MusicHead

Violent Femmes: HOTEL LAST RESORT (2019)*

If this is their last record, it’s a pretty darn good one to go out on.

Collected Tracks

• Another Chorus
• I Get What I Want
• Adam Was a Man
• It’s All or Nothing
• This Free Ride

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Vulfpeck: THRILL OF THE ARTS (2015)*

Been aware of the Vulfpeck for a while now. First time going through a record.

It’s a fun little EP, but I could have done without the guided meditation at the end.

Collected Tracks

• Welcome to Vulf Records
• Back Pocket
• Conscious Club

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The Wailin’ Jennys: 40 DAYS (2004)*

The Wailin’ Jennys are a tight little roots/bluegrass combo and they’ve been in my collection for the last two decades, but this debut record had always eluded me. I especially like their rendition of Neil Young’s “Old Man.” It was surprising and delightful.

I was quite surprised to see that they have tour dates posted, even though they haven’t put out a record since 2017.

Collected Tracks

• Saucy Sailor
• Beautiful Dawn
• Old Man
• Heaven When We’re Home

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WALK THE MOON: THE LIFTAWAY (2023)*

I just like them. Enjoyable and catchy pop-rock. Tell me you don’t dance to “Shut-up And Dance With Me” every time you hear it in a store. Tell me.

Collected Tracks

• Mono No Aware
• Next in Line

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Warren Zevon: SENTIMENTAL HYGIENE (1987)*

We did not appreciate Zevon enough while he was living.

Collected Tracks

• The Factory
• Trouble Waiting to Happen

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What is The Rotation?

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. Above 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.