In 2017, I completed what was my 25^th rotation around our sun. It is in this year that I discovered a deeper passion for music and the conclusion that the two things I live for are Love and Art. The two, in my mind, are inseparable and necessary forces driving the human condition. To me, a man who can express him-self (through whatever medium) and love without internal judgment is truly free.

Honestly, I need work on both, but in time I hope to achieve the freedom I deserve.

At the end of 2016 I found my parents’ record player in the basement of my childhood home. It hadn’t been played in 20 years, the needle was bent, its driving belt had shriveled into a ball, the original receiver was fucked, and someone had thrown the speakers out. It was a mess. Not unlike myself at that point.

To begin 2017, I needed something, something to get my mind off of my woeful first attempts at growing up, and being an adult. I took it upon myself to fix my parents’ record player and put together a working system, if not only to be a distraction from the everyday grind of a full time job and quite frankly myself. After a few minor purchases and donations from my Uncle (Thanks Jim) and one of my best friends (Thanks Cody) in the way of speakers and a receiver with phonograph hookup, I was ready to assemble the damn thing. Thanks be to blood-relation, friendship, and the generosity of others.

All together it took me about 2-3 weeks, a few FaceTimes, some 12-guage wiring, YouTube instructions, and a frustrated outburst or two to get it all together. A marvelous contraption if you do ask me. (See Below)

I find that most people living in this time are in a rush. Everything we do now is instant. A continuous stream of consciousness from the moment we rise out of our beds until we lay our heads down to rest. There are emails to read, deadlines to meet, children to feed, debt to be paid, moral and ethical decisions to be made… I could continue on but lets just say it can be a fucking lot sometimes.

And here in lies the crux of my decision to indulge in record listening. A bygone era of technology, though antiquated, has taught me something that the technology of today struggles to; to slow down and appreciate a work of art in its entirety. Stop the world from spinning, if only in my mind, to admire another human’s innermost self on display.

I have/will forever have a vivid memory of the first time I placed the needle to my Mother’s Jackson Browne album ‘For Everyman’; the characteristic grainy crackle of a turntable needle, an opening guitar string slide, and the opening of my ears to a new era within myself. It was a brief moment of clarity that I now cherish.

I intend to pursue these moments of clarity, when I can make sense of something and enjoy it unequivocally.

It is also my intent to try and share these experiences with others, especially those who are close to me and that I share a mutual love with. Every Record I Listen To will be my attempt to share my love for art in the shape of music and to work on my writing and communication skills.

One album at a time I will make my way through the records that I own and dissect their content in a way that satisfies me. I hope to delve deeper into the music and learn to appreciate the songs I’ve come to love in different and more meaningful ways. I have no idea the ride that this will take me on or how long I will continue to keep up with the blog but I am hoping for the best. If you end up enjoying anything on the blog or have any questions or suggestions please leave a comment. Thank You.

With Love,

Ron