It was suggested I start writing about music after recently posting my new tunes playlists on Facebook. I offer this blog to those who, like me, are always looking for something new to rock their world or on the other hand, for those who think that the best music has already happened in the past. For the past five years I have created playlists for myself and shared them this friend who suggested I start this blog -- we have a long history together since high school when we'd create cassettes of new music to share, but I'm dating myself!
Music, like any art, elicits a visceral reaction. Whether or not you like something cannot be easily explained, as it cuts straight to our core for a response. As with religion, politics, or money, our opinions of music cannot be dissected by an objective intellectual discussion. The soundtrack for our lives we select can speak volumes about the time and place as well as the person. It's a cultural history in the making.
I remember the first record I bought as a child of the sixties -- The Beatles, of course. I actually think my alto vocal range was cemented by hours of singing along to the fab four and of course their music lives on today even in the video gaming world. The Earth Wind & Fire type disco of the 70s made it hard to be a sulky adolescent in high school as Bruce Springsteen's anthems called for a deeper reflection. In college I collected old school Frank Sinatra albums before catching on to the New Wave and Punk groups spinned at parties. My 80s music was defined by WLIR in Long Island and the 'Screamer of the Week' which broke many U2 and other big bands of the day. New Tunes in the 90s were found on WHFS in Annapolis of all places, as I'd visit my parents who lived in Maryland -- I could count on hearing about new bands (Weezer and Blur to name a few). And as radio found a new life online, I latched on to kcrw.com out in Santa Monica which I knew from a few visits to L.A. It was Nick Hardcourt's tenure at 'Morning Becomes Eclectic' weekday mornings that I'd listen to 'on demand' as it was convenient that really got me going on creating playlists, especially when he pubished the book, Music Lust. It was my sentiments exactly.
A few years ago I was at a party when the discussion of music came up among fellow baby boomers. This guy actually said how there was nothing worth listening to these days. I'm thinking he just wasn't trying. So I'll post my playlists and other tidbits here, things worth a listen and other musings about music. Enjoy.