Episode 102 opens with Open Mike Eagle trying to find the signal & before things close out with some breathing advice, you’ll hear: Elvis in the freezer, a Wilco cover, Racecar Circling into a Cycle and a bunch more musical niceness.

Here's the 34th instalment of the Mixcloud mix series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station… and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tunes and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.

Here's the 9th instalment of the Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station… and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tunes and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.

The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with music from the year 2004 — featuring tunes from Modest Mouse, Feist, Mos Def, The Streets, Todd Snider + a whole bunch more, it’s a nice ‘04 vintage to stick in your headphones.

Here's the 40th instalment of the the Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tunes and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.

Episode 110 of The Mix Tape Radio Show features 8 gems shuffled out of the HI54 Mix CD ‘EH CANADA’ - ft. Charlotte Cornfield, Basement Revolver, Mauno, The Tragically Hip + a whole bunch more maple-flavoured headphones goodness.

Here's the 16th episode of the Mixcloud series where I’d go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tunes and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.

The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with a mix from the year 1984 — featuring tunes from Prince, Leonard Cohen, Spinal Tap, Tina Turner, The Raincoats + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘84 vintage to stick in your headphones.

Here's the 31st instalment of the Mixcloud series where I’d go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tracks to put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.

The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with a mix from the year 2013 — featuring tunes from Frog, Shad, Tiny Ruins, The Virgins + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘13 vintage to stick in your headphones.

Here's the 7th instalment of the Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tracks and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.

The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with music from the year 1996 — featuring tunes from Beck, Fugees, Counting Crows, Outkast, Sublime, Weezer + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘96 vintage to stick in your headphones.

Here's the 37th instalment of the HI54 Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tracks and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD to share.

The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with a mix from the year 2011 — featuring tunes from Caveman, Tiny Ruins, Mount Moriah, Milo, Teenage Cool Kids + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘11 vintage to stick in your headphones.

Here's the 19th instalment of the Mixcloud series where I’d go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station and then shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tracks & put together a ewn 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.

The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with a 20-track digital mix tape + 54-track digital mix cd from the year 2005 — featuring tunes from The Mountain Goats, Kanye West, Smog, Wolf Parade + a whole bunch more… basically, it’s a nice ‘05 vintage to pour down your headphones.

Here's the 27th instalment of the bi-weekly Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 95-tracks that have been rated as 'Mix Tape Radio approved' and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.

The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with a mix from the year 1995 — featuring tunes from Pulp, The Amps, Goodie Mob, Oasis, Rancid + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘95 vintage to stick in your headphones.

Episode 124 of The Mix Tape Radio Show features 8 gems shuffled out of the ongoing HI54 Mix CD ‘EVENINGS’ - ft. JEEN., The Brian Jonestown Massacre, SALES, Wilson Pickett + a bunch more evening-flavoured headphone goodness.

Here's the 39th instalment of the (mostly) bi-weekly Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tracks and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.

The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with music from the year 1985 — featuring tunes from Talking Heads, Camper Van Beethoven, The Replacements, 10000 Maniacs, LL Cool J + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘85 vintage to stick in your headphones.

Here's the 4th instalment of the once bi-weekly Mixcloud series where I would go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station and shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tunes and put together an 18-track HI54 Mix’d CD.

Episode 166 of The Mix Tape Radio Show features 8 gems shuffled out of the ongoing HI54 Mix CD ‘EVERYTHING LIKED IN: INSERT CURRENT YEAR’ - ft. David Karsten Daniels, It Looks Sad, Lala Lala, Swash + a bunch more 2020-flavoured headphone goodness.

The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with music from the year 2021 — featuring tunes from Little Simz, Johanna Samuels, Dan Edmonds, Mick Jenkins + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice sampling of the year that just was for your headphones.

EPISODE 091 kicks off with Benjamin Shaw adding bnjmnshw touches to Magana's lovely 'Inches Apart', and before things close out with a dusty gem from the underappreciated Blaze Foley, you'll get a secret taste of that sweet Sugar Rush 2 comp The Grey Estates put out last year, there'll be a short European Vacation, new Haley Heynderickx, Kevin Morby + more.

