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The Rotation, #29

stack of lp records close up

Spoon: TRANSFERENCE (2010)*

Didn’t have any thoughts here. Just liked some tracks.

Collected Tracks

  • Mystery Zone
  • Written in Reverse
  • I Saw the Light
  • Out Go the Lights

Squeeze: BABYLON AND ON (1987)*

Overall, a pretty basic late-80s pop record, but a couple good ones. I think “Some Americans” is evergreen.

Collected Tracks

  • Hourglass
  • Some Americans

Squirrel Nut Zippers: SOLD OUT (EP) (1997)*

SNZ were never a swing band, but they got lumped in with the “swing craze” of the 90s. It’s so weird that they got played on 105.7 (KPNT), “The Point,” up against Nine Inch Nails, Silverchair, and Smashing Pumpkins. What was going on with that program director?

Collected Tracks

  • St. Louis Cemetery Blues
  • Bedlam Ballroom (Instrumental)

Stan Getz, et al.: THE BROTHERS (1949)*

Just a little bebop swing.

Collected Tracks

  • Five Brothers
  • Battle of the Saxes
  • Four and One More
  • The Red Door
  • Tangerine

Stan Rogers: FROM FRESH WATER (1984)*

Screenshot

The internet tells that I’m an honorary Canadian due to my love of Stan Rogers. And we all know the internet is always right. Now, excuse me while I sip on my mug of maple syrup and eat my plate of poutine.

In all seriousness, though, if you don’t know Stan Rogers, you should check him out. He made the most masculine music I’ve ever heard, while never engaging in sexism or any other gross displays of machismo. His songs are frequently about men struggling with changing times and the loss of the old ways, but always convey a sense of inner strength and personal integrity. His love songs are pretty damn good, too.

Collected Tracks

  • White Squall

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.

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