So Much Music, So Little Time

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the sheer number of albums released each year.

by Miguel Gonzales

Photo by Adriana Rivera

I didn’t have my brat summer. 

I had the MJ Lenderman singles that dropped over the summer playing repeatedly, along with some other newly released albums. Make of that as you will.

Charli XCX had everyone and their mother by the throats with BRAT – my feed was flooded with brat green and profile pictures of mutual’s first names written in the brat font. Being brat was unavoidable. 

BRAT is Charli XCX’s triumphant leap in pop music, a huge success for her considering she was once one of those “word-of-mouth” artists you’d read about on music blogs. I, unfortunately, did not listen to BRAT when it shattered the Internet. When you’re actively searching for new music to listen to, it is impossible to fit in everything. It’s the same as trying to read as many books as possible, watching tons of movies, and completing an elongated bucket list. It’s stupendously ambitious and all-around overwhelming.

As much as we try to buy into the hype train, listeners go toward what they are familiar with. Whether an artist is brought up frequently or it's a casual album recommendation from a friend, you’re going to feel guilty to some degree that you’re missing out. 

Don’t beat yourself up about it.

Enjoying music isn’t supposed to be a competitive catch-up, “rookie numbers” game. Listeners have lost purpose in the sole goal of music—enjoying it. You sit with it, feel what is happening and slowly formulate your opinion. We are naturally selective in our interests—someone may prefer to listen to a certain genre of music more than another person, and that is okay. 

There is also constant anxiety in trying to listen to every release, commercial or independent. I find that to be completely unrealistic. The unlimited choices available to the public are staggering, and settling on a few albums to listen to is stressful. Take it one step at a time, and give yourself some grace. You’re a valid music listener just like anybody else. Even if you’re late to the party, your listening experience is always going to be personal to you.  

I did listen to BRAT though, it was good.