Welcome to New Music for Olds!
Here's what this is.
Welcome to New Music for Olds.
How long has it been since you had a new favorite song? Not necessarily an all-timer, but a favorite song of the moment—the kind you feel compelled to put on repeat for a week straight? Remember how good that feels? The sun shines brighter, annoying people seem 15% less annoying—day to day life acquires a bit of that “new car smell.”
In your teens and 20’s, those songs seem to find you without any effort. After all, the pop culture firehose is aimed directly at your face. But the older you get, the less likely you are to catch that buzz by accident. It’s still available, but you’ve gotta go searching and who has time for that?
Answer:
Like a lot of us, I’ve struggled a bit these last couple years, mental health wise. Nothing dire, just a general sense of stuck-ness, like wet cement slowly drying around your brain. Any creative endeavor has felt like pushing a boulder uphill. So last week I asked myself, “What do you already do? Like, for fun. What’s something no one asks you to do, but you do anyway, just ‘cuz?”
Once I filtered out the unhealthy and indefensible, there was an obvious answer: I listen to new music. I’m perpetually chasing that new car smell. I spend hours every week scrolling through various New Release sections and indiscriminately clicking play. Results are inconsistent, but that’s okay—it’s primarily an avoidance mechanism! But as a result, I always have at least one new song to love.
I’d like to share with you the fruits of my ear-breaking labor. Just a smidge. Like three songs every couple weeks, along with a few words on why I think they’re worthy of your time. Who knows, maybe something will put a spring in your step for a few days. Your step deserves the occasional spring!
Each FREE bi-weekly edition of New Music for Olds will include these easily digestible sections:
Good Stuff
Three new or new-ish tunes, along with a bit of semi-keen insight from yours truly. These songs will run the stylistic gamut, with the caveat that I am a 48yo suburban white dude raised on MTV and loud guitars.
Some Bullshit
The point at which you can safely stop reading. But I’ll throw in more stuff anyway! Could be a podcast recommendation, or a YouTube clip dissection, or some goofy music-related humor. Who knows—it’s just some bullshit!
For Fans of…
A brief introduction to an active artist who may evoke one of your longtime faves, be they The Cure or Motorhead or Tori Amos. This is a regular, but not consistent feature. Kind of like Steve Martin hosting SNL in the 70’s.
Paid subscriptions? Yeah, I got ‘em!
The main newsletter will always be free. But would a little financial support be nice? Yuuuuuuuup. In addition to the warm fuzzies you’ll feel, paid subscribers will receive:
Paid-only newsletters on the off-weeks, featuring older songs in offbeat genres that are new to me.
Thematic playlists
Content input
And more (Still working it out!)
Me with your subscription dollars Is that all? Yes, I think that is all. If you know someone who might enjoy this kind of thing, please spread the word!
You can even gift a subscription!
Beyond that, I will simply thank you for climbing aboard. Welcome!
CLAPTON SUCKS
The music industry has reversed it to make music seem like a thing for 20-year-olds. But 100+ years ago, music was an adult interest and it took more effort to hear music. You had to go to music halls, county fairs, and maybe get-togethers to hear music and the songs were about things adults could relate to.