REFLECTIONS
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The
Art r of
Remember
R mber the days of heading to a record store and plugging your headphones in to check out the latest releases? The joy you’ d feel when the beat dropped and your spirit lifted, as you embraced these new albums? Or even after making your selection, reading the album sleeve, admiring the art work and design of it. The notes from the artist or group and more often than not, the lyrics to the tracks? Taking the time to explore the production credits... Ah memories.
I cut my teeth as a DJ when the vinyl era was closing and CDs were the way forward. I’ d spend hours in the aisles of music stores hunting for tunes, stacking my finds close, as those before me had with vinyl and I’ d always get a sense of satisfaction in finding an album that drew me in, captivated by the cover art, curious about what the album would deliver.
The
Album
In a time of digital downloads and instant access to music, I can’ t help but miss those times spent playing an album over and over. Of course there are many of us who still do this, but the masses seem to have stopped buying albums and have a thirst for single tracks. Sean Paul highlighted this in a interview a few years back, when asked about the number of songs Rihanna had in the chart at once. Eight at the time, I think it was, that she released or was at least featured on. He spoke of the need for artists to do this, as the way people bought music had changed and that fans just aren’ t buying albums like they used to.
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The machine of mass music production and track after track release has, in my opinion, taken away from the artistry of the album. Yes, albums still exist and yes, people still download and buy them. However it seems the days of the album as we know it are numbered. Those moments of finding an‘ album exclusive’ or‘ hidden track’ may soon become a thing of the past. With the rise of social media we can all view our favourite celebrities’ thoughts with a click of a mouse. Don’ t get me wrong, I’ m a modern woman and I understand times do change, technology has advanced. The way we listen to music has changed, new vehicles no longer come with a CD player and your phone can give you access to millions of songs in seconds. The digital age is well and truly in full swing. Let’ s just take a moment to reflect. How much have we, the consumer, changed? Our lives are busier, we work longer hours, everything is instant. I embrace the digital age, it’ s become essential in modern living. I just hope we don’ t forget the art of the album in the process.