Recently, my roommate and I got in a discussion regarding buying music. I've been told that I'm a bit of an anomaly with how many physical albums I own. Yes, I'll admit that growing up in the nineties made me collect CDs... and maybe a few tapes. Also, it's hard to live in Eugene without at some point scouring through vinyl at local thrift stores. So, yea, I've got a bunch. Also, in my undergrad I was music director for the campus radio station and I heard about so many interesting bands during that time, and surely my music collection grew due to that exposure.
Back to the point. Robert has made the argument that the CDs are being squeezed out. With space online becoming cheaper and cheaper (if not free), the mp3 serves less of a purpose and it's totally reasonable that in the future digital music will only be of high quality sound files. Mp3s were great because they sounded okay and took up very little space, right? Hard drives are bigger, too, now than ever before and it's easy to store music. So, digital music is convenient. And, it's no longer just the shitty mp3 version of that great album that you own on CD or vinyl.
Then, there's vinyl. Vinyl sales are up. They'll probably never be what they once were (music sales in general will probably never be what it once was!), yet, there is a collectable market here. Hell, I like to think that there's more than just a collector's market. Will vinyl grow in appreciation? Will the minor annoyances of having to flip records and handle them carefully be outweighed by their wonderful sound, listening to albums in their completed package, and having all that amazing art and liner notes? I sincerely hope so. That is how it is for me.
For these thoughts, I don't want to go into the subject of online radio stations, streaming services, and other similar forms of music delivery. I fear to be drawn off on too much of a tangent... and, so...
Where do CDs fit in? I could include tapes in this, too. I've heard (but not confirmed) that there is even a company in Portland that will manufacture tapes. That is so cool. They do have some sort of appeal to the nostalgic. I'm not sure what it is, exactly, and am personally not so fond of them... so I'll leave it at that. CDs on the other hand, I have grown to love. I have many of them and do not want to give them up. While I've made plenty of digital purchases and own tons of vinyl, and have put most of my CDs digitally onto my computer for digital access, it is the CDs themselves that I reach for most often when listening to music. Why is that?
Well, Robert would say that I'm just old fashioned and because of my generation, or old habits, or just plain refusal to enter the modern age, I just simply refuse to adapt. The thing is, I have adapted to new forms of music access (even digital streaming... thanks Google Play), I just love CDs and still find them valuable. I love holding an album in my hand and looking at the art and/or little book while I listen. Music enjoyment for me is not complete by just listening (I mean... sometimes it is... but, sometimes not!), I want to think about all the parts of the art form. With digital music I find myself forgetting songs or album titles unless I'm constantly reminded. When I have the tactile accompaniment of the physical album, I do remember and find myself accessing it more, or thinking about it more. I want to loan a CD to a friend and have them loan me theirs.
Then I can hear Robert saying, right! That's why you have vinyl! And, I know he's completely right. He's so right. Many of my friends have vinyl record players and I could bring vinyl over. The art is bigger anyway. They sound better, too (according to many).
So, where does the CD fit in? It's in between. It's smaller and inferior in some ways to the vinyl. Yet, it's easily possible to digitize a CD if you want to. One foot in the digital world and one foot in the analogue. It's an in between, like the hybrid car, something temporary. Something only to be remembered by the nineties generation that relied on it. Maybe this is so. Hmmm.
I'm going to make a couple arguments in favor of the CD....
First, it's incredibly cheap to manufacture. It's way cheaper to produce them, than vinyl (look up on youtube how vinyl records are made and you'll have a new appreciation! And realize why they're so darn expensive!). If you're at a concert (or putting on a concert), CDs are still the way to go to get your music out there or pass it around. You may be thinking about download codes or website directions? First, concert goer is gonna want or pay for that. Touring bands need something to sell! Also, somehow the extremely simple steps of going to a website and entering a download code are often too much when somebody gets away from the live performance. I don't know why, but it truly is. A CD is gonna get listened to, at least once, if it is bought. CDs still need to come down in price dramatically on the commercial level, the markup is simply too outrageous, but this is starting to happen from my casual observations.
