Here is a cover that we did for a documentary about The Doors, titled "When You're Strange." Unfortunately this cover was rejected when it turned out that the band just "wanted a band photo" instead. We thought we'd show it to you anyway, as we're rather fond of it.

The 2009 Sasquatch! lineup was recently announced, so we thought we'd give you a peak at the new artwork as well. This year we decided to go with an unruly gang of 'Squatch Supers - each with their own specific power or trait. Whether or not they fully know how to utilize that power or trait is yet to be known. One thing is for sure, they always mean well.

It's always an honor to work with Adam (as well as Live Nation & Seattle Theatre Group), and we're specifically thrilled to now be the official festival artists each year.

And check out the amazing animation put together by the fine folks at Gridplane.

By popular demand, we've reprinted our Kings Of Leon "Lonely King" poster design, this time with a change of color palette. These are going pretty fast, so get yours now.

Here's the cover for Demon Hunter's new "Live In Nashville" record. For this album cover we wanted to execute our "demon skull" logo (which graces every DH cover) in a new and unique way. If you focus on the black negative space, you'll see it. Album available January 27th!

Here's a cover we recently finished up for Tooth & Nail newcomers, And Then There Were None. The theme of the artwork is based on a gold disc that was sent into space on the Voyager 2 in 1977. The disc (clearly not a CD like shown on the cover- we know) contained various files depicting life on earth- in the event that an extra-terrestrial being might happen across it.

Just finishing up the artwork for new Solid State band, The Ascendicate. This is actually a band that I sought out and recently helped sign to the label. I'm very excited for the release of this record. The above image is the final cover (sans sticker, which displays the band name, album title).

We're just as shocked as you are, but it looks like we've received our 4th Grammy nomination in a row. This time it's for our CD package/board game for Hawk Nelson's latest album 'Hawk Nelson ... Is My Friend'.

We're beyond grateful for the nomination - as well as the years prior. That feeling doesn't seem to get old. Many thanks to Hawk Nelson and Tooth & Nail Records for the opportunity. My wife and I will be celebrating our 10 year anniversary the very same weekend as the awards, so we're excited to have another reason to dress up.

Oh, if anyone is keeping score out there, Don and Ryan are tied for 2 apiece. I am thinking we may have set some sort of record for brothers in general. Is there a separate award for that? No?

Not a bad year for music! Yeah, yeah, yeah ... we realize there are a few more releases that are coming out before the end of the year. But are any of them good? Exactly. That being said, read 'em and weep. Don:

2008 TOP TEN

1. Portishead "Third" 2. The Night Marchers "See You In Magic" 3. Kings Of Leon "Only By The Night" 4. People In Planes "Beyond The Horizon" 5. The Out_Circuit "Pierce The Empire With A Sound" 6. Carolina Liar "Coming To Terms" 7. Copeland "You Are My Sunshine" 8. Keane "Perfect Symmetry" 9. The Helio Sequence "Keep Your Eyes Ahead" 10. Coldplay "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends"

2008 TOP TEN HONORABLE MENTION

1. Snow Patrol "A Hundred Million Suns" 2. My Morning Jacket "Evil Urges" 3. Oasis "Dig Out Your Soul" 4. Your Vegas "S/T" 5. Secret Machines "S/T" 6. Dead Confederate "Wrecking Ball" 7. Royworld "Man In The Machine" 8. Young Widows "Old Wounds" 9. Starflyer 59 "Dial M" 10. Longwave "Secrets Are Sinister"

2008 TOP TEN METAL

1. Metallica "Death Magnetic" 2. Slipknot "All Hope Is Gone" 3. The Famine "The Raven & The Reaping" 4. Gojira "The Way Of All Flesh" 5. All That Remains "Overcome" 6. Bury Your Dead "S/T" 7. Scar Symmetry "Holographic Universe" 8. Meshuggah "ObZen" 9. Becoming The Archetype "Dichotomy" 10. Opeth "Watershed"

Ryan:

