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Actually I was musing about the music situation not long ago. I love my ZUNE, don't get me wrong, but I often wonder at the importance of music to the generation that has had nothing but music on demand their entire lives... as a young soldier in Germany, I was taken under the wing by a Staff Sergeant in my unit. He lived with his German girlfriend (later wife) off post. He would quite often have some of us over to their apartment for good eats, bier and conversation. Of course music was an absolutely critical part of this equasion. He had at the time a top of the line turntable along with a saphire needle. The ritual of playing the vinyl was of the highest importance, cleaning the platter with solution, gently applying the velvet roller to insure not a bit of detritus interfere with the sublime meeting of needle and track. More often than not I was given the distinct honor of picking the albums and playing them. It was quite a serious decision; committing my and my comrades listening attention for the following 30-45 minutes. Nothing like mindlessly skipping through a less than favorite track on your player, or even CD, if that is what you are using. Indeed, I would try to sculpt the album to the present company or topic of conversation. I have vivid memories of mulling over the covers of Judy Collins, ABBA, even the Berlin Harmonic Orchestra. I read them quite closely considering every aspect of the musical journey I was about to subject us all to. I can't imagine that today's kids put as much thought into their musical adventures.
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