The primary way I build my digital music collection is by maintaining a playlist called, “The Rotation.” On this list I load albums of artists I’m interested in hearing, mostly new-to-me artists or albums. Because I need some organizational principle to conduct this survey I go by the alphabetical listing of the artist. I typically move from earlier records to later records, although there are exceptions, and if I’m excited to hear a new album by a favorite artist I’ll add it in an apparent random placement to hear it sooner than later. From this list I’ll select tracks to add to my collection. It’s rare that I DNF a record, and uncommon for me to not select a single track from it. I’ve been doing this for a while and am currently on my 9th trip around the alphabet. Below are the albums heard in a given session and what thoughts, if any, I have about them. These are mostly first impressions, so don’t expect in-depth analysis.
Asterisks (*) after the album title indicate that it is a new-to-me record.
Nick Lowe: PINKER AND PROUDER THAN PREVIOUS (1988)*
Nick Lowe was a vague name to me before I saw him open for Wilco in 2006. He was playing solo, just him and a guitar. I hadn’t realized how many of his songs I knew and thoroughly enjoyed the others. Since then I’ve tried to get to know him more and more.
Collected Tracks:
- Big Hair
- Love Gets Strange
- I Got the Love
- Black Lincoln Continental
- Big Big Love
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: WILL THE CIRCLE BE UNBROKEN (1972)*
People like to shit on traditional country music, but this is the core of so much of what makes American music the world force it is. These songs are our DNA. They are in us whether we recognize them or not. Along with being an early country-rock band Nitty Gritty were preservers of the traditional forms. We’re remiss if we let this music fade away. It’s a betrayal to ourselves and our future. And damn you if you worship at the altar of the 80’s shredder guitarists, but turn your nose up at the country pickers. The pickers are doing the same damn thing but faster, and without the aid of effects pedals to hide their mistakes.
Collected Tracks:
- Nashville Blues
- Tennessee Stud (ft. Doc Watson)
- I Saw the Light (ft. Roy Acuff)
- Sunny Side of the Mountain (ft. Jimmy Martin)
- Nine Pound Hammer (ft. Merle Travis)
- My Walkin’ Shoes (ft. Jimmy Martin)
- Lonesome Fiddle Blues
- Cannonball Rag
- Will the Circle Be Unbroken
- Foggy Mountain Breakdown
Noisettes: WHAT’S THE TIME, MR. WOLF? (2006)*
A single Noisettes track came up as a suggestion when I was on Tidal and I kept it. I’ve never heard of them in any other context, but I always liked that one track. It’s time to fill in the blanks.
(Time passes)
HO-LY-FUCK that was fun. Banging indie rock that pulls at my cockles and reminds me why I will forever and always be a Rock-and-Roller.
Collected Tracks:
- Don’t Give Up
- Scratch Your Name
- Sister Rosetta (Capture the Spirit)
- I We
- Nothing to Dread
MusicHead 
Leave a comment