Aquarium Drunkard Presents: Shades of November II
If last week's entry was a sort of 'lament' for Autumn, or the lack thereof, here in southern California, then this week's playlist focuses, in part, on a number of artists mining the sound of California's golden coast, actual or in spirit. Graham Nash saw a reissue several years back of his Songs For Beginners LP (arguably his finest solo work), and we kick things off with "Military Madness", which unfortunately sounds just as contemporary today as it did 35+ years ago. From there we dip into John Martyn's timeless "Over The Hill" before touching down with Dylan's "Day Of The Locusts" off of New Morning, an LP that seems to always get a little more play this time of year.
We pick up back in California with the inimitable northern California avatar, Jorma Kaukonen, and then spend some time with a couple of current artists who have most recently been grouped in with what's being described as the new 'American Primitive" - Steve Gunn and Phil Cook. While the descriptor may sound dubious, I can assure the music is anything but. Two tracks off two of my favorite 2013 releases. Yo La Tengo chime in with a delicate piece culled from the score to the film Old Joy that they scored in 2006. Returning to southern California, a solo demo of the Beach Boys "Surf's Up", which, in my opinion, is the only way to hear the track. Nick Drake and Nico make appearances before a selection from Joni Mitchell's LP, Blue - an album that always sounds a bit more powerful the last two months of the year.
Without giving the second half of the playlist away, I'll just say it ends with yet another nod to the late, irreplaceable, Lou Reed.
ABOUT AQUARIUM DRUNKARD
Based in Los Angeles, Justin Gage is the founder of the long-running, eclectic music blog Aquarium Drunkard. In addition to the blog you can catch his weekly radio show, Fridays, on SIRIUS XMU satellite radio -- noon-2pm EST.
Gage is also the founder of Autumn Tone Records and works as a music consultant and supervisor.