Here's the 10th instalment of the once bi-weekly Mixcloud series where I would go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station and shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tunes and put together an 18-track HI54 Mix’d CD.

The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with music from the year 2016 — featuring tunes from Sonny Smith, Big Thief, KOOL A.D., John K. Samson, Margaret Glaspy + a whole bunch more… it’s a nice ‘16 vintage to stick in your headphones.

Here's the 22nd instalment of the bi-weekly Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 95-tracks that have been rated as 'Mix Tape Radio approved' and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.

The ‘HI54 YEARBOOK MIXES’ series continues with a 20-track digital mix tape + 54-track digital mix cd from the year 2000 — featuring tunes from Yo La Tengo, Jurassic 5, D’Angelo, Cat Power + a whole bunch more… basically, it’s a nice ‘00 vintage to pour down your headphones.

Here's the 38th instalment of the Mixcloud series where I go back to the iTunes organizational system I had setup when I used to run a 24/7 internet radio station, and then I shuffle up a selection of 'Mix Tape Radio approved' tracks and put together an 18-track HI54 Mixed CD.

”Burn your TV, read a book!”

“Eat blueberries and don't suffer fools.”

“If you're ever at a restaurant in a state or country that has a coastline and they have grilled octopus, get it. I know, it's gonna be like 30 bucks, it probably came from farther away than you'd like to think about, and it's gonna be smaller than you expect, but man it's the most delicious meal ever.”

“I am late to Yoga, but it sure has been helpful. You don’t have to be good at it and you don’t have to do more than a few minutes to feel better.”

“Hug your friends hello and goodbye. Life is super fragile and honestly pretty wasted in general. We should be spending a lot more time telling each other "I love You". Everyday there are people that change my life for the better and I want them to know that.”

“I’ve become an audiobook guy. It’s not for everyone, but some of us listen faster than they read lol. If you haven’t tried it out, give it a shot. It’s been a game changer for me.”

“We live in a world in which almost everyone expects us to act like a machine and it’s so beautiful to actually be aware that we’ll never reach that because we’re made of other stuff, human stuff!”

"Everything is subjective, nothing is superior, nothing is inferior, we all just are...everything just is."

“There are four times a year when the seasons change and you can feel the very specific sensation of being reminded how different things can be by mowed grass smell. Get coffee with your friends and walk there (or more likely drive with the windows down). Try to remember the casual joy the universe is handing out!”

“I also just generally find myself being reminded that making things is always what makes me happy. Sometimes I lose my way and get caught up in life’s distractions, but as soon as I return to making something (however big or small), everyday I realize that it’s what makes me the most happy.”

“Do something for someone else every day. It’s something I need to do more of, so maybe I’m saying it as a reminder to myself.”

“Visit your local library. They’re still around and have a lot to offer. There’s a great library where I live. They often have holds rooms or other ways to get materials to cardholders, which is nice if a person feels uncomfortable spending too much time in a public space.”

“Bathing and reading Molly Young’s recommendation for bathing and Kneipp bath oils before bathing.”

“I say quit trying so hard to get people to like you. Trying to befriend the people who don't want to be your friend is draining. Focus on people who make you feel welcomed. I promise it will make you feel much better in the long run.”

“If you live near any mountain rivers, go find a safe place to cold plunge in them. i moved to the Appalachian mountains this year and spending time submerged in icy cold streams has become my new favorite pastime.”

“I’ve been playing around with that weird state right before I wake up in the morning, when I start stirring and coming out of deep sleep. I’ll focus on feelings of universal wholeness or “imagine” the sensation of a enveloping cosmic love.

“Go for a walk every day, even if it's only 15 minutes. No phone, no music, no podcast, find a nearby green space if you can, just walk and breathe and listen and exist.”

“I think more people should talk on the phone to their loved ones more often. If you can, make that call you keep forgetting to make. It will probably make somebody’s day.”

