“There’s actually solely two issues you’ll be able to depend on on this world: songs and canines. These are the 2 issues that by no means will allow you to down.”
That is the central perception of comic and lifelong music fan Christian Finnegan. Nevertheless, he additionally is aware of the “songs” half of this equation is difficult by one in all life’s nigh-guarantees: The older you get, the more durable it’s to maintain up with new music. “Clearly there are tactile the reason why somebody my age—uh, 52—may not be absorbing numerous music,” admits Finnegan, “They’ve kids, jobs, lives—it simply isn’t a part of their weekly apply to hunt issues out. However typically additionally they simply really feel that there’s simply a lot on the market, the place do you even begin?”
To fight that, Finnegan began a bi-weekly-ish Substack titled New Music For Olds. In every of the 86 newsletters he’s put out since 2022, Finnegan finds and recommends at the very least three artists who’re most likely/hopefully new to informal music followers. Nevertheless, what separates his picks from, say, a longtime web site’s new launch listing is that Finnegan then places what he likes about every artist into phrases that his (and—full disclosure—my very own) fellow Technology Xers can perceive.
For instance, he sells latest choose “Andromeda” by Preoccupations with “that romantic-but-jittery sound that may match snugly into an early episode of 120 Minutes, sandwiched between the Church and Peter Murphy.” Every write-up additionally will get a Voltage rating (assume quantity; the Precoccupations will get a 6), a Pairing Suggestion (assume exercise; right here it’s “Eyes closed, swaying in a vaguely rhythmic trend”), and a last meme-like visible punchline (this one ending with MTV’s Dave Kendall in jean shorts). All collectively, the suggestions are succinct, clear, and humorous, like whenever you’d discuss music with associates again in faculty.
“That’s the spirit I’ve tried to convey to the publication. This isn’t me going by a bio of each artist, and it’s not me attempting to throw in as many rock author cliches— you already know, ‘shimmering guitars’ and all that stuff that drives me batshit,” chuckles Finnegan. His purpose is to speak about music the best way he and his associates would’ve when driving round in highschool, searching for the emotions it creates and what stands proud. “And if meaning, ‘oh, I like this tune as a result of it jogs my memory of my third grade health club instructor,’ then that’s high quality,” he continues. “That’s the best way individuals expertise music of their precise lives. Typically it’s, ‘I actually love the best way the vocals are stacked,’ or ‘I actually love that guitar tone.’ However typically it’s like, ‘Oh my God, this seems like one thing you’d hear at an amusement park whenever you have been a child.’”
However how does he truly uncover the music he shares? Turns on the market wasn’t a lot for Finnegan to demystify: “It’s not likely any extra laborious than simply going by the brand new launch part and simply clicking on stuff.” That’s proper. Whereas Finnegan does additionally comply with sure music writers he likes on social media, nearly all of what he recommends comes from sampling new releases on Apple Music. “We stay now in an countless meals court docket of music. There’s no barrier for entry for simply clicking on an album as a result of, ‘This cowl seems to be attention-grabbing,’ or ‘So and so instructed me they loved this.’ I’m simply gonna click on on it and if I don’t prefer it in 90 seconds, I transfer on with my life.” And to all of the busy individuals asking when he does this, Finnegan goes again to the second factor you’ll be able to all the time depend on: “Having a canine helps. Like, canine walks are nice for that.”
His one be aware: Go in with out the strain of listening to what’s cool or necessary. He explains, “I inform associates of mine who ask about this that when you’re attempting to pay attention to what’s cool, then you definately’re all the time going to be pissed off. As a result of the stuff that’s cool will not be for you and also you liking it is going to make it much less cool.” As a substitute, Finnegan’s mantra is: “If I stick with what feels good between my ears, that’s a significantly better metric than, ‘What am I imagined to be listening to proper now?’”
Whereas this sampling course of wasn’t doable again within the days of hitting Tower Information on a Tuesday, Finnegan additionally feels streaming providers are a part of the issue find new music. “The algorithms lure you,” he says. “They know what you need. They feed you. It’s form of like you’ve got crappy frozen turkey burgers in your freezer. They’re there, you already know what they’re, so whenever you get hungry, you merely say, ‘Screw it. I’m simply going to eat one other turkey burger.’”
As a substitute, Finnegan’s consuming nicely today, constantly discovering new artists to like. A few of his latest faves—whom he admits, “Should you’re beneath 30, you’re most likely nicely conscious of them”—are Magdalena Bay (“They’re retro, modern, and futuristic on the similar time”), Die Spitz (“They’ve this tune referred to as “Throw Your self to the Sword,” which I’ve most likely listened to about 40,000 occasions this week.”), and the Beths (“Not simply their songs, which I really like, however I really like how a lot all of them appear to love one another.”).
However on high of the music, writing New Music For Olds brings Finnegan pleasure. It permits him to jot down the area of interest music jokes he by no means will get to make in his stand-up set, although he does concede to having the purpose of “I all the time wished to be just like the Nada Surf of comedy, these individuals who really feel like they’ve precisely the profession they’re attempting to have.” Listening to new music additionally lets him really feel “Youthful, alive, engaged,” as his mind makes new connections, varieties new paths. It’s a sense that he hopes to share together with his readers, saying, “I promise that your life—for that subsequent week or two whenever you discover a tune or an album that you simply actually love—can have that new automobile scent that’s more and more uncommon as you grow old.”
