New ‘Ears’ Resolution.

New years resolutions, we all make them, we hardly ever keep them, and if we do, it is for a short lived period of time that expires after we feel we have achieved something. Reality is, we never truly stick to them as we wish (at least, I never have).

This year I decided to make a new years resolution that I would stick to, I do not aim to lose a stone, I do not aim to cut down on eating crisps or stop drinking alcohol. Instead I hope to further my knowledge, aid my career, open my mind and hopefully change the way in which I view art and creativity.

Two years ago I received a Christmas present of a book titled:

‘1001 Albums, You Must Hear Before You Die’ by Robert Dimery.

At first I thought that this was another gift that I would see myself instantly shelving and dusting once every six months.
Little did I know that this book would be a true blessing in disguise and aid me in my
‘New Ears Resolution’.

My task (resolution) is to pick two albums from this book (using the flick-book and point method), purchase them and listen to them at least twice. This is to be done once a month at minimum (so two albums per month).

All my life I have had a diverse musical taste and grew up listening to artists ranging from The Beatles, Johnny Cash, Creedence Clearwater Revival, to Bach and Beethoven, Abba, The Clash, Oasis, Miles Davis, Ray Charles, ACDC, and many more.

Needless to say when I hit the age of 16 I became more actively involved with music and had been playing the guitar for a year. I listened to the clash all the time and really got involved with punk music and started a punk band. I submerged myself within this genre for the next ten years and I can honestly say that ‘punk’ was the main, if not, only music that I even contemplated listening to.

During my first year of studying at SAE London I had made several friends from all corners of the globe and it was at this point that I realised how shut off from other music I had become, with my elitist attitude, so I decided to involve myself with as many genres as I could.

Although this seems a simple task to undertake, the question of ‘Where do I start?’ immediately pops into your brain. That is when I noticed the book on the shelf, sitting there all dusty and unused, and an unbiased method of selection.

I vowed to buy all of the new music on CD, no downloads. I am a consumer who buys music for the whole package; I love holding the CD physically and enjoy the artwork that comes with it. I sit in an armchair and do nothing but listen to the music and read the booklet.

Since January, I have bought thirteen albums that I never would have thought about buying in the past. I have discovered albums that I cannot stop listening too and others that barely made the second play, non the less I have listened to them with an open mind and a new perspective that allows me to truly ‘hear’ them. (No background iPod listening)

I cannot believe how ignorant I had become and am disappointed with myself for allowing this ignorance to overshadow such a long period of time.

I will continue to stick to this resolution for the rest of my life and sincerely hope that people reading this will try something similar, as it really opens your eyes to many new pleasures.

Unfortunately, many friends and colleagues of mine still dismiss certain types of music or bands without listening to them first, so I refer you to a quote by Dr Wayne Dyer.

"The ultimate ignorance is the rejection of something you know nothing about and refuse to investigate."
– Dr. Wayne Dyer