Is It Just Me?

There are few things I enjoy more than listening to music. I may not be the most well listened person you’ll meet but I certainly enjoy the music more than almost anyone.  But, to tell you the truth, I’ve been in a bit of a slump lately. I don’t think I’ve heard an album in the last 6 months (possibly a year) that’s knocked me on my butt.  And to make it worse all the albums I’ve been looking forward to this season I’ve found to be a little disappointing. The new My Morning Jacket, The new Killers, The last 3 Ryan Adams albums, etc. I didn’t particularly hate any of them but none of them are still in my car. The Fleet Foxes, Bon Iver, and the new Kings of Leon are pretty rad but I still don’t seem to find those tracks that I’m compelled to repeat over and over and over….

I just find myself craving another “Cold Roses”: the double disc album where Ryan Adams returned to Alt country and blew everyone away with over 20 essential tracks of golden Carolina honey for your eardrums. If you’re in your late 20’s/early 30’s and don’t own that album, though you would have some explaining to do, I envy you so dearly. I wish I could go back to not having that album so I could purchase it today and have my whole summer rocked again by illustrious twang of vintage gibsons/gretches and fender twins. But alas 4 years and seventy-bazillion alt country bands later I have found no fuel to light my summer fire.  

What I need is another Arcade Fire album. But not just another album from the band “Arcade Fire”. I mean an album that hits me like the first time I heard the Arcade Fire.

What is my problem!?!

You know how when you ask people what they consider to be the greatest music of all time and they always tell you “without a doubt” it was the music that was popular when they were in highschool. Is my problem similar? Has my brain subconsciously stopped listening to music? Or is it that White Ladder reminds me of falling in love with Sarah or Cold Roses of Ashville in the Fall? And Hot Fuss reminds me of driving to Saint Augustine with Eric and Amanda? Could it sometimes be that the memory of something is often the best part of the something and music triggers that memory?

I don’t know.

I’ve had some pretty incredible memories this year, but as of yet not quite the cornucopia of corresponding audio associations.

Help.

Note: If you are a band and have released and album recently, please don’t be offended. I’m sure I’ve either not heard your album yet or I just forgot and just “feel” like I need something new.