Header illustration courtesy of Fon Leigh (fon.leigh.art).
It feels like, as we get older, we’re conditioned to make boring New Year’s resolutions that we all know we’ll forget about mid-February the latest. Let’s get real, I’m not going to survive this winter without excessive carbohydrates, and God knows I’m not going near a gym anytime soon. However, one thing that I’ll always commit to is listening to new music.
When the New Year rang in, I promised myself that I’d listen to a new album every week, whether it be an album I’ve been aware of but never got around to, or something totally new and unknown. Everyone should get into the habit of listening to new albums frequently, because it’s not only an opportunity to find something new to love, but it’s an opportunity to learn.
Take the album I listened to last week, Slowdive’s “Souvlaki,” often considered a shoegaze staple. I know plenty of shoegaze tunes, and I’ve been listening to hits from “Souvlaki” for ages, but I finally listened to the 1992 dream-pop essential last week in its entirety to understand what made it so special within its niche: the ethereal, genre-defining sound, the gorgeous transitions from song to song, the lesser acknowledged gems. In “Souvlaki” I heard the artists of today that lean into a more haunting, distant sound (take Ethel Cain, Japanese Breakfast), and the album’s impact overall. What I did not learn was why they call it shoegaze, because I knew why already; I’ve had it mansplained to me enough.
Week 2, I tapped into an album called “Run for the Night” by a little band called Rage. Not to be confused with the German power metal group, the British band evolved from 70s band Nutz, and leaned towards a melodic, more adult-oriented rock (often referred to as “AOR” in the 80s) sound. I stumbled upon their catchy track “Fantasy” and impulsively went through the entire record out of pure curiosity. Was it a five star listen? No. But I drew new songs from it, and expanded my taste nonetheless. It reminded me of my love for obscure 80s records, a reflection of my goal to immortalize and share the magic of the decade’s melodies with my fellow gen-Zers who might not be as well-versed in the classics.
The best part about this resolution is that there are no limits. Nothing is too obscure or too mainstream as long as it’s new. So far I have delved into Jeff Buckley, Them Crooked Vultures, Slowdive, and Rage, and I’m torn between exploring German thrash or Florida death metal next. Limitations would only make it boring. If you are planning on picking up this weekly habit, I can’t stress enough that the album should always be a spur-of-the-moment decision. In other words, trust your gut. Be random. Click around your music streaming service until you find a cool band name, go to a record store and buy the most interesting album cover you see. Ask a friend for recommendations. In essence, the number one rule is to not box yourself into one genre.
We live in a world of mixed up playlists and singles available at the click of a button. How easy it is to forget the power of an album in all its glory. Songs are arranged in an order for a reason. Songs often get left behind, drowning in hits with 300K listens, deep tracks just waiting to be claimed as your next favorite. Expanding your taste with an album a week will only do you good. It’s more than just a fun weekly activity. An album is not only a collection of tracks, it is a learning experience. It’ll teach you about music, culture, even history if you’re that sucked in. Most importantly, however, is that you’re learning about yourself. What you like, what you hate, or, if you’re like me, you’ll find a new genre that adheres to your identity. You’ll learn what’s important to you, what speaks to you. It’s not just about going album-for-album with a pretentious record store clerk, or participating in the obscurity olympics with other music enthusiasts. You don’t have to be a music enthusiast to love it, experience it, and immerse yourself in it. Just listen.
