Welcome to my eclectic music collection!

a.k.a. what this blog is meant to be (and what it isn't).

There are probably thousands of music review sites out there, most from skilled and experienced music connoisseurs. I cannot compete with them. To me, writing about these things is just plain and satisfying fun, and if I entertain a few my friends in the process, that is a bonus.

Most of those who know me are aware that I play the piano. I'm not bad, but I'm no virtuoso. I think I'm too lazy for that. I consider my enjoyment of music, as pertains to this blog, to be separate from my own musical instrument skills. Any comments connecting a song to my piano playing will be from the perspective of experience, not expertise.

How I partake of music and what I share about it

I enjoy music the way I enjoy food. I like trying new things (but not too exotic), lots of variety, but I do have comfort songs and genres. I enjoy contrast, texture, flavor, appearance, and pay attention to how it makes me feel (happy, thoughtful, energetic, satisfied). I play around a little bit with arranging, and sometimes can pick out some ingredients. But by no means am I a master chef, a critique, or an analyst. My grasp of music theory is embarrassingly thin; I can read a chord on the page and maybe tell you that it is major, minor, diminished, augmented, major 7th, but that is the extent. I cannot recognize by hearing the type of chord that is being placed.

I am not a very good music historian. I do not analyze song structure, chord progression, nor do I expound on recording equipment, sonic physics, and the like. I simply enjoy it, and at times I can try and describe why I enjoy it, and maybe offer some persuasion for you to sample it.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of music experts who can educate you on nuances of music composition and quality. I only pay much attention to two of them:

• If you are interested in a classical composer/educator's analysis of pop/rock music, with deep discussion on chord progression and lyrics, I highly suggest checking out Doug Helvering's YouTube channel (or better yet, his very affordable Patreon site). I've discovered some of my new favorite groups from his "Daily Doug" reaction videos.

• If you want to hear about rock songs from an accomplished rock musician and learn about song layering, recording, and isolated tracks to follow individual band members' genius, then Rick Beato's channel is for you. I find his enthusiasm and mostly-objective take on rock songs to be stimulating and refreshing.

Usually, I will be reviewing an entire album or highlights therefrom. There may be sometimes I focus an entire post on only one song, or I may highlight favorites from a particular artist across multiple albums.

What types of music will be on this blog?

Short answer: any songs/albums that are not mainstream, and which I found inspiring, beautiful, exciting, or otherwise worth checking out.

Long answer: there will probably not be much rhyme or reason. While I appreciate good talent and want to hear people at their best, I'm not a purist when it comes to a music style, and the more 'fused' styles are, the more I probably will like it. For these posts, I may jump around between decades, between genres, maybe feature an album on the birthday of one the group's key members, and sometimes look at deep cuts across multiple albums. It most likely depends on what comes on my USB collection while I'm driving to and from work (with my randomizer set to "on." )

Genres/Styles most likely to make an appearance:

• Pop/Rock from 1965-1974 -- this was my "first love" of music

• All other pop/rock from the 1970s to now

• Bluegrass and country

• Jazz and Jazz-fusion

• Progressive Rock

• Classic rock and hard rock

• Acoustic and electronic contemporary pop

• "Classical" music (most likely from Romantic era)

• Choral (mostly religious)

• Film and television soundtracks

Attributes of music I like:

• Musically interesting - some 3-chord songs are tolerable but not likely to be favorites

• Pretty or beautiful to my ears - I don't mind saccharine or slick production

• Uplifting, contemplative, or energizing

• Extra or non-traditional instruments (orchestral instruments, harpsichord, mellotron, vibraphone/marimba, sitar, etc)

• Vocal harmony

• Sentimental personal connections

• I don't like stuff that is raw and edgy for the sake of being raw and edgy

• While I don't purposely seek it out, I have no problem with the cheesy, cliche, corny, or derivative

• I have no disdain for Adult-oriented rock (AOR) - I'm not sixteen and don't need music to appeal to my sixteen year-old self.

• I like more accessible prog - I'm not in a place to analyze a 60-minute piece before I can appreciate it

Will I take requests?

Certainly!

Just as a reminder, I will be limiting my discussion to albums that I actually have purchased (CD, cassette, vinyl, digitally). I accept gifts! . . . just kidding (kind of). I do have an increasing number of albums landing on my Wishlist, especially as I continue to explore the endless musical jungles of YouTube. Once I own a copy of an album, then it becomes fair game.

But if, for example, you enjoy my suggestions on a particular album review (like The Hollies' Butterfly) and want more of the same vein of aural gold, feel free to say "Could you review another Hollies' album?" or "Do you have anything similar to Butterfly but by a different artist?" Comments and forums are wide-open for these discussions.