty-five records displayed here are as far as I could go (and in High Fidelity fashion, they are arranged not chronologically, or alphabetically, but “autobiographically”).
I created each of these covers in an app called Processing, a “digital sketchbook” with a Java-esque programming language that I simply use to edit and combine photos. When making traditional art, I am inclined to draw solid/specific things (almost exclusively in black and white), but while working in Processing I enjoy experimenting with color and creating images with a more abstract or impressionistic feel to them. I think the resulting works are vague enough to invoke these albums’ original designs, but because I use my own photographs they are still intensely personal to me. The point is not that I specifically have memories and feelings associate with this music, but that every music fan feels the same way about their own favorite albums. In making physical copies of each LP I hope to convey the important role albums play as objects, be it on vinyl, CD, or cassette—and in making these album covers in the first place I hope to pay tribute to the music that I quite literally cannot live without.
album guide
(rows go from top to bottom, albums read from left to right)
(rows go from top to bottom, albums read from left to right)
Led Zeppelin, Houses of the Holy
fall 2008—sometimes things have to be shitty in order for other things to be good
fall 2008—sometimes things have to be shitty in order for other things to be good
The Who, Quadrophenia
spring 2009—depression, frustration, being a teenager—let the music wash over you like water
spring 2009—depression, frustration, being a teenager—let the music wash over you like water
Pink Floyd, Animals
spring 2009—newfound cynicism and inwardness (but at least the soundtrack was good)
spring 2009—newfound cynicism and inwardness (but at least the soundtrack was good)
Neil Young, Decade
fall 2009—he wrote such beautiful songs and also invented grunge like it was no big deal
fall 2009—he wrote such beautiful songs and also invented grunge like it was no big deal
Bob Dylan, Blonde on Blonde
summer 2009—the sound of revisiting something and realizing how much you’ve changed
summer 2009—the sound of revisiting something and realizing how much you’ve changed
Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness
winter 2009-2010—most of my friends had a My Chemical Romance phase—I had this album
winter 2009-2010—most of my friends had a My Chemical Romance phase—I had this album
Sonic Youth, Daydream Nation
winter 2010-2011—something big is about to happen
winter 2010-2011—something big is about to happen
Pavement, Slanted and Enchanted
spring 2011—everything is gonna be ok
spring 2011—everything is gonna be ok
Pearl Jam, Ten
fall 2009—how it feels to care too much
fall 2009—how it feels to care too much
Foo Fighters, The Colour and the Shape
winter 2009-2010—emotional, in its subject matter and in the memories it brings back
winter 2009-2010—emotional, in its subject matter and in the memories it brings back
The White Stripes, Elephant
spring 2010—one of my happiest memories is of covering this music in high school
spring 2010—one of my happiest memories is of covering this music in high school
U2, The Joshua Tree
summer 2010—the absolute best album for, like, driving into the sunset while on a road trip
summer 2010—the absolute best album for, like, driving into the sunset while on a road trip
Beastie Boys, Paul’s Boutique
summer 2011—ridiculous cleverness & never ending awe
summer 2011—ridiculous cleverness & never ending awe
Arcade Fire, Funeral
winter 2010-2011—a wistful, restless, beautifully sad feeling
winter 2010-2011—a wistful, restless, beautifully sad feeling
LCD Soundsystem, This is Happening
spring 2011—I worked for a month and a half on a fucking charcoal drawing of paper bags for my art class but I listened to this album the whole time so it was bearable
Björk, Homogenic
winter 2011-2012—fierce icy determination
spring 2011—I worked for a month and a half on a fucking charcoal drawing of paper bags for my art class but I listened to this album the whole time so it was bearable
Björk, Homogenic
winter 2011-2012—fierce icy determination
Patti Smith, Horses
fall 2009—sitting in my dad’s car on the way to my therapist’s office and realizing girls were really capable of kicking ass
fall 2009—sitting in my dad’s car on the way to my therapist’s office and realizing girls were really capable of kicking ass
Corinne Bailey Rae, Corinne Bailey Rae
summer 2014—the soundtrack to quiet and sad mornings at work
summer 2014—the soundtrack to quiet and sad mornings at work
Amy Winehouse, Frank
fall 2011—wit and sass—vulnerability and tenderness—raw, amazing talent
fall 2011—wit and sass—vulnerability and tenderness—raw, amazing talent
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fever to Tell
winter 2010-2011—walking to school in the snow
winter 2010-2011—walking to school in the snow
Frank Ocean, Channel Orange
winter 2015-2016—I went to the seattle art museum by myself
winter 2015-2016—I went to the seattle art museum by myself
Yes, Close to the Edge
spring 2017—why the fuck didn’t I listen to this album sooner
spring 2017—why the fuck didn’t I listen to this album sooner
Childish Gambino, Because the Internet
fall 2016—sometimes I think I’m most functional when I’m at my saddest
fall 2016—sometimes I think I’m most functional when I’m at my saddest
Red Hot Chili Peppers, Blood Sugar Sex Magik
fall 2014—the only good thing to happen to me this semester
fall 2014—the only good thing to happen to me this semester
Chastity Belt, Time to Go Home
fall 2015—the sound of not having anything to look forward to (and somehow still feeling ok)
fall 2015—the sound of not having anything to look forward to (and somehow still feeling ok)
