MusicHead

Talk Talk: IT’S MY LIFE (1984)*

Talk Talk is one of those 80s compilation artists that I got curious about. Their first record wasn’t spectacular, but I have hopes for this one.

High hopes were dashed. I’m sure in 1984 this was a solid record, but it excepting the title track, which I already had in my collection, it was monotonous and generic for the period.

Collected Tracks

• It’s My Life

---

Tall Heights: JUNIORS (2022)*

First learned about Tall Heights when they opened for CAKE and Ben Folds in 2019, my last concert before COVID. They’re a group I’m a “solid like” on. Good songs, good production, good singing, but hard to love. I wouldn’t pay to see them as a headliner, but they’re good to keep in the collection.

Collected Tracks

• Keeps Me Light
• Here It Again

---

Tami Neilson: RED DIRT ANGEL (2008)*

I found Tami Neilson a few years ago on the streaming services and instantly fell in love with her. She’ll range from bluegrass and traditional country to rockabilly. She can sing down and dirty, or in a manner that you would SWEAR is Patsy Cline. This record was a bit “generic country girl” stuff, though.

Collected Tracks

• Missin the Groom

---

Tami Neilson: KITCHEN TABLE SESSIONS, VOL. II (2009)*

While I only took one track from the previous record, I like her enough to double dip. Several tracks from KITCHEN TABLE SESSIONS, VOL. I have been part of my collection for some time and am eager to finally get to Vol. II.

Collected Tracks

• Hey Mama
• Great Day
• One Thing
• No Good for My Soul
• I’ve Just Seen a Face
• Take Me Home
• Sweet Dreams

---

Taylor Swift: THE LIFE OF A SHOWGIRL (2025)*

I’m not exactly “getting into” Taylor, but some of this stuff is decent.

…Time passes…

What a boring freakin’ record! I feel like it was the same 110 bpm drumbeat throughout. TPS was the same. Y’all, I know I’m old, but how is this the biggest pop star in the world?

Collected Tracks

• The Fate of Ophelia

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.