“Apart from journaling which is my most obvious answer… my best recommendation is to subscribe for language learning apps! It’s such a good feeling when you aren’t sure what to do with yourself to exercise your brain in that way, language is so mysterious and beautiful.”

“We should all be writing and reading poetry, daily. You should also be affectionate with your friend's and tell them what you appreciate about them. I also like talking to strangers and feel like it's so important to just strike up conversations with people from different backgrounds. Taking mushrooms is good too.”

“I have become a fermenting nut since the pandemic, and I have a small garden and things are just starting to come to fruition right now, so as well as enjoying fresh from the ground, I ferment... I had no idea it was so easy and cheap ... and the experimentation possibilities are limitless.”

“I think everyone should learn to care for something, a plant, a pet, or another human being.. something to help you look outside yourself and get perspective on your placement in life.”

“My wife Amy has encouraged the practice of either listing 5 things I’m grateful for, or asking what the rose and thorn of each day is. I think any sort of mindfulness exercise would be what I suggest to folks in these high speed times.”

“I guess makin' stuff. Journaling, memes, songs, whatever. And sharing it. I'm as addicted to my phone as the next person my age, but I have more fun sharing stuff than I ever did just scrolling.”

“Keep doing your art. Share it with the world. Even if you're not making a living from it. Most of us aren't. Stay inspired. It's important.”

“Go metal detecting by yourself. Don't bring kids or partners or relatives. It’s fun and sometimes you find a treasure.”

“Sounds simple but most people are walking around totally dehydrated. We drink sweet, salty, caffeinated, alcoholic drinks without question, but water is always like, meh. Iʼm making an effort of drinking more water every day and it helps me feel better in my mind and body.”

“I spend way too much time on chess.com. I’ve played thousands of 3 minute blitz games against people from all over the world since the pandemic started.”

“Take a month off whatever your vice or choice is. The mental/physical reset and exercise in discipline is wonderful.”

“I think I'm speaking to myself more than everyone else, but stop worrying. Control the things that you can, but don't let the world get you down. There's still hope, and it's important to hold on to that hope.”

“Bought this sucker out of the blue, not knowing nothing about who it even is. Top notch Pub Rock bard songwriting that makes me wish I was British in the 1970s. LOVE THIS MYSTERIOUS (to me) "BAND"!”

“Dan Reeder has such a soothing voice… sometimes you don't even realize that he's singing about how his lady won't give him a bj on his birthday or the flaws of a beach ball.”

“This is a great entry point into Jonathan's music.”

“Immersed in a sea of musical textures. A million moments realized. Transported.”

“cheekface pulling thru once again with a collection of songs that make anxiety, bagels, elections and noodles seem cool af”

“Kassi Valazza's voice is a red-hot nickel ball slowly working its way through a cube of ballistic gelatin. This LP is a gently wound path of close-cosmic-country with a B-side that actually defies gravity. If you thought her first release was a winner, well... engage your core and hang on to your javelinas, she's just done one better”

“Char's writing here mines memory for the sweetness only reckoning and forgiveness can bring. Her strongest suite to date, she sings with more confidence than ever on themes of certain fallibility and radical acceptance. She conveys courageously the beauty of not knowing what's next or what any of it ought to mean. With every song she sounds grateful for each breath and experience.”

“This long awaited, shooting star of an album, has at last dropped into our cosmos and it is pure beauty! Every song demands presence; they conjure and set the soul aflame. Dean's talent, artistry and vulnerability is much needed in this world and his record is a gift to humanity.”

“This album's got me going down Wikipedia rabbit holes about college radio stations.”

“Beautiful interplay of twin guitars, two wonderfully harmonised voices delivering songs with something to say. ‘a-sides’ has much to discover, cleverly crafted by so little. An amazing achievement.”

“Alton Ellis just has a way about him. Joyful and melancholy all the same.”

“Skyway Man has the kind of grooves that will have you unironically reintroducing words like ‘groovy’ back into your regular vocabulary. For example, you may find yourself telling others “this record is really groovy, man” quite often.”

