Photos and text by Juan C. Ayllon Open grasslands, barns, clusters of cows and fields boasting quarter mile long pivot irrigation pipes off I-80 whizzed by as we drove from Chicagoland to Iowa City to visit Belle's son, Ryan, a senior at the University of Iowa. We'd only been dating a few months and I thought this was the perfect chance to show support and get to know her better. Turns out, the drive was a more revealing than I'd anticipated. As signals grew faint, we switched from the radio to playing music on her black Camry's CD changer. Not far into our listening session, she asked if I could skip a song. No problem, I thought, pressing a button on the console. A few minutes later, she asked again. And again. Amused at first, I began dreading what would become her music mantra: "Skip." That afternoon, I discovered that she was a very active clicker, voraciously skipping her way through cases of CDs -- sometimes changing mid-song! Ten years later, she's still at it whether listening to her Amazon Tap in our mater bath or savoring the selections on my hi-fi in our family room. Without a doubt, she's the poster girl for a subgroup I call the "Clickers." They simply can't sit still listening to whole albums, but must constantly change things up, bouncing from song, to artist and genre. I have a strong suspicion that people who populate this group grew up listening to pop radio, where DJs presented an endless stream of hits by various artists. In contrast to the "Clickers," there is a group I call the "Flippers." Largely but not limited to vinyl lovers, these types enjoy putting on an album and hearing it through; when a turntable is involved, they play a side and when it's through, they simply flip it over to the other side and continue their session. When the album is finished, they choose another selection, repeating until they're sated. This is the group that I identify with the most, hence the angst; when I want to enjoy music, I like picking an album, then sinking back into a comfy chair and taking it in. Throughout most of my youth, I listened to music primarily via albums on vinyl, eight track and cassette tape. For me, the mental energy involved in clicking through numerous selections searching for the perfect next song detracts from the relaxation, hence my angst with Belle's listening habits!
Then, there's what I would call the "Day Trippers." They're the type who just have to have music playing throughout the day. David Solomon, the Chief Hi-Res Evangelist at the streaming music service, Qobuz, is one such fellow. He's always posting up new finds on Facebook. Another is a next door neighbor of mine who often keeps a classic rock station playing on his outdoor speakers while he gardens. The truth is that many of our habits are hybrids of these groups, and our membership status can be fluid. For example, nowadays, although I enjoy listening to whole albums I will often listen to three or four selections from one, then skip to something else. Nine years marriage has certainly influenced my habits (I've also become a whole lot neater, a point not lost on my mother who several years ago caught me picking up around the house when she was over!). Sometimes, I'll click through a myriad of albums, playing a little of this and that. Others, I'll work at something on my computer and simply let the music stream on "Radio" mode via Roon Labs on my media server. So, which group do you favor? Either way, it's all good. Just keep enjoying the music, however you take it in, as you travel down the highway of life.
0 Comments
Your comment will be posted after it is approved.
Leave a Reply. |
Juan C. AyllonA writer, artist, educator and owner of Prairie Audio Man Cave, he lives with his wife, Isabel (AKA Belle), and their Goldendoodle, Liam, enjoys listening to high fidelity music and all things hi-fi at their home in the greater Chicagoland area.. Archives
March 2024
Categories |