CDs are more convenient than vinyl. Sometimes getting out a record seems like too many steps, give me a CD. I want the complete album. I want it to sound good. I want the art. I want to carry it around with me. I get out the CD. I want a similar to vinyl experience, but am not quite up for the vinyl commitment. This argument would not work for Robert... he'd just look up the album on YouTube. It does work for me.
You can still browse through bins of CDs at the local store and find "gems". I don't want to rely on what Amazon recommends to me or on what Pandora decides belongs on the same playlist as some band I like. These are too limiting. I like the chance that I'll come across something new and wonderful at the CD store. Robert would say, that's what vinyl is for. And, looking through vinyl is a joy in itself. However, even if you look at a vinyl and it looks unscratched, it could be messed up enough to not play. That is frustrating. Or, sometimes you pull out a sleeve only to realize that the record within is too scratched to purchase. Vinyl is fragile. New vinyl is expensive. CDs are cheaper and if the disc looks clean, it's pretty much guaranteed to play right. I'm often willing to take a chance on a CD that I wouldn't take on vinyl. It is true that sometimes vinyl can be much cheaper than CDs, but this is becoming less and less the case. And good vinyl (or popular vinyl) is always pricey. So, I appreciate the CD.
So, you can decide for yourself if there's a place for CDs. Thankfully they're so easy to manufacture that they'll likely always be available on demand, similar to how old out of print books are sometimes available. I find appreciation for all delivery forms of music... there's a time and place for each of them.
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
My Top 10 Albums To Stop And Pay Attention To
Over the years there have been certain albums where I had to stop all activity and just listen to. I have found this profound in its own right, the power of music to just captivate. These have definitely been albums that struck me at the time and, generally, remain some of my favorite albums. I'm not saying they're my all time favorites, or anything, there's music for all occasions and different ways to enjoy it. For example, right now I'm rockin' some Bryan Adams and while this is some fun good stuff, I'm not gonna stop everything and just listen to it. It's great for what it is. It makes me feel good and want to do house chores... or something. I don't know. Anyway, you get the point... stuff like that.
1. Led Zeppelin - IV: I first heard Zep early in my high school years. Up to that point I'd never listened to anything that heavy. Also, Robert Plant's voice struck something deep inside that I haven't heard since. The band played with reckless abandon, an untamed sense that I admired. I had a friend at the time that told me, first you'll get into Hendrix, Zeppelin, Sabbath, then metal. Well, that's pretty much what happened. The point is, when I got that Led Zeppelin album for Christmas I played it and my jaw dropped. I could not be bothered. It was there to be absorbed and took everything I had just to listen to it. What a killer album.
2. Beck - Odelay: I first heard Odelay around the same time I heard Led Zeppelin IV. I heard it in a friend's car and can remember thinking that I'd like to hear some more of that, but didn't really have a chance to listen to it closely. I saved up, purchased the CD, and played it in my living room. The first thought I had was that I'd just wasted my money. The music was all over the place and too disorganized. It was only a short time before I changed my mind on that and decided that it was one of the most creative and intelligent, and wonderful pieces of music ever made. I listened to every note. I played that album over and over. P.S. I also got to see Beck at the Salem Armory in '97 and what a great show.
3. Wintersun - Time 1: Yea, yea... everybody knows that Time wasn't as good as Wintersun's debut album. But, what about the hype? What about the multitude of tracks? The processor needed to make the album in the first place? Wintersun is an undeniable talent. When Time finally came out, I took it home and immediately played it, laid on my bed, and didn't move for the duration of the listen through. It's a solid album, no doubt. I got to see Wintersun perform live around this time, they put on a good show, but I could have listened to them for about 10 more hours.
