Lost Art Form: The Listening Party

Those of you who have followed this blog for a time know that, while I am learning to embrace the age of the iPod, I have serious concerns about the extinction of "the album." In the spirit of "album conservation" (and simply for a good time), I am attempting to revive a pastime of the past -- the listening party. Long before the digital age, music lovers used to enjoy good food, good company and good music as they gathered around the record player. Today, listening to music is largely a solitary activity, save for concerts and the like. Sadly, earbuds are many's only musical companions. Music is meant to be shared and experienced. And so, I plan to (re)introduce the listening party to the digital world with a small group of fellow music lovers next week -- complete with mood lighting and good wine. Although I will be spinning a CD rather than vinyl, the spirit of the listening session lives on! This first installment will feature Ray LaMontagne's forthcoming record, Gossip in the Grain.