nineteeneightees (2006)

The dependable balladeer, best known for his recurring role as Town Troubadour on Gilmore Girls, returns with nineteeneightees, a covers CD of dorm-room faves from the decade that birthed alt-rock. Though he takes on an eclectic mix — from the bopping guitar-pop of R.E.M.'s ''So. Central Rain'' to the dire post-punk of Joy Division's ''The Eternal'' — Phillips dilutes it all with his smoothed-over delivery and slowed-down acoustic arrangements. Without exception, the well-chosen tunes become edgeless, pleasant downgrades of their remarkable originals.