4.The Beatles - Revolver: When I was too small to remember I was listening to the Beatles. It was the music of choice on long family car rides and in a lot of other situations too. However, I was still not quite prepared when in my teens my dad brought out his vinyl collection. Among the piles was every Beatles album, worn out from lots of play, yet sounding great on our stereo. I put on Revolver one day. My vision of the Beatles was still of the British pop invasion brand, I did not know what they morphed into by the end of their decade of dominance. In my opinion, Revolver was the middle, the crossover. The riffs are heavier, the songwriting a little more out there. It's my favorite Beatles album to this day. It blew my mind.
5. The Dandy Warhols - Come Down: Hearing this album led to a big expansion in my musical tastes. The sound and drone of the album could put one in a trance and make time pass quickly. The songs are catchy at the same time. After hearing this, I think I was more open minded to what I heard through my radio station music director college days. Before this time, I was zoned into a dozen (or so) albums and the style they conveyed as my definition of good music. After hearing the Dandy Warhols, I thought... what if other stuff is good, too? And, now I'm into so much music, so many different styles, genres, sub genres, etc etc and I'm always looking for more.
6. Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around: Johnny Cash taught me so much. I'm not religious in the sense that he was, but I respected his religious songs. He has so much feeling and meaning behind his music, and such a presence that he can't be ignored. His voice is timeless. By the time I heard American IV I was already into the American Recordings, but I think he saved the best for this one. It was a culmination of so much of his life and career. He seemed to be leaving his audience with a parting message of hope, but also a warning if we couldn't get our act together. The album stops you in your tracks. It's powerful in a way only music can be, yet rarely is.
7. The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over: If you remember when this album came out, I'm certain you remember what a big deal it was. My dad couldn't stop talking about it. The Eagles got back together! And, wow, arguably they sounded better than ever. I can remember sitting at the desk top computer (the only CD player in the house at the time) and listening to this repeatedly and not being able to believe how crisp and good it sounded, how tasty the solos were, and how perfect the singing was. It's still a favorite album.
8. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker: This album sounded so good to me when I heard it that I actually got jealous and couldn't listen to it for a while. I got over that quick enough, but it resonated because it sounded the way I wanted to sound when I play music. I can't really do it like Ryan, but dang it if I don't try sometimes. I was fortunate enough to be in New York city for the CMJ festival shortly after this album was released and see him twice. His solo acoustic show is still one of my all time favorite live shows that I've seen. He's captivating and you will not find a finer example of songwriting, finger picking, and song delivery than Heartbreaker.
9. Mastodon - Crack The Skye: When they made Crack the Skye, Mastodon made their album for me. I was already into their music when they came out with the album, but I couldn't have predicted that they'd make such a great piece of music. Of the three times I've seen Mastodon live, seeing them perform Crack The Skye in its entirety (on tour with Dethklok) was by far the best. Sitting up stairs in the Roseland, they were mesmerizing. The album has that effect on the listener.
10. Neil Diamond - Hot August Night. There is this certain "thing" that comes to mind whenever Neil Diamond is brought up in conversation. While I think most people who pay attention to his music eventually wind up being big fans, he can sometimes get criticized for being cheesy or hokey. Whatever. Hot August Night is not cheesy or anything, except awesome. Even for Neil, he was having a spectacular night. He put on an amazing show for that crowd and showcased what a good songwriting he really is. He also played some songs that are rarely presented, especially on his hits lists, because he hadn't written that much back then. Put this album on, people will be blown away if they haven't heard it before... they'll be saying, "who's this guy who sounds kinda like Neil Diamond?" and you'll respond, "that is Neil Diamond. See how $%@#ing good he is?"
1. Led Zeppelin - IV: I first heard Zep early in my high school years. Up to that point I'd never listened to anything that heavy. Also, Robert Plant's voice struck something deep inside that I haven't heard since. The band played with reckless abandon, an untamed sense that I admired. I had a friend at the time that told me, first you'll get into Hendrix, Zeppelin, Sabbath, then metal. Well, that's pretty much what happened. The point is, when I got that Led Zeppelin album for Christmas I played it and my jaw dropped. I could not be bothered. It was there to be absorbed and took everything I had just to listen to it. What a killer album.
