After not riding at all yesterday, my first day without riding in several weeks, it felt good to get out on the road today. After nearly a week of rain here in Fallbrook, everything is green, bright, and clean. This scenery never looks or smells the same from a car as it does from a bike. For a cyclist, this community is pure magic.
Once again today, I was thinking about music.
For much of my life, I’ve thought of myself as a music fan. At times, to the point of arrogance and snobbery, having wished many times that I could be the exclusive DJ to the world. In recent years though, this false confidence has been toned down.
Through social media, I’ve gotten to know and appreciate some genuine music fans. I am humbled by their knowledge, their collections, and their commitment to the artists and genres they follow. Their knowledge of analog and digital technologies used to play music is also worthy of respect.
I’m not in that league. Not even close.
Though I have always loved music, my priorities have changed over time, and I’m not the fan nor the audiophile I was 30-years ago. I probably began veering away from that place during my mid-20s.
Music is still a part of each day, but it’s rarely a priority. My listening these days is less inspired by passion. Music has become stimulation, amusement, background noise, distraction, and at times still thought provoking and transformative, but not as frequently.
While my life was once all about seeking out new music, I don’t reach out for much new music too often these days, though occasionally I still try. Searching for new music has become intimidating and often confusing — for a variety of reasons.
There’s so much going on with music in the digital era. New bands pop up more frequently than ever, as do new genres and sub-genres. New platforms to hear or share music arise almost as frequently and magnify the complexity that much more.
While there are many more choices in music today, or because there are so many more choices, finding new music takes more work. Who has time for that searching and sampling in a world where I have to remember to eat most days, as I’m running from room to room and moment to moment.
Through social media, I’m often inundated with new music, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. However, with my ADHD being what it is, the fewer choices for me, the better off I am. I can pull my hair out trying to decide what to listen to or what to try next.
When I am craving music, I most often default to music from my past. Perhaps this has something to do with trust — I’m more comfortable giving my ears to familiar voices. It might also have to do with time — if I’m craving music in a busy life, I don’t necessarily want to squander time exploring new music that might disappoint me or that I might not fall in love with instantly. History tells me that I can be liberated by Live Rust or Steely Dan in a matter of seconds.
And when I do take the leap toward new music, it’s often new music from older artists that I know and am familiar with. Once again, trust.
It comes down to trust so much in music. In music and in life, trust.
So here I am, still thinking about — still listening to music daily, but not as passionately as I once did. Respecting and appreciating new music, but not pursuing it all that much. Listening to the old music, but not being moved by it as I once was.
Same dances in them same old shoes.
This is what I think about when I ride…. Jhciacb
Today’s Ride…
Bike: Cortez The Killer
24 miles
1,100’ climbing
16.8 mph avg
1,600 calories
Today’s earworm: I Went Dust, by J. Mascis
Whether you ride a bike or not, thank you for taking the time to ride along with me today. If you haven’t already, please scroll up and subscribe. If you like what you read, give it a like and a share. If not, just keep scrollin’. Oh, and there is this from J. Mascis. Enjoy…!
The Spoke And Word™ 