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Remembering Elliott Smith, Revisiting A Classic From New Jersey’s Most Powerful Trio

Tuesday, December 16: Listen for selections from Barrett, the 1970 album from former Pink Floyd frontmanSyd Barrett. It was Barrett’s second and final solo recording and completed with the help of his former bandmates David Gilmour and Richard Wright. After the release of the album the gifted songwriter retired from music and spent the remainder of his life in Cambridge, England where he grew up, mostly painting and largely living in obscurity and poor health. We’ll also hear selections from a variety of Pink Floyd releases and Primus’s version of the Floyd classic, “Have A Cigar.”

Wednesday, December 17: Formed in Belleville, Illinois c. 1987 Uncle Tupelo became one of the leading acts of the so-called No Depression movement of the late 1980s and early 1990s. This sound was based on roots music—country and bluegrass—but injected with punk and rock energy. We’ll hear from Uncle Tupelo’s debut album No Depression as well as from Trace the first album from Uncle Tupelo co-founder Jay Farrar’s band Son Volt.

Thursday, December 18: Extra Painful is the reissue of the 1993 album by New Jersey trio Yo La Tengo. The new version features previously unheard demos and outtakes. We’ll hear selections from this version of the album plus selections from the new release by singer-songwriter John Grant which he recorded with the BBC Philharmonic.

Friday, December 19: To e.s. is the new album from the Portland Cello Project. It is also a tribute to late singer-songwriter Elliott Smith. We’ll hear selections from it as well as from Smith’s album Figure 8.

Saturday, December 20: We celebrate the 53rd birthday of musician Mike Keneally with selections from his work as a solo artist, with Frank Zappa, Steve Vai, Joe Satriani, and others.

Monday, December 22: Listen for music from singer-songwriter Christian Lee Hutson’s latest release, Yeah OK, I Know. The record spotlights Hutson’s remarkably smart and heartfelt songs. Although listeners will find parallels between Hutson and earlier songwriters he is in a class by himself among contemporary singer-songwriters. We’ll also hear from In Real Time, the latest album from Minneapolis, Minnesota singer-songwriter Chris Koza.

Tuesday, December 23: While No One Was Looking is a new compilation celebrating 20 years of Chicago’s Bloodshot Records. The label, self-proclaimed home to insurgent country since the 1990s has hosted an impressive roster of bands in that time. This collection finds artists such as Shakey Graves, William Elliott Whitmore, Ha Ha Tonka and others paying tribute to the many acts who have passed through the Bloodshot stable during the last two decades. We’ll also hear selections from An Americana Christmas featuring selections from Emmylou Harris, Bob Dylan, The Band and others.

Wednesday, December 24: Listen for holiday and holiday-related music from John Prine, Emmylou Harris, Pedro The Lion and The Wood Brothers.

Thursday, December 25: We continue our holiday music special with songs from Joni Mitchell, Jackson Browne, Old ‘97s and The Kinks.

Friday, December 26: Although best known for its 1983 album The Crossing and the hit single “In A Big Country,” many consider the Scottish band’s sophomore release, Steeltown its finest moment. Released in 1984 the album is the subject of a 20th anniversary reissue. We’ll hear selections from that recording on this episode of Strange Currency as well as selections from Back To The Egg, the final studio album from the band Wings. The album features two songs with guest guitar work from Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour, who has collaborated with Paul McCartney on several recordings since the 1970s.

Saturday, December 27: Released in 1975 Wish You Were Here became an extended meditation on the departure of Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett, much of it from his replacement (and childhood friend) David Gilmour. We’ll hear selections from that album and from Wilco’s 1999 album Summerteeth.

Monday, December 29: The Final Cut is perhaps the most divisive of all classic-era Pink Floyd albums. The 1983 release is the last to feature bassist and vocalist Roger Waters and is largely a political exploration of his feelings about the war in the Falkland Islands and the death of his father in World War II. The album was also recorded without the participation of keyboardist Richard Wright who was fired from the band several years earlier. We’ll hear selections from this recording as well as from The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, the 1984 solo debut from Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters. Although released in ’84 the concept actually dates back to the late ‘70s and was presented to the other members of Pink Floyd at the same time as the material that became the classic LP The Wall.

  Tuesday, December 30: A Ghost Is Born is the fifth album from Wilco. Released in 2004 the record features founding member Jeff Tweedy playing more lead guitar than any other album from the band. The record is notable for songs such as “Handshake Drugs,” “Company In My Back” and “Spiders (Kidsmoke),” all of which highlighted the band’s eclectic influences ranging from straightforward pop to the experimental edges of bands such as Can. We’ll hear selections from that album as well as from Eat A Peach the classic 1972 album by The Allman Brothers Band.

Wednesday, December 31: Low-Life is the 1985 album from New Order and is considered one of the band’s finest release. The record is notable for its inclusion of the song “Love Vigilantes” and a more pronounced use of synthesizers than on earlier New Order albums. Listen for selections from that recording as well as music from So Happy It’s Sad the 2014 release from Atlanta, Georgia’s Spirits and The Melchizedek Children.

Jedd Beaudoin is host/producer of the nationally syndicated program Strange Currency. He has also served as an arts reporter, a producer of A Musical Life and a founding member of the KMUW Movie Club. As a music journalist, his work has appeared in Pop Matters, Vox, No Depression and Keyboard Magazine.