Artichoke - Artichoke

One sunny day in 1995, Timothy Sellers got his first guitar for $100 at Pittsburgh Guitars. It came with a free ice cube tray. In 1998 he moved to Los Angeles and started Artichoke, an indie pop band best known for a variety of concept albums.

In 2005, Artichoke’s “26 Scientists: Volume One Anning - Malthus” was featured in the science section of the “New York Times” in an article about the emerging songs-of-science micro-niche, as spearheaded by such artists as They Might Be Giants and Tom Lehrer.

In 2010, Lisa Carver of the “LA Weekly” wrote about Artichoke’s family album “26 Animals” and described their sound as “music for kids and drunks.”

In 2011, Sellers was the songwriter in residence for NIMBioS, the National Institute for Mathematical and Biological Synthesis in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Artichoke’s other concept albums include “Bees” and 2 records about the Los Angeles neighborhood of Highland Park. The live Artichoke has played at museums, clubs, and parties throughout Los Angeles.

Let’s switch to a first-person narrator to describe the new record, shall we? Great to meet you, I’m Timothy. 

The dystopian present of 2025 is here, and along with it Artichoke’s eponymous 13th album. The songs on this record are all me: guitar, bass, keys, found sounds, and vocals, plus the drum loop ghosts of the worlds funkiest drummers. The resulting songs sound a bit like early Beck.

1) “One Hit Wonder In Search Of One Hit” 3:19

I think the title says it. I’ve been writing songs every day since Kurt Cobain died, so maybe I’m due?

2) “Cool People (What Are They Good For?)” 3:04

You may know some of these exotic creatures. You may BE one.

3) “The Cake” 4:36

Another all-true shaggy dog story about the delights of city life.

4) “My Brain” 3:06

This song was written by that charming genius of swing Mose Allison. I raved it up a bit and added horses, trains, and a thunderstorm.

5) “A Skull With 3 Eyes” 5:02

A posthumous self-reflection. Enjoy the falsetto hooks!

6) “Paper Planes” 3:52

I love the original song by M.I.A. and the Clash. For this version, I used a fuzz guitar for the main structure and replaced their gunshots with smashing glass.

7) “The Angeles National Forest Blues” 4:40

When I need to get out of the L.A. because it’s hot and gross and a bass player has quit or some jerk got elected president, I drive up the Angeles Crest Highway and take a hike. This track is the only mellow acoustic song on the album.

8) “Bilbo Baggins at 111” 3:40

A collection of posts from my social media pals. Are you spread too thin, too little butter over too much toast, like Bilbo Baggins at 111?

9) “Raise A Glass To Those Who’d Rather Not Raise a Glass” 3:58

A drinking song which includes the non-drinkers, aliens, and songs that don’t rhyme.

10) “A Great Idea For a Song” 4:24

People often come up and give me “great ideas” for songs. I turn each of these great ideas into a mansion.

Thanks for listening. And if you have any great song ideas, please send them to

Timothy Sellers / Artichoke Los Angeles, 2025