When I was back home a couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to see my friend Phil Forsyth on his 31st birthday. Phil is an all-around amazing person. A poet, a card shark, a relentless b-baller, a green thumb, and, most important for this post, a full bodied music lover. Phil is the kind of guy that, when you show up at his birthday party, gives YOU a present. That’s how I got “Rank Strangers”, the wonderful countrified mix illustrated above and featured below.

I’m gonna get into the music in a second, but first I want to big up two of Phil’s projects that I hope you’ll check out and support.

First, Philadelphia Orchard Project, a non-profit collective that works with community-based groups and volunteers to plan and plant orchards in the many unused spaces around Philly.

POP provides the plants, trees, and training. Community organizations own, maintain, and harvest the orchards, expanding community-based food production. Orchards are planted in formerly vacant lots, community gardens, schoolyards, and other spaces, almost exclusively in low-wealth neighborhoods where people lack access to fresh fruit.

Second, is Phil’s blog, where he drops incredible amounts of knowledge on urban farms, edible landscapes, permaculture, and sorts of good shit.

As you can imagine, planting orchards in vacant lots and blogging about permaculture doesn’t necessarily make the ends connect, so Phil also has a commercial landscaping business called Forsyth Gardens, and if you’re in the US and want an incredible, edible garden, then you need to holla at them.

So, to the music… Even though Phil is one of the warmest, most loving people I know, he’s got a taste for the darker side of life and it’s represented on every one of his mixes, but this one maybe more than most. Here’s a small selection of bitter pills…

The Everly Brothers - I wonder if I care as much

My pride is made to say forgive,
and take the blame for what you did,
It’s your mistake I’m thinkin’ of,
I wonder if I’m still in love.

The Statler Brothers - Half a man

I know you’re looking for someone to bow down to you,
and to lift their head and smile each time you call.
But the more I think about, the less I think about it,
and the more I think it just ain’t worth it all.

Tanya Tucker - Blood red and goin’ down

Daddy said: “Now come girl, we’re headin’ down the road to Augusta.”
And faintly through his clenched teeth, he called Mama’s name, then he cussed her.
He said: “Girl, you’re young, but some dude has come along and stole your mother.
Ah, but you can’t steal a willin’ mind ’cause mom is always lookin’ for a lover.”

Tom Waits - Tell it to me

I know, you will not see me, but I know you have a daughter
And I hear she has my eyes
They say she calls him “father”, and he’s proud of her
And even believes all of your lies

Download the whole beautiful collection here.

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