Alicia Keys: HELL’S KITCHEN (OBCR) (2025)*
Pop stars don’t often understand the nuances of what makes a great musical. I love Alicia, but let’s see if she gets it.
I read a description that called this a “jukebox musical,” and there are enough Alicia Keys hit songs in it to qualify, I guess, but more than half of the music here is original to this piece. She does seem to understand what a musical is and how it’s different from a pop record. Something Paul Simon did not.
I actually quite like this musical. Didn’t take any tracks from it because it’s usually awkward inserting out-of-context musical numbers into the mix, but this is quality work from Alicia.
Collected Tracks
- N/A
Alison Krauss & Union Station: TWO HIGHWAYS (1989)*
Bluegrass is something many people feel too sophisticated for, but I think it can be the highest form of country music in the right hands. Alison Krauss & Union Station are definitely the right hands. We’re going to see them in concert for the first time at the end of September. I’m really looking forward to it.
This appears to be their first record. We’ll see if I take anything from it.
Collected Tracks
- Love You in Vain
- Here Comes Goodbye
- Windy City Rag
Allan Sherman: FOR SWINGIN’ LIVERS ONLY (1964)*
I live in an Allan Sherman house. Unfortunately, by 1964 Mr. Sherman’s career was starting to flag and the tone on this record leans towards “Kids, get off my grass.” which diminishes the quality.
Collected Tracks
- Your Mother’s Here to Stay
- Pills
Allen Stone: APART (2021)*
Allen Stone is one of the better pop artists I’ve found in recent years….He says before hearing a thoroughly boring pop record. There’s none of the energy of his previous work. A lot of moaning over piano.
Collected Tracks
- American Privilege
Po’ Girl (Allison Russell): DEER IN THE NIGHT (2009)*
Allison Russell has been a good discovery for me. This is one of her earlier albums with Po’ Girl. Real mellow and nice. The kind of stuff my spouse thinks I listen to too much.
Collected Tracks
- Dig Me a Hole
- Sing Away
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 10th 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.
MusicHead 
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