Faces

Despite the fact that he was on major labels from 1965 to 1978, Shawn Phillips is seldom mentioned these days when the psych-folk roll call is given, but he was there on the front lines. As is made clear on 1972's FACES, which finds the troubadour at the peak of his powers, he blended traditional folk/blues influences with psychedelic inflections, touches of jazz and rock, and an impressive degree of acoustic-guitar virtuosity. Here he runs the gamut from bouncy, Donovan-esque folk-pop to moody, atmospheric pieces in a seamless manner.