Tuesday, December 15, 2009

Nostalgically Speaking

When music is the common thread of all events in your life, you always have a soundtrack that reminds you of where you were and what you were doing at any given time.

As a child, you often listen to what your parents do. For me it was The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Yes, The Moody Blues, Bob Dylan, and Neil Young, to name a few. Listening to the Lovin' Spoonful's Greatest Hits reminds me of summer roadtrips with my legs stretched across the back seat, doodling in a notepad and writing poetry.

As a teenager, you rebel against what your parents like and try to find your own way. This usually ends up as a mishmash of bands you'll continue to enjoy as an adult (In my case: Stone Temple Pilots, Dave Matthews Band, and Foo Fighters) and bands you'd barely admit to ever having liked. (Smashmouth, Boyz II Men).

As an adult, you pick and choose new music. You lament that "Nothing that comes out these days is as good as when we were kids". You flip through lists of songs and albums at the record store or on iTunes, searching for that rare find you can share with friends. (Have you heard Them Crooked Vultures? It's fantastic).

Then you realize the new band you find is a combination of your youth, your teenage years, and adulthood all rolled into a tidy new jewel case. You revisit the best and worst of records you haven't listened to since you were a kid, and rediscover the pure joy you felt slipping on oversized headphones and reading the liner notes cover to cover.

And so, you've come full circle...

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