2008 TOP TEN

1. Elbow "The Seldom Seen Kid" 2. Portishead "Third" 3. Kings Of Leon "Only By The Night" 4. People In Planes "Beyond The Horizon" 5. Secret Machines "Secret Machines" 6. The Night Marchers "See You In Magic" 7. The Helio Sequence "Keep Your Eyes Ahead" 8. Copeland "You Are My Sunshine" 9. My Morning Jacket "Evil Urges" 10. The Out_Circuit "Pierce The Empire With A Sound"

2008 TOP TEN HONORABLE MENTION

1. Young Widows "Old Wounds" 2. Haunts "Haunts" 3. Carolina Liar "Coming To Terms" 4. Oasis "Dig Out Your Soul" 5. Bon Iver "For Emma, Forever Ago" 6. Goldfrapp "Seventh Tree" 7. Keane "Perfect Symmetry" 8. Starflyer 59 "Dial M" 9. Stereophonics "Pull The Pin" 10. The Subways "All Or Nothing"

2008 TOP TEN METAL

1. The Famine "The Raven And The Reaping" 2. Scar Symmetry "Holographic Universe" 3. Bury Your Dead "Bury Your Dead" 4. Slipknot "All Hope Is Gone" 5. Becoming The Archetype "Dichotomy" 6. Metallica "Death Magnetic" 7. Gojira "The Way Of All Flesh" 8. Disfear "Live The Storm" 9. Meshuggah "ObZen" 10. Trenches "The Tide Will Swallow Us Whole"

Tim (Feed The Creature):

2008 TOP TEN

1. The Walkmen "You & Me" 2. Fleet Foxes "S/T" 3. The Dodos "Visiter" 4. Coldplay "Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends" 5. Kings of Leon "Only By The Night" 6. Department of Eagles "In Ear Park" 7. Vampire Weekend "Self Titled" 8. Okkervil River "The Stand-Ins" 9. Deerhunter "Microcastle" 10. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals "Cardinology"

2008 TOP TEN HONORABLE MENTION

1. My Morning Jacket "Evil Urges" 2. Oasis "Dig Out Your Soul" 3. Portishead "Third" 4. The Helio Sequence "Keep Your Eyes Ahead" 5. Kanye West "808's And Heartbreaks" 6. Wale "The Mixtape About Nothing" 7. The Raconteurs "Consolers of the Lonely" 8. Beck "Modern Guilt" 9. The Cool Kids "The Bake Sale" 10. The Notwist "The Devil, You + Me"

There was a lot of great album artwork this year, but here are 10 that really caught my eye. Enjoy.

We've been posting fairly frequent blog entries over at MTV's Headbangers Blog, giving in-depth views into various design projects. This time, you can read about the artwork for Demon Hunter's forthcoming 3-disc release, "45 Days."

I cannot get enough of this record! If you live in the Northwest, see them at Neumo's on November 6th. The live show is phenomenal.

Hardformat has some interesting thoughts on album covers in the digital world.

Here's a glimpse at some imagery that we're working on for the new record by Becoming The Archetype, titled "Dichotomy." The theme of the album is loosely based on C.S. Lewis' "The Hideous Strength," wherein Lewis writes of the dichotomy between man and machine. Brutal! Oh, and the album slays. Buy it November 25th!

Ryan and I will be speaking on November 6th (2-3PM) at this year's Grammy MusicTech Summit. The topic: 'Graphic Design Challenges for New Media'. Stop by to hear our thoughts on the wondrous world of the new album cover: All 55 x 55 pixels of it.

Fact #1: Reid Miles is a personal design hero of mine (as evident in my approach for Chris Cornell's Carry On album).

Fact #2: Japanese website Vintage Vanguard just made my year. 

Via Drawn!

Vinyl Sleeve Heads is making my Wednesday happy.

Jean Shin and Paul Villinski are my favorite people this week. Holy smokes ...

Word on the streets is that Sacramento (our hometown) legends, Far, are back in action. This puts very large smiles on our post-punk faces. Shouts to Slopez.

45 Days. A Film About Demon Hunter By Cale Glendening.

As mentioned last month, It's Nice That starts their new exhibit next Monday at Plymouth College of Art in Plymouth, England. Our 12" vinyl packaging for Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace will be on display among many other fine works of art - all submitted by It's Nice That guest authors. Photographs of the show coming soon.