Chris Shoemaker

Cellist · Pianist · Programmer

Notes on music, listening, and the odd bit of code.

I’m Chris. I’ve played cello since I was seven (now in the Oakland Civic Orchestra) and piano since nine, studied computer science at Carleton, and still believe the best playlist is the one you’re about to hand to a friend.

On Music

All writing →
  1. No. 02The Rest is Noise by Alex Ross: First (sort of) impressionThirty-odd pages into Alex Ross on the twentieth century: Strauss, Mahler, and the art of the frenemy.
  2. No. 01IntroductionWhy this page exists: a cello at age three, a flat refusal to be taught, and a bootleg Planxty CD on the road to Louisville.

Listening

A rotating playlist of whatever has been on repeat lately. Currently spinning: October ’26.

Last heard“Symphony No. 5: II. Stürmisch bewegt, Mit größter Vehemenz”Gustav Mahler

Ratings and reviews of everything else live on RateYourMusic, and every play gets logged on Last.fm.

October so far

274 plays across 120 artists

  1. Mussorgsky: Pictures at an ExhibitionModest Mussorgsky33 plays
  2. PugnelloGilla Band26 plays
  3. In Search Of...N*E*R*D17 plays
  4. Audit In ProgressHot Snakes12 plays
  1. 01Modest Mussorgsky33
  2. 02Gilla Band28
  3. 03N*E*R*D17
  4. 04Hot Snakes12
  5. 05Torche8

This week, years ago

  1. 2025Aspect — Seventeen Years Old and Berlin WallAlso Swans, Panda Bear · 64 plays that week
  2. 2024In Rainbows — RadioheadAlso semiwestern, Viagra Boys · 108 plays that week
  3. 2023Most Normal — Gilla BandAlso Soft Blue Shimmer, Ethel Cain · 125 plays that week
  4. 2022Dimensional Bleed — Holy FawnAlso Madeon, Arkells · 107 plays that week
  5. 2021Red Earth & Pouring Rain — Bear's DenAlso Sleep Token, Loathe · 60 plays that week
  6. 2020Conatus — Zola JesusAlso Fink, Daughters · 58 plays that week
Show all 12 yearsShow fewer
  1. 2019Immunity — ClairoAlso JPEGMAFIA, Kanye West · 129 plays that week
  2. 2018BALLADS 1 — JojiAlso my bloody valentine, Pinegrove · 121 plays that week
  3. 2017Big Fish Theory — Vince StaplesAlso BROCKHAMPTON, Big Shaq · 39 plays that week
  4. 2016Arvo Pärt: Portrait — Arvo PärtAlso Grouplove, Francis and the Lights · 108 plays that week
  5. 2015Sprained Ankle — Julien BakerAlso Fink, Frightened Rabbit · 159 plays that week
  6. 2014Cerulean — BathsAlso SOHN, Starfucker · 350 plays that week

Counted from Last.fm · 66,557 plays since 2013 · synced Oct 29, 2026