It rained last night. It rained hard! My car got a much needed wash, as I sandwiched driving through the city in the rain around watching new episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm and Entourage. I love to drive late at night, when the roads are empty and music takes on another life. Last week I spent close to $100 on new CDs, and the new releases from Kid Cudi and Raekwon provided perfect driving music during Sunday’s storm. Listening to Cudi’s album on a rainy afternoon, alone, with the windows up made me appreciate just how great his album is, and feel good about supporting good music (no pun intended). Last week, after interviewing yet another Hip Hop artist, and having yet another Hip Hop artist tell me how much Hip Hop sucks and the music is trash I started to think about who is to blame for everything? Yes, radio, record companies, etc. all have stake in the music business’ downward spiral. But there’s also something to say about the role of people like, well, me, who get music by the minute and post these new tracks almost ad nauseum, sometimes with little to no explanation or examination. Do we cheapen the art by giving it a shelf or site life of ______ hours before it’s off the main page?
Part of me says that we most certainly do, and so I purchased albums last week to give back some support to the artists that fuel my business, and yes, my pockets. On my way to pickup the new albums, I passed by Dave’s Records on Clark Street. I read the same sign posted in his window that I’ve read a hundred times before: “No CDs, never had’em. Never will.” There was a time when I thought I would never buy a CD again as well, deciding that any LP worth my money would be better suited for a vinyl purchase. But, I have to admit, that since Serato came out I haven’t bought records on a frequent basis, and I can’t even tell you the last record I bought off the top of my head. It’s not necessarily something that I feel bad about, but I did decide that when everything pops off and I have enough money, I’m going to reinvest in records and seriously collect them, not just for the sound, but for the pieces of history that they are. And that’s what makes me so happy about buying The Blueprint3, Man On The Moon, and Ony Built 4 Cuban Linx II, they are all collections of music that are not just audible treats, but works that remind me of my favorite records, favorite places, dark rainy days, and bump hard at 1AM while speeding down Halsted.
This weekend was also the start of the year 5770 on the Jewish calendar. It is marked by the celebration of Rosh Hashanah, followed by Yom Kippur (the Jewish Day of Repentance). Separated by roughly a week, the holidays are meant to serve as a cleanse and rebirth. According to Jewish law, one is required to take the week to reflect on his or her actions over the last year, and sincerely apologize for trangressions against g-d as well as other people. I spent what time I could at services and with my family, but lately I’ve not felt very religious at all. I’m not sure exactly why this is. I know from research I did in college that many people in their 20’s lose religiousity only to re-find it later in life after they’ve had children or experience some sort of tragedy. I had a long talk with my parents about this, and rather than demand that I be at services more, or read the Torah, they both told me to meditate and relate to g-d in the way that I felt worked best for me and would bring me joy. It was good advice, and I hope to put it in practice in this new year. The advice reminds of a Red Hot Chili Pepper’s lyric, “When I find my peace of mind, I’m gonna give you some of my good time.” Here’s to finding it sooner than later in 5770.
Stay up,
DJ RTC