May 7 Album Releases/1997 and 2013

Two major albums of my life were released on May 7ths, Tuesdays before my Friday birthdays on May 11.

1997: Hanson's Middle of Nowhere
2013: Deerhunter's Monomania

I may not have made it clear in this blog how passionately I care for the music of Bradford Cox, as Atlas Sound and in Deerhunter (except where I alluded to "my favorite gay male rock star"). I care for his music very, very, very much. At age 13, I learned what it was like to be consumed by love for a band, the first time I saw Hanson on MTV. I am still thrilled to love Deerhunter/B. Cox as much as I do, because so many people stop caring about bands as they get older (and fuck that).

I would like to draw out the differences between experiencing a record that comes out 4 days before your 14th birthday, and a record that comes out 4 days before your 30th birthday.

1997: CD
2013: LP

1997: You go with Mom to buy it.
2013: You go with yr main man, Slim Volume, to buy it.

1997: Purchase at Fred Meyer's electronics department in Lacey.
2013: Purchase at the 40-year-old record store Rainy Day Records in Olympia.

1997: Sit at your desk in your bedroom writing in your journal and listening to the CD straight through several times.
2013: Make veggie dogs with grilled buns and broccoli orange salad with coconut and raisins and yogurt-mustard dressing and play the LP while eating dinner; play it again while folding laundry after dusk.

1997: All-consuming obsession.
2013: This album is a mystery.