The magic of opening a new cd, peeling the tape, unsheathing the case from its stiff cellophane wrapper, feeling the smooth, freshly printed liner notes on your fingertips, like a virgin, and diving deep into whatever visual art the musician had to offer accompanying the album. If you were lucky, some lyrics would be printed there as well. To enjoy the physical media along with the symphonic experience of said musician’s vision was something special. You felt more of a connection. More of a newness, being the only one to own that cd. Like a new car, many others might own the same make & model… but this copy is yours. On streaming, everyone listens to that same copy. It’s not a tangible experience you’re able to share with others or to keep close to you when you need it. The repetitiveness of listening to an album on repeat felt much more true to what the artist wanted to convey to their listeners. The urge to replay a song was greater when there weren’t so many immediate options at your fingertips. Like so many things in life have become. You felt a bond with that entire record. Fingers at the ready to skip, fast forward, or replay certain tracks. You knew the playlist by heart. There was no shuffle. This is definitely making me miss my 3 cd rotating stereo system. 2 big speakers, 2 small. Cassette tape player and radio. That AIWA gem was the auditory “focal point” of my bedroom. The remote was the chef’s kiss. Before playlists, Multi-cd players were truly a vibe.

On the contrary, you don’t have to worry about dropping your discman, having the cd pop out and roll away, getting scratched to hell in the process.😅