Rick Beato posted a video entitled "Why Do We Stop Listening to Our Favorite Artists?" There was a short lamentation that many, if not most, of us stop listening to our favorite artists of yesteryear at some point followed by a listen to new tracks by Depeche Mode and Tori Amos.
I suppose this is separate from, but very much related to, the phenomenon of people generally ceasing to discover new music at around the age of 30. I do miss the days of my teens and 20s when there was always some new and interesting music around every corner. Each new person I met was potentially a gateway to some great bands I'd never heard or perhaps even heard of. And discovering an album by an artist new to me meant a long, meandering, and, above all, fun journey into their back catalogue.
Chasing a career and parenthood can certainly limit the amount of time one has to spend in search of new tunes but there is surely a brain chemical thing going on here too. Teenage and young adult brains must just be wired to absorb music like a sponge. While I am not convinced that my middle-aged brain is unable find contemporary music to enjoy, it is definitely not easy. Most people my age, it seems, are content to get that dopamine rush when listening to the music of their youth instead of seeking out the new and novel.
A friend of mine and I were talking about this subject a few weeks ago. He is a big Iron Maiden fan and noted that he had listened to "The Writing on the Wall", the lead single from their 2021 album Senjutsu, back when it was first released and liked it. But he never followed through and listened to the entire album. The promise of listening to Powerslave for the millionth time was just too alluring.
It's been weird for me. There is new music in my ears and I find more if it on a somewhat regular basis but it's mostly old music that I simply never listened to before. Or didn't particularly enjoy before. I have no explanation for suddenly enjoying The B-52s. "Love Shack" was just not my cup of tea back in 1989 when it came out but, today, I adore it and plug my cats' names into the lyrics.
Cardiacs are a band that I may have heard of the in days of yore, but I just started listening to them recently. "A Little Man and a House" is just great. I heard mention of Virginia Astley's From Gardens Where We Feel Secure, decided to check it out, and discovered a twee masterpiece. I love every piano note and bird tweet. Just listen to "With My Eyes Wide Open I'm Dreaming".
A few days ago I was contemplating buying a ticket to the listening party for the new Metallica album at my local cinema next month and it got me thinking about how much I miss sitting around with friends listening to music. We can watch a TV show or a movie together, but not enjoy some tunes communally, whether they be new or classic. Similarly, it's a rare day when I dedicate myself to listening to an album. I mean really dedicate myself to it - not in front of a computer, no phone - just me and the music.
Getting back to Beato, I think he is right to suggest people check out once beloved artists that we let fall to the wayside. Here are a few newer songs that I enjoy by artists I first discovered long ago.
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