2. Beck - Odelay: I first heard Odelay around the same time I heard Led Zeppelin IV. I heard it in a friend's car and can remember thinking that I'd like to hear some more of that, but didn't really have a chance to listen to it closely. I saved up, purchased the CD, and played it in my living room. The first thought I had was that I'd just wasted my money. The music was all over the place and too disorganized. It was only a short time before I changed my mind on that and decided that it was one of the most creative and intelligent, and wonderful pieces of music ever made. I listened to every note. I played that album over and over. P.S. I also got to see Beck at the Salem Armory in '97 and what a great show.
3. Wintersun - Time 1: Yea, yea... everybody knows that Time wasn't as good as Wintersun's debut album. But, what about the hype? What about the multitude of tracks? The processor needed to make the album in the first place? Wintersun is an undeniable talent. When Time finally came out, I took it home and immediately played it, laid on my bed, and didn't move for the duration of the listen through. It's a solid album, no doubt. I got to see Wintersun perform live around this time, they put on a good show, but I could have listened to them for about 10 more hours.
4.The Beatles - Revolver: When I was too small to remember I was listening to the Beatles. It was the music of choice on long family car rides and in a lot of other situations too. However, I was still not quite prepared when in my teens my dad brought out his vinyl collection. Among the piles was every Beatles album, worn out from lots of play, yet sounding great on our stereo. I put on Revolver one day. My vision of the Beatles was still of the British pop invasion brand, I did not know what they morphed into by the end of their decade of dominance. In my opinion, Revolver was the middle, the crossover. The riffs are heavier, the songwriting a little more out there. It's my favorite Beatles album to this day. It blew my mind.
5. The Dandy Warhols - Come Down: Hearing this album led to a big expansion in my musical tastes. The sound and drone of the album could put one in a trance and make time pass quickly. The songs are catchy at the same time. After hearing this, I think I was more open minded to what I heard through my radio station music director college days. Before this time, I was zoned into a dozen (or so) albums and the style they conveyed as my definition of good music. After hearing the Dandy Warhols, I thought... what if other stuff is good, too? And, now I'm into so much music, so many different styles, genres, sub genres, etc etc and I'm always looking for more.
6. Johnny Cash - American IV: The Man Comes Around: Johnny Cash taught me so much. I'm not religious in the sense that he was, but I respected his religious songs. He has so much feeling and meaning behind his music, and such a presence that he can't be ignored. His voice is timeless. By the time I heard American IV I was already into the American Recordings, but I think he saved the best for this one. It was a culmination of so much of his life and career. He seemed to be leaving his audience with a parting message of hope, but also a warning if we couldn't get our act together. The album stops you in your tracks. It's powerful in a way only music can be, yet rarely is.
7. The Eagles - Hell Freezes Over: If you remember when this album came out, I'm certain you remember what a big deal it was. My dad couldn't stop talking about it. The Eagles got back together! And, wow, arguably they sounded better than ever. I can remember sitting at the desk top computer (the only CD player in the house at the time) and listening to this repeatedly and not being able to believe how crisp and good it sounded, how tasty the solos were, and how perfect the singing was. It's still a favorite album.
8. Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker: This album sounded so good to me when I heard it that I actually got jealous and couldn't listen to it for a while. I got over that quick enough, but it resonated because it sounded the way I wanted to sound when I play music. I can't really do it like Ryan, but dang it if I don't try sometimes. I was fortunate enough to be in New York city for the CMJ festival shortly after this album was released and see him twice. His solo acoustic show is still one of my all time favorite live shows that I've seen. He's captivating and you will not find a finer example of songwriting, finger picking, and song delivery than Heartbreaker.
