Tonight's Playlist

What I'm listening to tonight. A Sunday evening playlist if I must call it something. Roots stuff for me ....

• Josh White - What's Done is Done ..... A Portland, Oregon pastor. I've always thought that the majority of gospel/worship music was inane and poorly written. He changes that long help notion for me. Gives the word with intelligence.
• Todd Snider - Like a Force of Nature / While We Still Have a Chance
• The Youngbloods - Quicksand ..... Late 1960's. Feels like a song that should be played while the credits roll of a movie with a bittersweet ending.
• Joe Pug - Hymn #35 ..... How many more great singer/songwriters are out there awaiting their sound to be discovered by chance one day by an individual like myself?
• Waxahatchee - Right Back to It
• Watchhouse - House of Stone ..... Duo formerly known as Mandolin Orange.
• Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit - If We Were Vampires .... For the past decade, I believe the greatest songwriter out there in this moment.
• Joe Pug - Unsophisticated Heart
• The Bats - Electric Sea View ..... A new album coming soon. 
• Richard Buckner - Beautiful Question ..... Been a fan for 15-20 years now. This is from a 4-song live recording I just found on Bandcamp. Where I find a great amount of new music these days.

Ancient Infinity Orchestra

'River of Light' from Ancient Infinity Orchestra on Gondwana Records, where a lot of great jazz is found. Released in 2023.

A 14-member ensemble. This is spiritual jazz and often has moments bringing to mind, John Coltrane and Pharoah Sanders.
 

Destination X

'Destination X' by Dead Moon. A 2022 mono reissue on Mississippi Records. I've seen their sound described as garage rock and punk. Well, it's certainly not punk. Originally released in 1999. 

Just discovered their music. Bought a couple records with the thought in mind that if I liked what I heard, I would dig deeper. I'll be digging deeper. Bonus points given for being an Oregon band. They recorded ten studio albums in their time. 

A trio .... two of their members passed away shortly after disbanding in 2016.

A little surprised that I never heard of them ..... that I can recall that is. 1990's? ....I still used to get out and about a little back then. And I used to peruse all the local small alternative press newspapers back then where they would review such things.

Record Collecting Notes, Autumn 2025

I once thought that I outgrew my John Fahey / Leo Kottke / American Primitive Guitar period several years ago .... But I apparently was wrong. Been discovering of late, all kinds of (new to me) musicians and recordings that I'm finding great enjoyment in, and appreciation for. 

Bandcamp is the greatest (online) record store for discovery of little known and obscure recordings, greatly enhancing my collection. 

The things one finds on small independent record labels are generally far more interesting than what's found on the major labels. Both musically and in the presentation of the package, where you often find some fascinating artwork and bonus materials like inserts, stickers, postcards, etc..

Some odd or different choices? Well maybe. But over the past year or two, I've become drawn in more by combinations of sounds and tones than standard musical melodies. It all started with listening to late night jazz radio which led to the search for different directions in jazz and has morphed and extended into other varied and undefined places .... including drone.

Someone once laughed at me when I mentioned listening to the radio in these times .... like it was so unhip and out of style. But to me it's exciting because you never know what's next. You're always potentially seconds away from a new find, something never heard before.

Is there such a thing as the perfectly flat vinyl LP? I always seem to see a 'flaw.' Usually not affecting the playback but it still bothers me. 

I see all these youtubers showing off their vinyl finds and collections and my immediate reaction is jealousy. I tend to think that everyone has a cooler collection than I and why do I never come across these things? But then I sit back and realize that I've put together a collection that I'm proud of .... and occasionally wonder, is this kind of pride a sin?