--- title: Music url: 'https://casazza.net/Home/music' markdown: 'https://casazza.net/Home/music.md' date: '2026-10-28' description: "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 p…" --- # 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](https://casazza.net/Home/music/vinyl-record-cleaning)* --- ## Navigation - Previous: [Software](https://casazza.net/Home/software.md) - Children: - [Vinyl Record Cleaning](https://casazza.net/Home/music/vinyl-record-cleaning.md)