That Which Wasn't Said

shrunkenheadearrings:

I hope they make an aftershave that lasts for ages. They could call it ‘Godspeed You! Black Emporio Armani’

JOKES ABOUT MUSIC AND HYGIENE - a new blog.

ahaha

I often wonder what I’ll think of the music I listen to now when I’m older.  I mean in five, or even ten years, my taste might not change much at all.  But do I see myself enjoying a casual listen-through of Analphabetapolothology when I’m, say, eighty? While I’d very much like to think this will be the case, I honestly just don’t know.  I can’t picture it right now, anyway.

When I think about this I find that I— perhaps unconsciously— take it a step further and assume that I can’t really appreciate any given band or album’s role in my life until I’m older.  I enjoy a lot of music right now, but I’ve never really been able to stop and think “oh, __________ is really important in my life right now because _______________” (as far as I am aware).  Don’t get me wrong— I know exactly which bands I really love, and which albums mean the most to me.  I can appreciate their presence in my life; I guess I just never knew why I could appreciate this.  What I’ll remember from this music when I’m an old man.  I don’t know why I’d need to understand this right now, or why I’d even want to… but it’s just something I’ve been thinking about a lot this past year.

Now, suddenly, it feels as though everything has changed tonight.  Seemingly without any reason whatsoever, I am suddenly overcome with the feeling of being able to look back on my life and see exactly how the music I love has played a role in it all.  I once read a review of Japandroids’ “Younger Us” that made an interesting point about how there’s a certain kind of nostalgia associated with being too young to be nostalgic about things.  As contradicting as that sounds, I think that’s a pretty good description of what this is all about.  I’ve never really experienced nostalgia centered around the music I’ve listened to this past year most likely because I had convinced myself that I was too young to do so.  And I think that’s the root of why tonight feels so… momentous.  I’m realizing that I’m not to young to have memories like that at all— in fact, I am certain such memories have been there all along, and I’ve just never stopped to appreciate them.  I remember listening to “Five, Eight and Ten” as I’d leave my dorm room and having it reach my favorite part in the same part of campus every single time… not that that’s surprising or anything, just… comforting.  I remember listening to The Dismemberment Plan before and after my big Linear Algebra tests to get psyched up and calmed down, respectively— because they’re almost certainly the most intellectual (almost scientific) band I know.  I remember listening to “The Ice of Boston” nearly on repeat as I waited for my new roommate to join me in my new dorm room, feeling just like the narrator of that song— (figuratively) naked and drenched in champagne, staring out my window at a bunch of strangers.  I remember going to the Saturday night hockey games and then rushing home as quickly as possible in hopes of catching the Skrambo! Radio Show.  I remember wandering all over campus on a weekend when all of my friends had gone home, completely alone and listening to Jets to Brazil… it wasn’t (and still isn’t) my favorite music, but it made a lot of sense that weekend.  I remember buying Braid’s “I’m Afraid of Everything” 7” at Bull Moose and playing it on my roommate’s turntable for the first time… and feeling so empowered, like the most independent kid on Earth.  I remember walking into town and listening to Owen, taking a little time to just step back and think for a few hours.  I remember so many little things like this, little seemingly insignificant bits about songs and albums and bands I connected with this past year that probably wouldn’t mean anything to anyone else but me… I honestly don’t know why I’m so fascinated by this, but I’m telling you, it’s one of the most comforting feelings I’ve felt in weeks.  Coincidentally, I probably haven’t felt this content since I had to leave school for the summer; I knew I’d miss being there a lot, but it’s times like these when I realize just how big a part of me living there is.

That’s really at the core of what I’m trying to say, I think.  I’ve only been going to school for a year and it’s already become such a major component of my life.  There’s honestly no place I’d rather be right now, and when I think about the time I’ve spent there I realize just how many memories and experiences were packed into that all-too-short period.  I miss that.

lensesalien:

Release Date: September 13 (UK) / September 14 (U.S.)
Label: Barsuk (U.S.) / Memphis Industries (UK)

Oh Cymbals Eat Guitars, you know I love you but if you love me you’ll rename this and use a different album cover.

Well, I’ve found myself here again.

I don’t suppose things will be much different from what they used to be, but I thought it might be fun to try this out again.

So… let’s do this.