The Nappy Cat Chronicles

Yes, that’s a trashbag full of CDs.  Thanks to my iPod Nano and subsequent iPods, I’ve not listened to a single one of those since 2002.

Loading the trashbag was an odd experience. I felt like I was throwing away a favorite childhood toy. Who would appreciate the physical aspects of each album contained within that bundle of CDs now?

Whether perfectly organized or in complete disarray, a CD collection is visually appealing. Ownership of an album on CD or, for that matter, on vinyl, is ownership of a piece of history. As well, owning a physical copy is to be imbued with a sense of security.

I’ve not been able to replicate these aspects of the ownership experience with my digital collection. I am able to delete tracks and albums at will. The album is no longer a part of my music experience. Possessing the best 10% of an album is fine enough.

The laughs and the cringes that are experienced when listening to an album’s lowlights calibrate a listener’s musical radar. You appreciate a band’s sweet spots more profoundly when you know, from experience, that they can disappoint you.

As for the security aspect, drops are more frequent than floods. But, since my music collection is strictly digital now, I have to believe that it’s not the medium. It’s the music.