Awww the physical dimension of analogue music! Love the personal part blending into the history of music listening technology, and the vinyl part really speaks a lot about the physicality of the abstract form of music. One reason for the vinyl revival, as I suspect, is the visual arts. There's a lot more space for the album cover and just looks good!
Silvio, you have such a beautiful facility with conveying nostalgia with the uniqueness of your personal autobiography. Reading your writing seems reminiscent of watching VHS home video and the distinctive crackling of vinyl. It really feels like a kind of time travel interposed with your sagacious commentary. Thanks!
Reading your writing about music evokes feelings of wonder and amazement. I felt this way when a music teacher introduced me to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Billie Holiday. I felt this way when I took a "Music of the 60s" class in college, which opened the world of jazz, motown, and folk. Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories and inviting us to sit in your listening room :)
Oof I loved the description of the listening room and the ritual of unwrapping the vinyl and listening to it for the first time. So vivid!
I do agree that concept albums are a rarity nowadays. When I think of concept albums I think of Kendrick Lamar. He executed them so well! And it’s difficult music (as you say), but it’s brilliant.
"Much like with books, you could tell a person by the vinyl they owned, by the music you saw on their shelves. Albums were visible, and their degree of wear said a lot about the preferences, habits, care, and even thoughts and dreams of their owner. They were there, in plain sight, telling stories about personality traits, adventures, beliefs, identities that you would probably never be able to hear otherwise."
This was so beautifully written Silvio. I was just too young for the days of vinyl (although I'm experiencing my own revival of it at home), but I remember when my friends and I used to quiz each other on how quickly you could identify a song (never more than 3 chords if you were good), who had the best understanding of a band, and what it meant to really love music. Even those seem like bygones of a lost era now.
This essay makes me nostalgic for a time I didn't know, at least not the cool vinyl version. I also love how the beauty of sitting and listening to a vinyl was then matched with the internet and the ability to finally chase down answers you've been thinking about for years. I have a whole list of albums now I want to cue up on Spotify and listen to beginning to end thanks to your piece.
Silvio, you unleashed an amazing trip down my memories: from discovering Pink Floyd's albums to Radiohead's OK Computer. Even if I couldn't listen to them when they came out, I dearly remember listening to them as a concept album. Thank you for putting into words those dear feelings.
And as I told you, I stand with you in never watching music videos! Happy (and not surprised) to have found someone in that camp.
Awww the physical dimension of analogue music! Love the personal part blending into the history of music listening technology, and the vinyl part really speaks a lot about the physicality of the abstract form of music. One reason for the vinyl revival, as I suspect, is the visual arts. There's a lot more space for the album cover and just looks good!
Silvio, you have such a beautiful facility with conveying nostalgia with the uniqueness of your personal autobiography. Reading your writing seems reminiscent of watching VHS home video and the distinctive crackling of vinyl. It really feels like a kind of time travel interposed with your sagacious commentary. Thanks!
Reading your writing about music evokes feelings of wonder and amazement. I felt this way when a music teacher introduced me to Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, and Billie Holiday. I felt this way when I took a "Music of the 60s" class in college, which opened the world of jazz, motown, and folk. Thank you for sharing your beautiful memories and inviting us to sit in your listening room :)
Oof I loved the description of the listening room and the ritual of unwrapping the vinyl and listening to it for the first time. So vivid!
I do agree that concept albums are a rarity nowadays. When I think of concept albums I think of Kendrick Lamar. He executed them so well! And it’s difficult music (as you say), but it’s brilliant.
Such a good piece as always!
Very magical and beautiful written. I liked it from start to finish Silvio.
"Much like with books, you could tell a person by the vinyl they owned, by the music you saw on their shelves. Albums were visible, and their degree of wear said a lot about the preferences, habits, care, and even thoughts and dreams of their owner. They were there, in plain sight, telling stories about personality traits, adventures, beliefs, identities that you would probably never be able to hear otherwise."
This was so beautifully written Silvio. I was just too young for the days of vinyl (although I'm experiencing my own revival of it at home), but I remember when my friends and I used to quiz each other on how quickly you could identify a song (never more than 3 chords if you were good), who had the best understanding of a band, and what it meant to really love music. Even those seem like bygones of a lost era now.
Thanks for sharing
This essay makes me nostalgic for a time I didn't know, at least not the cool vinyl version. I also love how the beauty of sitting and listening to a vinyl was then matched with the internet and the ability to finally chase down answers you've been thinking about for years. I have a whole list of albums now I want to cue up on Spotify and listen to beginning to end thanks to your piece.
Silvio, you unleashed an amazing trip down my memories: from discovering Pink Floyd's albums to Radiohead's OK Computer. Even if I couldn't listen to them when they came out, I dearly remember listening to them as a concept album. Thank you for putting into words those dear feelings.
And as I told you, I stand with you in never watching music videos! Happy (and not surprised) to have found someone in that camp.