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. 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.
Peter Mulvey: BROTHER RABBIT SPEAKS/RAIN (1993)*
I became aware of Peter Mulvey within the last 5 years, after I heard him collaborate with SistaStrings. I was shocked to see how long he’d been working under my radar after hearing his songwriting. A true unknown gem. This is his earliest record. I had to check to see if it was put out by Windham Hill Records (it’s not) because it has this very 90’s New Age feel to it. That’s not comment of the quality, just style. He’s as talented an acoustic guitar player as he is a writer. My suspicion is that BROTHER RABBIT SPEAKS was one record and the live recording, RAIN (again, with the 90s New Age feel in those titles), was a second that were packaged together in this double-length offering.
Oooh. Eeee. There’s a poetry reading. No.
Collected Tracks:
- The Tree
- Rain Song
- September Dawn
Phil Cook: PHIL COOK AND HIS FEAT (2009)*
I honestly don’t know who Phil Cook is or why he’s on this list. Here goes!
Mostly nice bluegrass instrumentals. Could be worse.
Collected Tracks:
- n/a
Phil Ochs: PLEASURES OF THE HARBOR (1967)*
I may have listened to this at some point last year, but I honestly don’t remember it. It’s not my favorite Phil Ochs work. His earlier stuff was more powerful. Although, his lyrics are just as biting as before. This album features rich arrangements of baroque instrumentation and other sonic expansions from his typical folk strumming, but I don’t think it really serves the songs as much as he would have liked it to.
Collected Tracks:
- n/a
Phoenix: ALPHABETICAL (2004)*
This is a band I discovered back in the Tidal days. Still trying to figure out if I like them or not…
…Increasingly, I’m not liking this boring & generic pop rock.
Collected Tracks:
- n/a
Phosphorescent: AW COME AW WRY (2006)*
Another artist I discovered back in the Tidal days. This is my first time diving in.
Crackle-voiced Americana. Another boring record. This one was also self-indulgent.
Collected Tracks:
- n/a
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