Greg

he/him

  • Creative multi-hyphenate
  • Theatre creator
  • Coffee lover
  • Cat Dad
  • Professional Dungeon Master (yeah, that’s a thing!)
  • Emerson Mafioso
  • Gonna be on your favorite TV show one day
  • Let’s Go Red Sox!

Today's Media

Fela Kuti LIVE!

Plays by Greg

Listening to the 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die

by | Dec 17, 2021 | Something Awesome | 0 comments

Such a strong, attention-grabbing line, isn’t it?

1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die. 

‘You Must Hear.” Not “should” hear. Not “may want to” hear. Must hear. Okay. Damn.

I have to admit, I’m intrigued.

So I’m surfing Reddit one afternoon, as I am wont to do when killing time, and a post from r/InternetIsBeautiful popped up in my feed sharing a link to 1001albumsgenerator.com, a website that helps you track your progress as you listen to the aforementioned 1,001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

Now, I had no idea that this website was based on a book (one first published in 2005, that has been updated multiple times, including this year). Or that there’s a whole series of “bucket list” books bearing the same title and theme spanning all kinds of media and experiences.

All I knew is that it’s a free site, I have an Apple Music subscription, and that I love making impulsive decisions, so naturally I signed up.

And now I’m being assigned a new album to listen to every day.

For the next 1,001 days.

I still have no idea who wrote this list, what is on it, or what the criteria is to land a spot on this list.

But for some reason, I also don’t care, nor do I want to know what’s coming.

I like surprises, and so far, this experience has provided me with a delightful variety of albums both familiar and new.

Over the past few years, I have to admit that my musical tastes have narrowed significantly to classic hip-hop, punk, and various YouTube artists and acts.

Going through this list for a month has already expanded my horizons significantly. From Fela Kuti to Shuggie Otis, from Metallica to LCD Soundsystem, and from Iron Butterfly to Living Colour, I’m experiencing a broad swath of the best music of the last seventy years.

I’ve learned that I don’t like Joy Division (the crew from Ground Control’s going to pull my Goth card for that one), that Dusty Springfield was British, that Sufjan Stevens is going to score my next quirky indie film, and that David Bowie was even more of a genius than I knew.

I mean, just listen for yourself:

Also, it’s a very different experience, listening to the whole album in order rather than just downloading the singles and hits.

It’s proving to work out pretty well. I switch between the album of the day and podcasts while I’m in the car or doing maintenance down at the theater.

I think I’m going to start posting my album reactions on my Instagram. I mean, I don’t know what else to post there right now, so why not?

So yeah, I recommend 1001albumsgenerator.com as my Something Awesome for this week. Make it a resolution for 2022 to check it out and broaden your musical horizons.

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Today, the #EmersonMafia took over the #WGAstrike picket line at @nbcuniversal, and it was an impressive turn out.

I had a blast meeting new fellow alumni, reconnecting with old friends (some I hadn't seen since graduation!), and catching up with faculty members that came out to support!

I wish I'd gotten more pictures, but I'm glad I grabbed this one! Always great to see @melindavalente and @ledaroca from @emerson_la. So grateful for your support!

Also, huge thanks to @thejudalina, @liz.alper, and @noellevinas for coordinating efforts both on the line and with the new school administration! Awesome job! I'm ready to march alongside y'all for another 500 miles, and maybe 500 more if that's what it takes. Let's go!
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