The Butthole Surfers - Pandora’s Music Box Festival, De Doelen, Rotterdam, The Netherlands, October 12, 1985Hey now, as a Big Ears fest preview via the Transmissions podcast, you can listen in to my conversation with two living legends — Thurston Moore and Kramer! These two are performing, together and apart, during Big Ears, and they are about to release They Came Like Swallows, their very first collaboration out May 1 on Silver Current. It is a pretty awesome record, sounding at times like ...

Slowcore legends Low take on post-hardcore band Thursday Good morning! Today we’re taking a look at Low’s Things We Lost in the Fire (#16) and Thursday’s “Full Collapse” (#113) Note: As many of you saw, I recently wrote about a Best Record of 2001 challenge and noted that I’d be writing some of these up. […]

"Jessica" by The Allman Brothers Band Listen on Apple Music Your browser does not support the audio element. What's your favorite instrumental song? Jessica by the Allman Brothers Band is my fave, although a few more stand out in my memory, like Misirlou and Wipeout from the surf rock era, Tubular Bells from the early 70s and Chariots of Fire in the 80s. View Lou Plummer's Crucial Tracks profile

Released: 26th March 2026 “We were spellbound by her ability to highlight unique perspectives with her songwriting” – Maverick magazine “Duffy’s first-class writing shines through” – RnR magazine ‘Don’t Speak’ is the third single from the warmly-anticipated new album by London-based singer-songwriter, Little Lore aka Tricia Duffy. Inspired by the work of Tennessee Williams, the … Continue reading ‘Don’t Speak’ third single from Little Lore album inspired by Tennessee Williams →

Welcome to the Thursday Pressing Concerns! It’s a very good one, featuring four records coming out tomorrow, March 27th: new LPs from True Green, Sluice, and Helicopter Leaves, plus a new EP from HEDGE. If you missed the other blog post this week, Monday’s (featuring Julianna Riolino, Swirls, Entrez Vous, and a Chicago lo-fi indieContinue reading "Pressing Concerns: True Green, Sluice, Helicopter Leaves, HEDGE"

https://www.theverge.com/streaming/900910/spotify-artist-profile-protection-ai-clones Something's actually happening; I hadn't expected that at all. Spotify is now offering artists the option to confirm their releases in a first version. This addresses the problem of AI-generated fake releases, which I've already written about here. A good thing. As a band member (and listener) who's concerned about exactly this kind of thing, I hope that Tidal and other streaming services will follow suit.

"I swear, I Really Wanted To Make A "Rap" Album But This Is Literally The Way The Wind Blew Me This Time" by André 3000 Listen on Apple Music Your browser does not support the audio element. What's your favorite instrumental song? I remember when this came out and it really reminded me that artist can do different things if they want to. I've loaded this one up and will listen to it as I go to sleep. View Mandaris's Crucial Tracks profile Listen to my Apple Music playlist

Each Thursday in the Disquiet Junto music community, a new compositional challenge is set before the group’s members, who then have five days to record and upload a track in response to the project instructions. Membership in the Junto is open: just join and participate. (A SoundCloud account is helpful but not required.) There’s no […]

Magical musical musings care of the marvellous John Matthews. I first became aware of the music of James McKeown when he released the “Telepathic Heights” album on Soul Jazz back in 2023. To my ears that record was akin to a dark British take on the classic German Kosmische sound I love so much and, […]

Sculptures, the third solo offering from Portland-based composer and multi-instrumentalist Derek Hunter Wilson, gathers, darkens, releases, and clears in intimate, elemental cycles. Framed as “an ode to the ancient and contested shorelines of the Pacific Northwest,” the album’s six pieces trace the quiet, uneven topography of grief after the passing of Wilson’s father. What first […]

A.H.P: Alltid Imot DegOut 21st March on Purity Through Fire Drab, pessimistic black metal lurches between torturous drone segments bolstered by little more than stumbling, slow rhythms into bursts of linear speed and open, humming guitar lines that retain a lackadaisical energy despite the blast-beat foundation. Raspy, mid-range vocals attempt to enhance the sense of... Continue Reading →

"Carry On" by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young Listen on Apple Music Your browser does not support the audio element. Share a song with some of your favorite vocal harmonies. Last year I would have picked a Simon & Garfunkel tune, but I'm mad at Paul Simon (ask me why). I don't think I could ever be angry at Neil Young or David Crosby, so I'm going with Carry On. The chorus harmony stack is one of their most powerful. It really shows how Neil Young's higher, thinner voice really changed the blend...

Today's Jam It's a ska day!

People of Brighton, mark your calendars: Saturday, April 4th. That’s when Salter Cane will be playing in The Hope And Ruin. It’s not just Salter Cane though. We’ll be joined by Skyscrapers from Lewes, and The Equatorial Group from Eastbourne. We’ve played with them before, and they’re superb! Tickets are available now. They’re £8 in advance. It’ll be £10 on the door. So please get your ticket in advance! Doors are at 7:30pm. Skyscrapers will be on stage at 8pm, The Equatorial group at 9pm...

Another Wednesday, another post of upcoming Boston-area shows on my radar along with new live shows announced within the past week. Essential escapism. Some stand-outs from the imminent shows: Eugene & company are back in town tonight as Gogol Bordello plays the Royale and brings along Puzzled Panther, Piebald are at Roadrunner tomorrow night, and […]

Big Ears Transmissions 2026All praise to the mighty Sunsphere! After years of watching enviously from afar, I’m finally heading out to Knoxville for Big Ears this weekend. This festival seems designed to overwhelm the senses, with an unbelievable lineup that packs a year’s worth of live music into a couple days. But I won’t just be going to shows at Big Ears … here’s Jason P. Woodbury with the details: “The Aquarium Drunkard Transmissions team—me, co-host Tyler Wilcox, and producer Andrew Hor...

Mary J. Blige brings the family. Stars of the Lid bring the ambience. Good morning! Today we’re taking a look at Mary J. Blige’s No More Drama (#32) and Stars of the Lid’s The Tired Sounds of Stars of the Lid (#97). Note: As many of you saw, I recently wrote about a Best Record […]

Almighty Warpath vom Bremer Label Am Apparat zusammen mit Chezz & DAM mit dem wunderbaren Track „Pencraft“ gibt es heute zum Comeback, nachdem es hier ein Zeit lang ziemlich ruhig war. Aber, keine Angst, es geht weiter. Checkt erstmal das:

"California Love (feat. Roger Troutman & Dr. Dre)" by 2Pac Listen on Apple Music Your browser does not support the audio element. A song that represents where you live View Mandaris's Crucial Tracks profile Listen to my Apple Music playlist

Between 1965 and 1968, the Lovin’ Spoonful were the nearest America came to producing a Beatles of their very own. Their string of hits took in irresistibly winsome folk-rock jingle-jangle (“Do You Believe in Magic”, “Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind”, “Younger Girl”, “You Didn’t Have to Be So Nice”), wistful sunshine […]

EFIX & Henri Pfr — I'm Going Down (feat. Florence Welch & Kid Harpoon) There are things in this part of the known universe that I consider essential to even...

I don’t think I have the correct cable to connect this library branch with my home stereo system.