Ray Bradbury Didn't Own a Toaster

ISSUE #2

This week's playlist relates to the nightmare that is the Internet. Initially, I had a whole screed written up today going off on how much I hate online dot com, but then Kanye really put the pedal to the metal, and I had to take a good hard look at myself. I figured I was either preaching to the choir, or we were all beyond saving. I like you guys, anyway — I don’t need to screech your ears off.

I don't usually listen to anything Electronic, Dance, or Music, but I found myself doing it a lot last week because Boards of Canada's Music Has the Right to Children just turned twenty years old, and that album has soundtracked a lot of Stardew Valley for me. Then, I was listening to "Never Be Like You" again because it's routinely the last best-song I've heard, and an undisputed triumph from someone almost exactly my age. So from there, I decided to play against type and serve up the electronic songs I like. I also put in some message-songs with guitars that express various facets of an online life. It's impossible for me not to think of Superchunk every time I hear someone mention Slack.

I threw “Levels” in at the end. I didn't even like Avicii’s music at the time, but I was subjected to it every morning from 2011 to 2014 in my friend Kyle's white 1994 Mustang that smelled like Sean John's Unforgivable cologne. My eyes were rolling so often I was dizzy. Now, however, I look back with fondness, proving that even semesters where you're constantly pissed off can crystallize into monuments of bliss. In a move I never would've expected then, I want to honor Avicii now. He didn't deserve to go so soon. That song is good for pull-ups, too.

I will say that the age of automation relates to why I wanted to put these playlists together. Taste doesn't really scale, and that's all a tech (or any) company really exists to do, most of the time at the expense of the consumer. No matter how sophisticated the algorithm, the same bands will keep showing up in your Discover Weekly. I wanted to fix it! I know I sound like the worst parts of every boyfriend you've ever had right now.

Let me just lean into it: the Stoic philosopher Epictetus was all about the ethics of the many roles we play in life — some inherited like sons and sisters, and some chosen like marketers or eco-lawyers. I've been looking at my roles, and hating what I’ve done with them. I just wanted to choose one that exercises my humanity, by sending you playlists made from my organic experience, even if I'll ultimately lose the battle to the machines.

I know people think Neo-Luddism is just trendy opportunism. That never quite made sense to me though, because there's no way to broadcast a proper "I told you so" once you’ve truly abandoned social media. There's no point in following a trend if there's no way to broadcast it!

I bought an Instant Pot a few months ago.

With love,

Jeff