Last week on my first blog post I discussed New Year’s Resolutions, goals, and projects. Whether you are a resolution, goals, or project kind of person, it’s always good to have something to look forward to in the year to come.

In the final days of 2017, plenty of time was spent in reflection. A great deal had happened over the year, including some big changes in my life. I meditated on the people who were positive influences in my life. I sketched out some goals. I completed a Personal Year-in-Review. I looked into December of 2018 and asked my future self what I did that made this year my best ever.

One thing that makes it onto my list every year is music. More. More listening, more playing, more creating, more discussion. I asked Santa to help me out with a new turntable set up this year and he came through and even included a few of my favorite records.

While planning my small, well-crafted personal music library, I decided to look up some of the best albums of 2017. I found a few lists. Top Ten. Top Twenty. Then, a Top Fifty! All reviewed and compiled by the same person. Personal reviews, not just sales metrics. I was enamored of this list. Not because of the content, but simply because it existed. One person had listened to fifty albums in one year – all new releases – and knew them each well enough to write a brief, meaningful summary and was brave enough to rank them. The content was incredible, too, with a wide mix of genres and audiences.

Did I listen to fifty albums last year? Of course. Did I listen to fifty(!) new albums from 2017 alone? No. But it seemed so doable. An hour a week at most for one spin. Relatively inexpensive with sharing and streaming services. I looked at a schedule of who was releasing albums in 2018. I shared the idea with a friend, positing it as a goal for an indefinite future date. He suggested a pilot year. One a month, instead of one a week. I liked the idea of a pilot year. Also a friendly partner gives you both leeway and accountability.

We set up parameters.

• Only albums we are not intimately familiar with
• No research before listening (to avoid prejudice)
• Minimum two spins before discussing
• Mix of genres
• Mix of years, but must include one new release

We decided for the selections that I would select four albums, he would select four albums, and then we would solicit suggestions for four albums from musicians or music lovers that we mutually respect.

Our list looks like this:

• Tori Amos – Native Invaders (2017)
• The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds (1966)
• Beastie Boys – License to Ill (1986)
• Eno•Hyde – Someday World (2014)
• Aimee Mann – Mental Illness (2017)
• Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young – Deja Vu (1970)
• Joy Division – Unknown Pleasures (1979)
• Eddie from Ohio – Actually Not (1993)
• Periphery – Select Difficulty (2016)
• Sting – Ten Summoner’s Tales (1993)
• Ben Wendel – The Seasons (2017)
• Vance Joy – Nation of Two (2018, release date TBA)

I’m excited.

First out of the hat (Vance Joy excluded until his album drops), was Aimee Mann. That was suggested by a friend of mine, who promptly mailed me a physical copy. (Thanks, James! I love new music and I LOVE mail!) Her album is available streaming if you want to play along at home. Look for a review soon!

With a project lined up, I have a lot of goals for 2018, too, so look for more on that as well.