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The Small Stakes book of music posters

Link: http://www.thesmallstakes.com/index.php

Chronicle Books recently published The Small Stakes, a paperback book showcasing more than 150 music posters designed by Oakland-based Jason Munn. The book reproduces Munn's iconic designs with 6-color process, including metallic silver and gold inks on woodfree paper. Between the color palettes and the subtle evolution of stylistic conventions (starting in 2002), there is a harmonious flow through the pages. The blind embossing found behind the dust jacket is a nice added touch. My copy of the book is signed and also includes a small limited-edition letterpress print.

Not only does the book serve as a survey of the music posters produced by The Small Stakes studio over the past eight years, but for some it can also inspire a contemporary music playlist or the perfect channel on Pandora. This book includes a collection of silk screen poster designs for Modest Mouse, Built to Spill, Death Cab for Cutie, Beck, Flight of the Conchords, The National, Rilo Kiley, Pixies, The Flaming Lips, Pedro the Lion, and more. 

Nicholas Harmer, bassist for Death Cab for Cutie, provides the foreword which gives insight into Munn's relationship with the band over the years. There is also an interview with Jason Munn conducted by artist Jay Ryan from The Bird Machine.

"...Sometimes, one note can say more than twenty. When I look at Jason's work, I see the same mechanism at play. I see an understated elegance to what he makes, to the juxtapositions and compositions he chooses. This is why I feel like our music and Jason's designs still make a perfect pairing—we complement the simplicity in each other..." —Nicholas Harmer

The book was designed by Jacob T. Gardner and Jason Munn. I think the barcode design is genius and I wonder how the radio design ever made it past the production department.

Below is a book trailer with Jason Munn giving a further glimpse into his design process: