(September 29th sees the release of the Flaming Lips double LP, Embryonic. Between now and then we’re looking back on some of the band’s pre-Soft Bulletin moments) The Flaming Lips spent most of the 80s in the wilderness of rock and roll. They put out a series of albums – beginning with 1986′s Hear It [...]

(Diversions, a recurring feature on Aquarium Drunkard, catches up with our favorite artists as they wax on subjects other than recording and performing.) Thus far, Diversions has featured artists discussing, amongst other things, their favorite ’80s indie bands, rock ‘n roll sartorial sense, the L.A. Lakers, back of the tour-bus jams, choice Townes Van Zandt [...]

The inevitability of impulse purchases. As if the physical CD/mp3s weren’t enough, in an inexplicable need to own the title in all three available formats, I went whole-hog several weeks ago and picked up the vinyl issue of Deerhunter’s Cryptograms (that now additionally includes the band’s 2007 Fluorescent Grey EP).  During the same run I [...]

Roadside Graves have been traversing the wilds of the USA the past few weeks touring behind their new LP My Son’s Home, which, as I think I’ve mentioned, is thus far my favorite ‘roots’ based rock & roll album of 2009. This week they hit the west coast and are on the bill as main [...]

L.A.’s The Henry Clay People have been busy.  As I write this they are presently on the road, somewhere in the Midwest, having just wrapped up their Daytrotter session in Iowa, now en route to Chicago to play the main stage at Lollapalooza. To commemorate their first real L.A. date since their Spaceland residency last [...]