Episode 187: Austin Leonard Jones

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For Episode 187 of Look At My Records!, Tom spoke with the prolific California-based songwriter Austin Leonard Jones. For the last decade-plus, Jones has released a string of great albums and EPs, exploring lo-fi pop, psychedelia, surf rock, and country. His songwriting journey is chronicled through his most recent release, The Wonder Years of Austin Leonard Jones Vol. 1 & 2, a double cassette retrospective that compiles some of his standout tracks from 2010 to 2018. Released via the Perpetual Doom label, the compilation showcases Jones’ evolution as a lyricist and musician, as the characters in his songs gradually take on greater depth, while his music becomes more textured and varied in style as it progresses. Tune in to the interview to hear how Jones made the move from Texas to California a few years ago, how his creative relationship with engineer/musician Will Patterson had shaped the sound of his music, what it was like recording his next album digitally after working with tape exclusively, the process behind curating a retrospective compilation, and more. Plus, Jones picked some awesome records from Tom’s collection, including choice cuts from Kevin Ayers, Bob Dylan, The Bats, and more.  You can follow along with his picks via the official playlist for Episode 187.

You can purchase a copy of The Wonder Years of Austin Leonard Jones Vol. 1 & 2 on limited edition cassette via Perpetual Doom. You can also check out Jones’ back catalog via Bandcamp or your streaming platform of choice. Keep up with Jones by following him on Instagram, liking him on Facebook, and checking out his website.