Steven R. Smith :: Triecade

With his new album, Triecade, Los Angeles-based guitarist, artist and composer Steven R. Smith marks three decades of releasing music. Since his early days amidst the Jewelled Antler collective, Smith has put out some fifty records under half a dozen different monikers. Taken in its totality, his catalog comprises an almanac of forgotten countries, ruined cities and faded empires, a sketchbook of improbable flora and fauna. It is one of the most enchanting and labyrinthine discographies in modern American music . . .

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Bonnie “Prince” Billy :: The Purple Bird

The Purple Bird is more overtly country than the last few Bonnie “Prince” Billy albums, certainly more so than the droning, mesmeric Lungfish homage in Hear the Children Sing the Evidence from 2024 or even the campfire folk communal Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You from 2023. Of course, threads of rural traditions in country, bluegrass and shape not singing have always woven through Oldham’s work, so it’s not a dramatic departure. Still, this is an album made in Nashville with Nashville musicians and a celebrated Nashville producer, and the twang factor is high . . .

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The Aquarium Drunkard Show: SIRIUS/XMU (7pm PST, Channel 35)

Via satellite, transmitting from northeast Los Angeles — the Aquarium Drunkard Show on SIRIUS/XMU, channel 35. 7pm California time, Wednesdays.

34.1090° N, 118.2334° W . . .

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Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks :: Pig Lib

Despite a slew of great tunes, Stephen Malkmus’ self-titled, post-Pavement debut felt restrained, reining in his more extreme tendencies. This is in stark contrast to the follow up record, 2003’s Pig Lib. Credited to Malkmus and the Jicks, this is the first record where SM is thinking of himself as a member of the rock band The Jicks. And as a Jick, Malkmus can to lean into his extremes (guitar indulgence, poetic weirdness), and it shows . . .

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Tree Rings as Fingerprints :: Derek Piotr & Scott Solter on Fieldwork Archive

Folklorist Derek Piotr recently issued his 1,000th field recording. Alongside his own solo work, he's overseen the Derek Piotr Fieldwork Archive since 2020—a collection of field recordings that mostly showcase what Piotr dubs a “non-singer”: someone with no background in vocal performance who nevertheless sings a folk song as remembered through oral tradition . . .

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Sun Ra & His Arkestra :: Kingdom of Discipline

There's always so much Sun Ra music to experience. But even among all the riches, Dead Currencies' Ra comp Kingdom of Discipline is a special piece: released in an edition of 75, it speaks to Ra as an independent media pioneer as much as a jazz composer . . .

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Ralph Towner :: The Aquarium Drunkard Interview

As a member of the pioneering chamber/world/GORP jazz group Oregon, as a solo artist and leader or co-leader, guitarist/multi-instrumentalist/composer Ralph Towner has been making wide-ranging, pigeonhole-defying music for more than half a century. Speaking to Aquarium Drunkard from his home in Rome, Towner was happy to look back at a few of the many highlights of his remarkable and varied career, from including but not limited to all-night concerts in the ‘70s, an impromptu jam session with Sonny Rollins, his jazz-snob regrets, kicking Bill Evans off the piano, looking for . . .

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The Aquarium Drunkard Show: SIRIUS/XMU (7pm PST, Channel 35)

New Year's Day. Via satellite, transmitting from northeast Los Angeles — the Aquarium Drunkard Show on SIRIUS/XMU, channel 35. 7pm California time, Wednesdays.

34.1090° N, 118.2334° W . . .

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Keith Jarrett :: Live In Norway, 1972 (Molde Jazz Festival)

August 2, 1972. Keith Jarrett performing solo in Molde, Norway the at the eleventh annual Molde Jazz Festival. Clocking in at 46 minutes, the concert is comprised of one continuous improvisation that Jarrett dubbed "Molde-72". This recording was later paired with Jarrett's return performance at the festival the following summer as the 2-CD collection, Keith Jarrett – Molde Jazz Festival 1972 & 1973 -- a 2021 Japanese import . . .

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The Aquarium Drunkard Radio Holiday Nog Spectacular :: Christmas Day 2024

Via satellite, transmitting from northeast Los Angeles — the Aquarium Drunkard Show on SIRIUS/XMU, channel 35. 7pm California time, Wednesdays.

Tonight, suit up, it’s Aquarium Drunkard’s annual seasonal spectacular . . .

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Grey On Gray II :: A December Mixtape

For the darkest time of year, a wintry mix of stark sonic landscapes — jazz, ambient, acoustic and unclassifiable. Instrumental treks through the snow, hopefully with a mug of hot chocolate (or something stronger) awaiting you at your final destination . . .

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Videodrome :: Christmas Evil (1980)

Christmas Evil may seem like a hokey slasher film done up in garland and wreaths, but it's a tragic character study that speaks directly to the motifs of the holiday season. With the thematic tissue of a Christmas film and the derangement of a horror film, filmmakers such as John Waters have referred to Christmas Evil as "the greatest Christmas film of all time . . .

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The Aquarium Drunkard Show: SIRIUS/XMU (7pm PST, Channel 35)

Off-piste. Via satellite, transmitting from northeast Los Angeles — the Aquarium Drunkard Show on SIRIUS/XMU, channel 35. 7pm California time, Wednesdays.

34.1090° N, 118.2334° W . . .

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Amen Dunes :: Death Jokes II

Damon McMahon clears away the complications that befuddled his intricate, sample-heavy Death Jokes album to reveal the lucid, often beautiful melodies underneath. In what the artist has stated will be his last album as Amen Dunes, he circles back to the eerie simplicity of the song, and it works in a big way. With Death Jokes II, McMahon pares down the excess and focuses on pure melody. His voice does most of the work on this remix, in all its wobble-prone, echo-shrouded, vulnerable sincerity . . .

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Joel Paterson :: Hi-Fi Christmas Guitar

Harkening back to a bygone era of multi-tracking techniques, Hi-Fi Christmas Guitar finds guitarist Joel Paterson paying tribute to Les Paul and Chet Atkins through the vessel of Christmas standards. Hang the mistletoe, crank up the Echoplex, and let the yuletide spirit roll . . .

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