“Mystifying Yugoslavian guitar pieces, its loneliness carries across space and time.”

“Going to need to hear more from this pairing, no duds on this record.”

“Feeling restless, cracked or caught in irreversible circles? Find your Tomberlin and quietly sink into life’s softer sides.”

“Pleasant surprise finding this artist. Bordeaux… who would of thought to find some of the best Country I’ve heard in a while.”

“This music is like a love letter to your truest self.”

“This is delightful, brings me back to a time when music of this nature had a little fun with itself. Looking for a brief respite from the landslide of heavy weight issues, 'Continuous Portrait' will provide some off-centered, yet uplifting shelter.”

“Bella is worshiped as the goddess of nature and heart break on my home planet of Melmac.”

“A timely set of poignantly biting songs full of an extremely apparent passion for the old-time style. Excellent commentary on these surreal days we're living through.”

“All the mystery of the desert at night, compressed into a rare jewel of an album.”

“Released days before his 80th birthday, Michael Hurley's wisdom and dusty attic soulfulness is on full display on this inspired addition to his timeless collection of oddball folk recordings.”

“One of my favorite albums of all time. An amazingly produced and written album. I seriously believe Willie Ev is a pioneer in a new sound of hip hop. I have never heard beats or rhymes delivered like this before. Ever.”

“Strong Tom Petty vibes with an indie slant. Jeremy writes witty, slightly weird (in a great way) songs and sings them with an honest, no BS style. This is an underrated gem.”

“From Calgary to Glasgow via Helsinki and Reykjavik... 'you pass through, you pass through'. Loved this from the opening bars - like escaping from a prison.”

“There is this wonderful thing about Ryan's music that just makes me feel at peace with myself. Dust is no exception. Once the first note hits I'm in a different world. The perfect record for some escapism when things get a little too much.”

“Amidst all the chaos Quelle Chris comes through with another weird life-affirming series of beats and observations. QCs great album streak very much intact.”

“Perfect for when you’re sad and you need a soundtrack to make the air hurt too.”

“My first time listening felt like watching a magic trick- astonishing, perfectly executed, and an absolute joy. Who knew music could be this good?”

“Time and again, R.A.P.'s work just fills me with awe and joy and appreciation for our world, and also some affectionate sarcasm aimed at our struggle to impose order on it.”

The 2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming (a hobby that has continued “post”-pandemic) — so here’s my list of my top 36 Playstation One (PS1) games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).

Because, like, WTF even is a music blahg, amirite? ESPECIALLY if they stop accepting music submissions.

Since we’re coming up to the June 27th/28th deadline for having public comments made a part of the public record in regards to the ‘Marysville McDonalds’ proposal, I figured I’d take a break from blogging about this local issue and put my thoughts down in a letter to council — and since I have a blog, I figured I’d share my letter on here too :)

The 2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming (a hobby that has continued “post” pandemic) — so here’s my list of my top 25 Sega CD games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).

"No Englishman could speak this Language adequately unless he were drunk and had no roof to his mouth"

Here’s a rundown summary of all the parts of last night’s council meeting that touched on the ‘Marysville McDonalds’ proposal (spoiler alert: it’s going to a public hearing near the end of June).

The Buddha’s ancient advice for becoming an enlightened being (aka: becoming a kind, compassionate, mindful, wise, non-attached & content person) seems to be designed around doing the personal work needed to start helping dismantle the exploitive capitalist system currently destroying our planet. Which feels timelessly timely, no?

If, like me, you happen to live in the charming little mountain town of Kimberley, British Columbia, the hot local topic lately has been the proposed ‘Marysville McDonalds’ — SO — not only does this post gather some extra info/context in one place, but City Councillor Sue Cairns also drops by for an informative 5-question Q&A!

If there ever was a year for putting together my first VISION board… it’d have to have been in 2020, right? Right.

Today is April 5th, which, in some parts of the world, is also known as ‘Hi! It’s 5/4 Day!’ — and to “celebrate” this made-up holiday, I spent some time blogging with a one-eyed cat named Maple, which includes a ‘Hi! Here’s FIVE things FOR…’ on the topic of better programming our brains for dealing with late-stage capitalism grifters + other high 5/4 brain dumpings.

