Coding Music: The Hooten Hallers

Story time! When I spoke at OpenWest last summer, a friend and I were walking around downtown Provo and stumbled across a local establishment called ABG’s. There was a crowd overflowing out into the street, so being bored, we decided to see what was happening. We paid our cover charge, went in, and there was a live band playing. It was amazing, but as we left, I forgot to ask what the band’s name was.

Recalling the night six months later, I emailed ABG’s booking manager to see who was playing, and he introduced me to the Hooten Hallers. They’ve been in my regular rotation since and there’s little chance of them leaving it any time soon. They’re great to code to as their music blends into the background as you work. Read More…

Coding Music for a Drab Tuesday Morning

This morning sucks. It’s cold out. It’s raining. I forgot my glasses at home so all the fonts on my monitors are 40px.  There’s a FREAKING HURRICANE hitting New York City.

There’s nothing I can do about any of it, so I decided I needed some better music to listen to as I coded today. I popped open Spotify and grabbed a CD I don’t listen to as much as I should.

This is my normal progression when I find a new CD I like involves:

  1. Hear it for the first time.
  2. Realize I kind-of like it based on the one or two songs I actually listened to while I was working.
  3. Listen to it a few times to let it sink in.
  4. Realize it actually sucks except for the two songs I heard before.
  5. Remove it from the rotation.

This one is different. I really, really like it. Going on my short list for album of the year.

I present to you, “The Peace of Wild Things” by Paper Route.

(You’ll need Spotify to get this to work. It’s free and awesome. Get it here. Don’t want Spotify? Check out the album playlist on YouTube.)

Let me know what you’re listening to in the comments below.

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