9. Mastodon - Crack The Skye: When they made Crack the Skye, Mastodon made their album for me. I was already into their music when they came out with the album, but I couldn't have predicted that they'd make such a great piece of music. Of the three times I've seen Mastodon live, seeing them perform Crack The Skye in its entirety (on tour with Dethklok) was by far the best. Sitting up stairs in the Roseland, they were mesmerizing. The album has that effect on the listener.
10. Neil Diamond - Hot August Night. There is this certain "thing" that comes to mind whenever Neil Diamond is brought up in conversation. While I think most people who pay attention to his music eventually wind up being big fans, he can sometimes get criticized for being cheesy or hokey. Whatever. Hot August Night is not cheesy or anything, except awesome. Even for Neil, he was having a spectacular night. He put on an amazing show for that crowd and showcased what a good songwriting he really is. He also played some songs that are rarely presented, especially on his hits lists, because he hadn't written that much back then. Put this album on, people will be blown away if they haven't heard it before... they'll be saying, "who's this guy who sounds kinda like Neil Diamond?" and you'll respond, "that is Neil Diamond. See how $%@#ing good he is?"
The retro futurist in me
Recently my roommate encouraged me to do some home rearranging, with the supreme idea of putting a record player front and center in my living/dining room off my kitchen. This room gets the most use in my house and having a way to play vinyl more conveniently made a whole lot of sense. So, now vinyl is getting spun on a daily basis at my house and it has been a musical reawakening around here. All kinds of stuff that has been too long neglected has found the light of day and I've been realizing how good a lot music is that I only have on vinyl, and how I need to listen to it more often.
This brings me to my next point, the importance of the Retro Futurist record subscription I had for two years. If you haven't heard of Retro Futurist records, it's worth looking up. A lot of the music they sent me as part of the subscription didn't grip me initially, but I tried to pay attention to their philosophy of signing talented bands... regardless of genre. The members of Kylesa could have been assumed to only sign metal bands, specifically those that fit their own stylings. They did more and I appreciate it, especially now as I'm revisiting all these gems from my music collection. The bands that Retro Futurist signed, in my opinion/from what I can tell, are still not getting the exposure they deserve. So, I'm gonna mention em' here and if you read about something that sounds interesting to you, go seek it out. You can find most (if not all) these bands on bandcamp, anyway.
These bands...
Sierra - Pslip: This Canadian rock band did grip me instantly when I put it on. It reminded me of some of the other bands I've been into (Mastodon's Crack the Sky, Baroness). This was the first record I received from Retro Futurist and I played it a lot for a few weeks. It is doomy, yet with good instrumentation and interesting riffs. When Sierra came out with their next album (72), I picked it up instantly.
Jagged Vision - Harvest Earth: This band has a punk/metal blend, with an almost serene guitar tone. The vocals are harsh, but not too in your face. They're appreciated, rather than abrasive. I would love to see Jagged Vision tour with a band like Toxic Holocaust or 3 Inches of Blood (RIP).
Burnt Books - Where There's Ashes There's Fire: This album immediately captured my attention when I opened the box, it looked like somebody hand made the record jacket in a basement. It reminded me of zines from my high school days. Listening to the album, it's dark and heavy, downtempo and growly. At first I was not into it, but it has grown on my tremendously. It is more approachable than bands like Indian or early Neurosis, but reminds me of them.
Dark Entries - The Make Believe: I listen to Dark Entries and then I want to put on a Dimu Borgir album afterwards, then go back to Dark Entries. My only challenge with this album is that I wish it was longer. They truly have a good thing going. The songwriting is good and the band is solid. When I initially listened to it I thought it was too mediocre. But, I wasn't paying attention. Eventually I listened to it more closely and made sure to focus a bit more... made sure I was free of distractions. Time flew by.
Caustic Casanova - Breaks: This might be the favorite of all the albums I got from the record subscription. Caustic Casanova, from DC, is mostly a rock band, but not your typical rock band. They get weird sometimes, in the best way possible. The songwriting surprises me because it's predictable only until it is not. I went online and ordered all their older albums and a t-shirt after hearing Breaks.
