October was a bit of a roller-coaster for me, but here’s a rousing cheer for November. I went to LA and NYC for a couple weeks, and autumn was in full swing when I came back to Portland! I’m loving my first fall in the PNW: leaves changing color, comfort food (butternut squash anything), and the layering, oh! the layering. Summer Olsson is back, with her usual killer contributions to the soundtrack, and she collaborated on a ridiculous photo essay, too. Click through to see the whole story.

As usual, the titles in red are Spotify links (I’m Michael James Schneider on there, you can find the “BLCKSMTH November” playlist there,too), and enjoy autumn, damnit.

Mike’s pick: MS MR, Hurricane  Okay, so you told me that you’re into Lana Del Rey and Lorde, but you haven’t heard of MS MR? Let’s correct that immediately:

Summer’s pick: Jann Tiersen, J’y Suis Jamais Alle (from: Le Fabuleux Destin d’Amélie Poulain*) This is the galvanizing first track of a flawless album. I had a roommate years ago that called it her fall album, and it has become my fall album too. With: hope, quick inhalations of joy and longing, leaves swirling, batting eyelashes under woolen hats. *This month I am actually recommending whole albums. These are records that are wholly beautiful, which I love in their entirety.

Cheated (photo by Summer Olsson)

Mike’s pick: Massive Attack, Paradise Circus  Moody and atmospheric, this is great to listen to while slurping up tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches. God I can’t stop thinking about food.

“Furry Fight” (photo by Summer Olsson)

Mike’s pick: Bjork, Mutual Core   I shuffle around the tectonic plates in my chest/You know I gave it all/Try to match our continents/To change seasonal shift/To form a mutual core:

Summer’s Pick: Arcade Fire, Awful Sound (Oh Eurydice) (From: Reflektor) Yes, I love them. Yes, so does everyone (Except you, you cool, cool cucumbers. You know who you are). This new album has all the loveable rock beats and emotional, theatrical lyrics. With: sweeping beauty, dance and Latin rhythms, and appearances by such legends as Eurydice, Joan of Arc and David Bowie.

“Bounced!” (photo by Summer Olsson, thanks to Christopher and Thor, from l to r)

Mike’s pick: Ghostpoet, Cash And Carry Me Home I forgot about the aperitif. Spanish Sherry, thick and rich:

Summer’s Pick: Elvis Perkins, Shampoo (from: Elvis Perkins in Dearland) “Yellow is the color of my true love’s crossbow.” Enough said. With: harmonica, animal sounds, wretchedness and open hearts.

“Lonely” (photo by Summer Olsson)

Summer’s Pick: St. Vincent & David Byrne, Dinner for Two (From: Love This Giant) Two of my favorite stranger voices got together and made a funky album. I hear Talking Heads in there, as well as strains from Marry Me. It will cheer you and stretch your ears a little:

Mike’s pick: James Vincent McMorrow, We Don’t Eat This one has nothing to do with food. No, it’s actually a sweet, simple song that instantly spoke to me. It’s the dessert I promised but never made, for someone I miss so damn much:

“The Right To Refuse Service” (photo by Summer Olsson)

If you dig these, check out the soundtracks for February, April, May, August, and October.