The Listener's Journey: Music, Analog & The Craft

I didn't pick up an acoustic guitar at age 62 to join a band or step on a stage. I picked it up to become a better listener.

My musical journey started like many others, a brief year of childhood clarinet that ended when finger positions felt physically impossible, followed by a cheap nylon-string guitar from my uncle that sat untouched for decades. For most of my life, music was something I consumed, collected, and restored.

Today, as I sit with an acoustic guitar, I'm at that notorious plateau where many people get frustrated and quit. Changing chords seamlessly is just beyond reach and holding a steady rhythm doesn't come naturally yet. Right now, I'm breaking the process down systematically, focusing on Elvis Presley’s "Hound Dog" using the fundamental A, D, and E major chords, locking in the chord transitions and timing step-by-step before layering on strumming patterns. I keep practiing the Dm and working to get a predictable C, knowing that once C clicks, G will follow.

Learning an instrument from the inside out strips away the studio polish and reveals the raw mechanics of songwriting. It has completely changed how I hear the records on my shelf.

1. What Moves the Needle: Deconstructing My Taste

My listening taste might seem eclectic on the surface, stretching from 70s symphonic prog and acoustic singer-songwriters to Southern rock and contemporary Christian rock—but it follows a very consistent set of musical principles:

  • Vocal Grounding & Power: I value resonant, chest-register vocal strength and crystal-clear diction, from Annie Haslam's soaring five-octave range in Renaissance to Pat Benatar's operatic rock power, and the raw vulnerability of Plumb at a grand piano.
  • Articulate Craftsmanship: Whether it's Mark Knopfler’s fingerpicked Stratocaster with Dire Straits or Billy Joel’s raw, unvarnished early piano work on Cold Spring Harbor, I appreciate musicianship where every note has space to breathe.
  • Driving Rhythm & Heart: The connection between Southern rock (Molly Hatchet) and heavy driving Christian rock (Building 429) comes down to unpretentious momentum—pounding drumbeats, dual-guitar riffs, and straight-ahead delivery without falsetto gimmicks or studio tricks.
  • The Singer-Songwriter Foundation: During my office years in the mid-90s, I kept a 1U receiver tuned to an NPR station—classical during the day, and acoustic singer-songwriters at night. (During one pledge drive, I even called in and offered to double whatever gifts came in over the next hour, telling them, "Make me regret this decision!" They didn't break my bank, but it was money well spent.) That era built a lasting appreciation for narrative storytelling, leading straight to artists like Ray Boltz, Chris de Burgh, and Chris Rea.

2. The Collection Hierarchy

[ Category 1: Essential Rotation ] ---> Soaring vocal clarity, lush arrangements, instant love
  ↳ Renaissance, Pink Floyd, Yes, Barclay James Harvest, Starcastle, Styx, Kansas, 
    Alan Parsons Project, The Moody Blues, Plumb, Chris de Burgh, Chris Rea.

[ Category 2: Solid Craftsmanship ] -> Great musicality & clean production; great for a spin
  ↳ Mark Knopfler / Dire Straits, Pat Benatar, Billy Joel, ELO, Building 429, 
    Rick Springfield (album cuts), Molly Hatchet, Steely Dan.

[ Category 3: Under Evaluation ] ----> Deep-listening audits on the tube setup
  ↳ Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, Uriah Heep, Jethro Tull, and many more.

3. Sweat Equity & The Restoration Craft

Just like in astronomy and photography, I spend money where it counts, investing in high-leverage hardware like my Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum III tube amplifier. But when it comes to vinyl, I refuse to pay $30+ for modern reissues when I can hunt down an authentic vintage pressing for a few dollars at an estate sale or antique shop.

Restoring dirty, forgotten 1970s vinyl to dead-silent playback is half the joy of the hobby. Using an 8-step restoration process, combining targeted pre-washes, citric acid, Triton X-100 surfactant, and variable-speed ultrasonic bath cleaning, I bring those micro-grooves back to life.

Read the Full 8-Step Ultrasonic Record Restoration Guide → Vinyl record cleaning