Welcome back to Band Practice and happy new year! If you’re a new subscriber (hi Dan's newsletter readers!), an extra big welcome to you. Allow me to (re)introduce myself for those who don’t know me personally. My name is Beebe and I’m an “elder millennial” (groan) living in Portland, Oregon. I’m a freelance desktop publisher/graphic designer/etc. by day and by night, I do [gestures around] this. In addition to listening to new albums while walking my dog, my morning routine consists of solving the Wordle and NYT Spelling Bee until I at least get to genius. I’m not a music expert (though I aspire to be one), just a music lover. I started this newsletter for two reasons: to connect with other people who love music and to practice a skill that I want to get good enough at to do professionally (music criticism).
Spoiler: there are no reviews in this issue. This a special issue with an overview of my goals for this newsletter in 2023. My first issue of reviews for 2023 will be in your inboxes next week—and it’s a good one.
What this newsletter is: this is a space where I listen to as much new music as I can get my hands on (last year I listened to at least one new album every day), picking my favorites to share with you. I know there are many of you out there who feel intimidated by keeping up with new music and don’t know where to start. This newsletter is a place to start. I’ll share what I think is worth listening to—what moved me or inspired me—in an accessible way that hopefully will make you interested in it too (at least some of it).
What this newsletter is not: This is not a place for pretentiousness or snobbery. As I’ve mentioned before, I don’t believe in good or bad taste. I only believe in the love of music. If you love music, or are interested in trying to love music, you are welcome here.
When I started this newsletter, I didn’t just set out to write about music, I set out to write about what music means to me and what it means to make art. That spirit will continue and will always be the backbone of this newsletter. I’ll continue to write more than just reviews and will keep sharing my musings on music and art and will, of course, keep sharing my handcrafted—some say banging—seasonal playlists.
That being said, there are some things I’m considering tinkering with. For example, I really like writing the intros for each issue which, if you’re new here, focus on a theme related to the album(s) I’m writing about. However, I’m toying with the idea of putting them in separate issues. I’d like to get your feedback on that, so I’ve included a poll about it later in this issue.
What I am going to be changing is that I’m probably not going to be listening to a new album every single day. I’m going to do it most days, but I’m also going to allow myself to have some days off. One of the downsides of last year’s goal was not feeling like I had enough time to re-listen to albums and develop a relationship with them. I’d like more balance this year. I’m still going to be listening to an unhinged amount of new music and hope to still get to at least 300 albums. But I also want to spend some time listening to and reviewing older albums that are new to me or albums that I’ve revisited that I think deserve a listen.
Looking forward, my goal for this newsletter is to continue to expand this community and find ways to continue conversations around music. That means I’m going to still try to play around with that Substack Chat feature I’ve been neglecting to use and to try to find ways to start up more conversations in the comments. I also have big dreams of making silly TikTok videos about music and even starting a podcast to accompany this newsletter. I would love the podcast to have intergenerational representation. I’m super not going to just talk to myself, so if anyone wants to talk about music with me on a podcast or knows someone who might, please reach out. Will I get around to any of these things this year? Who knows! But I’m ~manifesting.~
Here’s where I’d like your feedback. I’ve included three quick polls to get a sense of what you want to see in this newsletter. I, of course, have my own preferences and ideas and will ultimately do what I want. But I also enjoy the perspectives in this community and want to know what you’re thinking. (There’s a treat at the end if you participate…ok, and also if you don’t). If you have any additional feedback for me, you can always leave it in the comments.
A quick survey
Genres
Most of my reviews have been within the alternative and pop genres, with a little bit of hip-hop/rap, electronic, and country. This year I want to branch out more and feature a more diverse array of artists. I’d like your opinion on what other genres you would like to see (besides alternative and pop). There isn’t a way to rank choices, so just choose the one that you would be most excited about.
Other genre suggestions? Let me know in the comments.
What format of reviews would you like to see? Choose the one you prefer the most.
What do you think about the “Intros” to each issue? (If you’re new here you can ignore this)
Ok. I lied. One more for fun! I’d love to know…
If you did, thanks! I hope you enjoyed it.
Thanks for reading and participating in the poll! As a treat, I’ve included a TikTok of 5th graders’ reactions to Cher’s “Believe” below. It’s *chef’s kiss.* Future critics in the making. I’ll be back in your inboxes next week with some fresh reviews. I’ll cover what I listened to in December including new albums from SZA, Little Simz, and more. Keep your eye out for it—you won’t want to miss it.
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