Music To My Aging Ears

2011 sucks.

At least it sucks for me. Yet it doesn't suck in the same way it does for the righteous people who's homes are being foreclosed, or those whose Unemployment Compensation is up and the only option is to work at a big box store that sells crap, or because their workplace fired them because they were ill. It also doesn't suck because someone close to me was the victim of a violent crime or sent to prison despite their innocence.

It's not nearly as dramatic as any of that. My 2011 sucks because it is now August and there is not one single album released this year that I love.

Right. I know. You're thinking, "Paul, you don't have any real drama in your life. So you made some up." But this is a BIG deal to me. I need to have new music to love, to be obsessed over, to play over and over and over, and to relentlessly talk about it to anyone who will listen.

Instead nothing. I liked the new Radiohead and the new Antlers. But I do not LOVE them! Same with the new albums by Washed Out and Memory Tapes: like, but don't love. I even kind of like Foster The People, even though I was told they're not cool to like.

The secondary problem to this misery is that it's hard to discuss this with anyone. Since this has happened in years past, even though it's a trite concern, I am usually dismissed in this fashion:

Me: "2011 has been a grave disappointment for me. Usually by this time in the year, I've heard 3 to 4 albums that I love."
Other Person: "That's because you're too old."
Me: "How do you mean?"
Other Person: "You're too old to understand new music."

Have I had more than one person say this to me over the years? Sad to say, yes. Does it tick me off and end the conversation? Also, yes. Do I have any understanding what this means? Unfortunately, no.

I don't understand what age has to do with anything. The flipping of the calendar page doesn't relegate a person to a certain way of dressing or hair style. Age doesn't relegate a person to certain activities whether it be work, watching certain types of movies, or listening to certain types of music.

Age is not indicator of ability and ability is what matters. For me, since I last checked (late 2010), I had the ability to love new music.

Still my ability is hampered. Partially responsible may be my brain. Recent discoveries of how the brain works suggest, as the brain ages, it may be harder for it to find novelty. Also partially responsible is the lack of novelty available. Lastly responsible are the folks who judge ability based on a birth year, or a facial wrinkle, or grey hair. That group is what saddens me the most. Instead of listening to my words ("turn me on to new music released in 2011"), they make assumptions about how my brain works and relegate me to a category in theirs.

So let's review:

1. The number of foreclosures of homes is growing.
2. Unemployment compensation is running out.
3. People get fired from jobs for reasons related to illness.
4. Discovering new music is difficult for me.

Granted, the first three are bigger problems than the fourth. The solution to the foreclosures is beyond me. The solution to the second and third can be relieved by kicking out stereotypes of older workers. For example, this list of issues associated to older workers written by Sherri Edwards at Forbes could be applied to any person of any age:

• Rigid and stuck in their ways.
• Poor or failing health. Medical issues impact attendance and productivity.
• Afraid of new technologies.
• Slower to learn new concepts. Slow to change.
• Years of highly developed opinions; unwillingness to hear new ideas.
• Expensive. They demand higher wages.
• Poor investment because they won’t be staying with the company for long enough to get a return on investment with their training.
• Physically slow moving. Low energy. Unable to sustain long hours if required.
• Risk adverse.

And the fourth can be relieved by leaving your suggestions in the comments.

Think about it and if you have any ideas on how to relieve any of these issues, it would be music to my aging ears.