I haven't had a proper blog in a while. I usually post on Facebook now as that is monetized, but I usually get pennies per post, or post it here and own the content. I thought of moving my old blogs over, but decided that was both a lot of work, and I just wanted a fresh start as some of them were over a year old. 

On Facebook I've been talking about my recent journey into physical media, especially CDs and vinyl records. I still use my phone a lot. Like today I'm out of town writing from a library and taking my portable CD player and CD case would have just been to cumbersome, though its become my preferred way to listen. 

For one, I actually enjoy handling the CDs. I feel like I'm holding something real and tangible in my hands as I set it up to play. Second is more complex.

I have been and still am very much a Taylor Swift fan. However, I've been backing away from the Swiftie communities. I've made a lot of great friends and will remain so, just feel there is too much toxicity and infighting. Plus I think a lot of people who call themselves Swifties don't even like Taylor. They just invoke her name for clout. 

I've already picked up quite a CD collection. I also collect vinyl, but those cost way more and I can't carry vinyle around to listen to so easily. Plus my wife doesn't care for some of my rock music, so portable disc player works fine. 

Which brings me to another point, I'm rediscovering rock and roll music. I grew up a metalhead pretty much and got into Taylor during my divorce. All that is fine and because of my depression at that time and unresolved  bipolar hard rock and metal just didn't resonate and tended to make my anxiety and depression worse. So I just kind of turned out for years though I did see Iron Maiden in 2016 and Ghost in 2018. 

This year we'll be seeing The Pretty Reckless in Austin which I'm really excited over. Though its still hard to believe Taylor Momsen was Cindy Lou Who in The Grince. I also apparently have a thing for female singers named Taylor, but that's something for my therapist to evaluate. 

One thing listening to CDs, I'm more open to try new things. For some reason with streaming, I'm more picky about what I click on. But in a record store I see a CD with cool art or its a band I heard about but haven't tried yet, I'm more likely to buy the CD than click on a streaming link for five minutes. I don't know if that is just me or if we are just wired to be more adventurous when we are actually investing in our music and media. 

I've also rediscovered the album. For years I listened to indivual songs and playlists. Now I listen to an antire album all the way through and notice some songs tied in or there is a running theme throughout the album you don't pick up just listening to it piecemeal. I think this is how we were intended to take in music. 

The last thing is just plain sound. CDs sound better than streaming. I thought it was in my head, and my wife suggested as much, but I did some research on this and my autistic brain found that when music is put into an MP3 or streaming file, components of the digital file are removed in what is called compression. This kills the sound. For years I went through all types of headphones because everything sounded tinny or like it was in a tunnel. That or I thought my hearing was going. 

Turns out its the compression. First time I put on a CD in years my ears were almost blasted off my head. Also the vocals are clearer and sharper and I can pick up a lot more with background vocals and instruments I couldn't before. We are hearing it the way the artist intended. Not a compressed and repackaged and distributed into the ether hoping we snatch it out of the air to listen to whats left of it. 

One last addendum is the record store experience itself. We've been to three of them and two have been amazing. One was stuck up, one was very accomodating and the one close to my house, Flip Side Record Parlor, is a whole ass vibe and a blast to hang out in. Roman the owner is a cool guy who will tell you story after story if you have a minute. And a record store is place you go to hang out, not just grab and go. Something also good for my mental health as I tend to isolate and stay at home, this forces me into the world and to interact in a positive way. 

So, this has been my experience. Thank you to those of you who have made it this far. I'll write more soon. I'm happy to be blogging again. Posting on Facebook is ok, but I like feeling like what I say is mine. Thank you all again.