2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming — and since we’re now living in ‘2020 Too’, here’s my personally subjective list of the top Sega Genesis / Mega Drive games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).

Because something tells me that we’ve got the numbers on our side, we just need that one common thread to connect all the different solutions we’re gonna need for all the different problems they’ve laid out for us to get overwhelmed by.

The 2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming (a hobby that has continued “post”-pandemic) — so here’s my personally subjective list of top Super Nintendo (SNES) games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).

“It's almost as if fractionally improving on each of the moving parts that come with running a blog—the writing, the designing, the networking, the collaborating, the editing, the creating, the strategizing, the putting yourself out there, the thinking and all the et ceteraing—well, it's almost as if those are some pretty useful skills to routinely work on.”

If I were in a pub or coffee shop with the person/people responsible for the excellent music currently filling my headphones, would I offer to buy them a pint or coffee? If they asked me if I could spot them a couple bucks, would I do that?

High five for getting High Fidelity’d into making a Hi54 ‘Top 5’ list about my “Do’s & Don’ts” of making a mix tape/cd playlist!

The 2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming (a hobby that has continued “post”-pandemic) — so here’s my personally subjective list of the top Nintendo (NES) games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).

I've been thinking a lot about how I should maybe just unplug from social media for awhile, especially over these last couple months, soooo… I decided to take that as a sign that I should probably just unplug from social media for awhile.

You'll probably find that you're ignoring other people's stuff just as hard as it feels like they are ignoring your stuff. And that's pretty hard.

2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming — and since we’re now living in ‘2020 Too’, here’s my list of the top 25 Sega Master System games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).

The 2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming (a hobby that has continued “post”-pandemic) — so here’s my personally subjective list of top Gameboy / Gameboy Color games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).

“Whether you’re trying to get a daily meditating, reading, and/or writing habit going as well, or whether your interests lie in learning an instrument, or painting, or PRETTY MUCH ANYTHING you can want to get better at — I highly recommend the practice of setting a timer for 20 minutes each day and doing that thing you want to improve at / do more of until the chimes start chiming.”

The path I took to realizing I could just play any old retro video game right here on my old 2009 iMac was a bit more convoluted than it needed to be, but, hey, sometimes life is a bit more convoluted than it needs to be.

The 2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming (a hobby that has continued “post”-pandemic) — so here’s my personally subjective list of top Turbo Grafx-16 / PC Engine games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).

“Speaking of stretches, I recently started getting into a daily yoga routine. And since I am a total newbie that can barely hold any proper poses, I’ve found it really helpful to just embrace the fact that I am a total newbie that can barely hold any of the proper poses.”

If we stop trying to think of streaming as a replacement for buying/owning music, and instead focus on making streaming a much better replacement for what FM radio used to provide (ie. finite music discovery that leads to music purchasing) maybe we could get away from trying to figure out how many fractions of a penny every listen should be worth?

The HI54 Submithub queue had switched to only being open for new submissions on Mondays, but… at the moment, I’m actually just on a total music submission break in general (extended until April 2022). Read this blog post for more info if you’re interested in the whys & hows.

An updated guide on how to hack your Sega Mini to play games on: Atari 2600 / 7800, Nintendo, Master System, Game Boy Color, Genesis/Mega Drive, Super Nintendo, Turbo Grafx-16, Sega CD / 32x, Arcade, Neo Geo, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo 64, and Playstation 1.

The 2020 quarantine had me doing a lot of 80s/90s video gaming (a hobby that has continued “post”-pandemic) — so here’s my personally subjective list of top 36 Gameboy Advance (GBA) games that are still fun/worth spending time playing all these years later (in case anyone else is looking to get into a similar nostalgic distraction).

“Submithub is like my ears Firewall, so once a track I like gets past that, it ends up in my regular rotations— because what’s the point of finding stuff you like if all you do is just keep looking for more stuff?”