I used to listen to each album I bought obsessively. 20, 50, 100+ times…and when I listened, that’s all I would do. No reading, no surfing the web, no blogging or monitoring play counts…I just listened.
Now, I doubt I listen to most albums I buy more than a few times each. Is the music worse or less creative? (debatable, but I think there’s still plenty of great new music out there.) Do I have less time? (probably, but this is more about how I spend the time that I have.) Have shuffle play and access to every album I own all the time ruined my attention span? (Definitely.)
It’s easy to say “so what” and go back to checking my Twitter feed and my Tumblr dashboard, idly flipping through songs on iTunes…but I think I’m losing something. I’m no longer engaging with music the way I used to in the past; forming deep connections with songs and albums that become an integral part of my life. Same goes for literature, art, even tv and movies - there’s so much out there - and I’m constantly acquiring more of it - that I never take the time to truly engage and understand and appreciate and love what I have.
That’s one of my challenges for 2012. Engagement. To stop brushing across things on the surface level and to truly give myself time - and make the effort - to engage deeply and completely with the things I love. And, for that matter, the people I love (because this applies there too - and it’s actually a lot more important.)
It requires being more selective, devoting more time to each album or book or show I choose…but I think, ultimately, it’s going to be so much more rewarding.
So, for the record, the first album of 2012? Let’s Go Eat the Factory - Guided By Voices (yes, I’m aware of the irony of “engaging completely” with a band that makes songs that sound like they were thrown together in the garage in 5 minutes - but you can and should do it - listen to Bee Thousand or Alien Lanes.) The first book? I just bought it - it’s called Reality Hunger by David Shields.
1490 Notes
-
myworldwithmusic reblogged this from thebrowncoat
-
archit3ct reblogged this from spect4cle
-
sarabouza reblogged this from music-rock-my-world
-
music-rock-my-world reblogged this from zerosage
-
zerosage reblogged this from thebrowncoat
-
joannalogy reblogged this from thebrowncoat
-
skittleatsix reblogged this from thebrowncoat
-
ressurection-test liked this
-
bolotinho liked this
-
bolotinho reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
we-still-looking-up reblogged this from thebrowncoat
-
lukasnotluke liked this
-
voldemortwearsprada reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
stateless1972 liked this
-
dasayheykid reblogged this from rufiobeatz
-
rawcutz liked this
-
jrdizzy reblogged this from equalibrum
-
afadingparlance reblogged this from equalibrum
-
rufiobeatz reblogged this from equalibrum
-
ill-let-it-fl0w reblogged this from stayexpressed
-
spect4cle reblogged this from robertocohen
-
zidk liked this
-
seventise reblogged this from equalibrum
-
higherbrain reblogged this from equalibrum
-
dre-g-nyc liked this
-
equalibrum reblogged this from stayexpressed
-
stayexpressed reblogged this from robertocohen
-
robertocohen reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
bajosinstintos reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
createdtodestroy liked this
-
designatedriotarea reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
ottalee liked this
-
living-memories reblogged this from 31lyncis
-
31lyncis reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
halcyontunage reblogged this from thebrowncoat
-
s-l-u-t-t-y-w-h-0-r-e reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
cleansesoul reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
daydreamwaves liked this
-
iangiemae reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
twentyoneandunder reblogged this from thebrowncoat
-
itsnotevencool reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
gotasdepapel reblogged this from yelyahwilliams and added:
Sin la música, no sé que haría.
-
be-quiet-poo-balls reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
be-quiet-poo-balls liked this
-
learningeverythingandnothing reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
describecolour reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
yeahspeakup reblogged this from yelyahwilliams
-
gabrielsanntana liked this
- Show more notes