Crazy Bag Lady - Hunks: This album took a while to grow on me. I think that's because I couldn't find a category to put it in. It's sort of punk and sort of just loud, and sort of metal. Honestly, this one was the hardest to like. With that said, I put it on quite often now I feel like I've gotten to know it better. Also, when friends come over, I've a few times found myself asking what they think of it and it gets a pretty darn positive response.
So, there you have it, some of my thoughts on some of the albums I got from the Retro Futurist record subscription. Maybe you'll go on bandcamp, or someplace, and listen for yourself. Or, better yet, maybe one of these bands will come through your town and you'll get to see a show first hand. I'm appreciative that these bands have helped to expand my musical horizon and find more new music to enjoy.
Rock on.
-Jason
This brings me to my next point, the importance of the Retro Futurist record subscription I had for two years. If you haven't heard of Retro Futurist records, it's worth looking up. A lot of the music they sent me as part of the subscription didn't grip me initially, but I tried to pay attention to their philosophy of signing talented bands... regardless of genre. The members of Kylesa could have been assumed to only sign metal bands, specifically those that fit their own stylings. They did more and I appreciate it, especially now as I'm revisiting all these gems from my music collection. The bands that Retro Futurist signed, in my opinion/from what I can tell, are still not getting the exposure they deserve. So, I'm gonna mention em' here and if you read about something that sounds interesting to you, go seek it out. You can find most (if not all) these bands on bandcamp, anyway.
These bands...
Sierra - Pslip: This Canadian rock band did grip me instantly when I put it on. It reminded me of some of the other bands I've been into (Mastodon's Crack the Sky, Baroness). This was the first record I received from Retro Futurist and I played it a lot for a few weeks. It is doomy, yet with good instrumentation and interesting riffs. When Sierra came out with their next album (72), I picked it up instantly.
Jagged Vision - Harvest Earth: This band has a punk/metal blend, with an almost serene guitar tone. The vocals are harsh, but not too in your face. They're appreciated, rather than abrasive. I would love to see Jagged Vision tour with a band like Toxic Holocaust or 3 Inches of Blood (RIP).
Burnt Books - Where There's Ashes There's Fire: This album immediately captured my attention when I opened the box, it looked like somebody hand made the record jacket in a basement. It reminded me of zines from my high school days. Listening to the album, it's dark and heavy, downtempo and growly. At first I was not into it, but it has grown on my tremendously. It is more approachable than bands like Indian or early Neurosis, but reminds me of them.
Dark Entries - The Make Believe: I listen to Dark Entries and then I want to put on a Dimu Borgir album afterwards, then go back to Dark Entries. My only challenge with this album is that I wish it was longer. They truly have a good thing going. The songwriting is good and the band is solid. When I initially listened to it I thought it was too mediocre. But, I wasn't paying attention. Eventually I listened to it more closely and made sure to focus a bit more... made sure I was free of distractions. Time flew by.
Caustic Casanova - Breaks: This might be the favorite of all the albums I got from the record subscription. Caustic Casanova, from DC, is mostly a rock band, but not your typical rock band. They get weird sometimes, in the best way possible. The songwriting surprises me because it's predictable only until it is not. I went online and ordered all their older albums and a t-shirt after hearing Breaks.
Crazy Bag Lady - Hunks: This album took a while to grow on me. I think that's because I couldn't find a category to put it in. It's sort of punk and sort of just loud, and sort of metal. Honestly, this one was the hardest to like. With that said, I put it on quite often now I feel like I've gotten to know it better. Also, when friends come over, I've a few times found myself asking what they think of it and it gets a pretty darn positive response.
So, there you have it, some of my thoughts on some of the albums I got from the Retro Futurist record subscription. Maybe you'll go on bandcamp, or someplace, and listen for yourself. Or, better yet, maybe one of these bands will come through your town and you'll get to see a show first hand. I'm appreciative that these bands have helped to expand my musical horizon and find more new music to enjoy.
Rock on.
-Jason
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