In the same week, I received the resisue of the Syd Barrett/Floyd classic, “The Piper At The Gates of Dawn (Special Edition),” an EMI Records release that’s worth every penny it will cost you, and Jagjaguwar’s latest Sunset Rubdown album, “Random Spirit Lover.” “Piper” features not only Syd but also Roger Waters and, so it includes the creative core of both of the Band’s essential iterations. (David Gilmour, while a great guitarist, did not in my view shape or form the direction of Pink Floyd.) The release marks the group’s 40th anniversary, and it’s a double disc—one stereo, one mono, with so many great tunes: Arnold Layne; Gnome; Bike; Astronomy Domine; Lucifer Sam . . . And, of course, Interstellar Overdrive. I popped it in for a little taste of retro heaven, and then right after it came the new Sunset Rubdown record.

Sunset Rubdown is not exactly space rock, but it’s as close to prog rock as we get nowadays, and goes along nicely with “Piper.” “Random Spirit Lover” It’s a heavy and full, complex and cosmic. Check it out. Everyone else in the blogosphere already has, and they like it. So you probably will, too.

Winged Wicked Things-Sunset Rubdown.

Finally, Wooden Shjips is psychedelic space rock deeply rooted in the Pink Floyd tradition. They’re even from San Franciso, and they’re named after a totally trippy song. Their new EP, self titled, is an excellent, jammy, strange trip.

Lucy’s Ride-Wooden Shjips.

You can find Pink Floyd on Amazon and everywhere else.

Wooden Shjips can be found at the Holy Mountain website.

Sunset Rubdown isn’t available retail until October 9, but you can preorder it here. If you do, you get a digital download coupon code to download the full album two weeks before the release date. Scroll down for their tour dates.

10 REASONS TO LOVE PINK FLOYD

1. Lucifer Sam-The Flaming Lips (Pink Floyd Cover).

2. Wish You Were Here-Sparklehorse w/Thom Yorke

3. Interstellar Overdrive (Pink Floyd)-Camper Van Beethoven.

4. Also, from the same show, One of These Days, which shares its title with one of my favorite Floyd jams.

5. Go here for The Shins covering Breathe.

6. Wish You Were Here (Pink Floyd cover)-The Grateful Dead

7. Tilted in Any Colour You Like-Lupe Fiasco

8. Ode to [Pink Floyd’s] The Wall-Eyedea

9. Phat as Hell-Pink Floyd vs. Leftfield.

10. See Emily Play-Robyn Hitchcock.

SUNSET RUBDOWN tour dates

10/06/07 Montreal, Quebec – Theatre National w/
Black Mountain + Oakley Hall + Lightning Dust
10/07/07 Cambridge, MA – Middle East Downstairs
10/08/07 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
10/09/07 New York, NY – Bowery Ballroom
10/10/07 Philadelphia, PA – First Unitarian Church
10/11/07 Washington, DC – Black Cat
10/12/07 Chapel Hill, NC – Local 506
10/13/07 Atlanta, GA – Drunken Unicorn
10/15/07 Baton Rouge, LA – Spanish Moon
10/16/07 Austin, TX – Emo’s
10/18/07 Tucson, AZ – Plush
10/19/07 Los Angeles, CA – El Rey Theatre
10/21/07 San Francisco, CA – Independent
10/23/07 Portland, OR – Hawthorne Theatre
10/24/07 Seattle, WA – Crocodile Cafe
10/25/07 Vancouver, BC – Plaza Club
10/26/07 Victoria, BC – Logans
10/28/07 Calgary, Alberta – Broken City
10/29/07 Edmonton, Alberta – Velvet Underground
10/30/07 Saskatoon, Sask. – Amigos
10/31/07 Winnipeg, MB – Royal Albert Arms
11/01/07 Fargo, ND – Aquarium
11/02/07 Minneapolis, MN – Triple Rock Social Club
11/03/07 Chicago, IL – Empty Bottle