In a broadband world we no longer need to wait for anything anymore, do we? I want a movie? I go on netflix or I go download it. Want a song? iTunes Music Store. The pro is the obvious fact that information and access is right there on the screen. But we forget how to wait. In this high speed world, what happens to the appreciation of the calm?
The reason I bring this up is that I started listening to R.E.M.’s ‘Around the Sun’ Album when I started thinking of the last time I’ve actually listened to a full album. I remember being younger and buying albums…there really was a magical quality and process to it all:
Stare at the album art while driving back home, throw the record/tape/CD (gosh I feel old!) into the player and jump into bed or bean bag chair or just lay down on the floor.
Once the music started, I’d really just immerse myself into the words, into the art and pictures and liner notes. The process of letting the mind drift while simultaneously paying full attention to the intricacies of songs and transitions and general messages.
I remember listening to my albums with my headphones on and just…going with the musical flow. What were they saying? Why did they place these songs in this order? Last time I even listened to a full album was months ago. It’s just been a world of individual mp3’s and 4-minute blurbs. Which makes one wonder about the future of the album as a method to convey a musical/artistic message.