My friends and favorite label (well, one of them) Ruination Record Co. create a weekly mix and recently I had the honor of curating a guest mix for them. Thanks so much to those guys and check out the amazing music they release on Bandcamp. > MIXCLOUD> BNDCMPR> SPOTIFY This mix begins with lots of Big Drone Energy, a series of eerie entrancers, frenetically crests, then dives into something more gentle, warm, and comforting – the transition from electric to acoustic always feels a bit like sort of a homecoming for me, after meandering through the mysterious, enchanting, unheimlich world of electronic music.…

Marcel Sletten runs a label called Primordial Void, and he also recently released this incredible psychedelic ambient album last year on Sound as Language that’s become one of my favorite electronic records. As I’ve gotten to know him a bit on the internet, his diverse array of musical interests intrigued me. So naturally, I asked him to make a mix. “So Much Love To Give is an hour-long collection of songs that I’ve been enjoying lately. As a music fan, I like a little bit of everything, and this mix reflects that. Most of it was recorded in a “freestyle” session…

Alt-country is like a comfort food; raised on it, informed my taste, I feel like I’m more sophisticated now but deep down inside, this is who I am. The genre has its problems, but damn that music was good! Please enjoy this photo of me in cowboy boots in Dallas, Texas in 2007

Oh, did you think I was done with year-end lists? There’s one more. Earlier this week, Petal Motel released our favorite albums of the year. Now here’s a playlist of some of our favorite songs from the past year. I avoided picking songs from albums that I view as concepts as a whole, and instead focused on songs that stood out on their own (hence many songs from albums on the AOTY list not appearing here). Also, there were way too many great albums that came out this year. Ok, is this enough text for search engine optimization? I hope…

Our friend Joel Berk, aka ragenap, is a prolific inventor of distorted, monster of heady tones, master of swirling psychedelic expanses, and mind-bending melodies. He recently released a cassette entitled Thankrupcy on American Dreams, an improvisational, heavy head trip, as well as a split with Prana Crafter in early 2020 that got tons of air play in this house. His Bandcamp page boasts loads of recordings using other people’s songs as a jumping off or reference point before he takes them to another dimension. Joel’s also a taper and champion of the live performance, which explains why this mixtape contains…

Scorpio Horoscope: As the leaves change and shadows drape themselves across the land before it’s even time to pour a cocktail, you may find yourself turning inward. Lean into it. Take this time to reflect, not to run away from your feelings. Although you may feel a bit moody and introspective, know that you’re not alone. Scorpios are renowned for their explosive creative energy. Although their greatest gift, sensitivity, can also be their greatest flaw, they possess an innate ability to transmute darkness into beauty. A soundtrack made by similar souls will help get you through the chilly nights. Choose…

Two and a half hours of the classics, or songs that will be regarded as classics, to keep you awake late at night on that last long stretch of the I-40, or to start your engine as you motor through the scorching desert. I’m absolutely shamelessly sharing phots from Route 66 road trips over the last year or two. I love a road trip desperately but I’m starting to feel pretty bad about unnecessary carbon emisssions. Also recommending the following podcasts if you do what I did last weekend and did an insanely long road trip- did over 2000 miles…