Wes C. Attle
Well-Known Member
Hello! Welcome to November!
I’ve enjoyed participating in these challenges for the past several years, but this is my very first month of hosting. I love the creative themes that have been featured on past months and had actually planned on doing a neuroanatomy-based month, but after coming close to completing it I realized it was the nerdiest thing I’d ever done and ditched the idea.
My favorite prompts in the past have been those that elicit more personal responses; especially when participants share their stories about why they love these records, or how it reminds them of a particular time in their lives. I think that’s why we obsessives are here in this forum and not just casually listening to whatever Spotify decides to play for us as background music.
Therefore, personal stories about your selections are highly-encouraged this month but share as much as you want/feel comfortable doing. November has historically been a low-participation month for whatever reason (especially election years), but I appreciate your consideration of sticking with us as long as you can! Those who complete each day’s challenge by December 6th will be entered to win a free record (personally chosen for you by me).
Coming from someone who loves all physical forms of music, vinyl, tapes, and CDs will be accepted. Screenshot of streaming music can also be used if it helps your story.
November 1
Guest comes to your home for the first time: “You seem to like music a lot- holy smokes that’s a LOT of vinyls!” (Guest runs their hand -too aggressively, you determine- across the spines of the records)
What was the first album you remember having? Did you get it as a kid or did you more recently get into this silly hobby? Can you still smell the liner notes when you hear these songs?
November 2
“Yeah the record’s great, but you’ve GOT to see them live!”
What was one of your all-time favorite concerts that you’ve been to, who went with you, and where was it? If you’ve never been to a show, who would you love to see (or love to have seen) live? Digital high-fives will be given if you include photos from the show.
November 3
“Hey, this is our song! Remember?”
“No.”
What record will forever remind you of that special someone, a relative, or a good friend and why? What does it remind you of doing with them? (ahem, keep it clean)
November 4
You: “If you like _____, then you’ll DEFINITELY love _______. This is THE BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!”
Them: :::crickets:::
What is one of your favorite artists/records that you feel is criminally underrated or ignored and makes you question your taste in music because no one else is raving about it? Now is the time to sell us on it!
November 5
You: “Excuse me, but could you special order two records for me?”
Record store clerk: “Sure thing! Which ones?”
You: “um, Chicago’s 19 and also their fourth Christmas album”
Record store clerk: “Uhh…”
You: “I made the mistake of buying their first record and now I have to own them all.”
Which band/musician made you “go down the rabbit hole,” making you feel the need to buy everything they ever put out? What? You never did that? You have incredible will-power, you say? Ohhh well good for you! Play whatever you want then, I don’t care.
November 6
“This is probably in my top 5 favorite acid-funk alternative jazz -country albums of all time.”
Play an album that is a perfect representation of one of your favorite musical genres. Why do you like this genre so much? What are some other artists/records that you’d recommend in this genre?
November 7
You’re sitting at a red light, playing your all-time favorite song at full volume in your car when the driver in the vehicle next to you makes eye contact. This stranger looks concerned about you and mouths the words: “Is that OMC’s ‘How Bizarre?!’”
I know you bought an album that you had to order online because you were too embarrassed to buy it in person. Don’t be shy; play one of these “guilty pleasures.” Tell you what, to help out a bit: no explanation is necessary for this one.
November 8
“You might have heard of them. They’re part of this new Estonia-Pop scene.”
Play a record from one of your favorite location-based scenes. Were you into this trend while it was happening, or did you discover it after it was all over?
November 9
“Oh yeah, I used to know those guys before they became huge. I served them coffee every day. They were cool then but their fame went to their heads.”
Play an artist from your hometown (or any of your previous homes of residence). Did you ever run into them?
November 10
:::loud Friday night:::
You and your crew are about to head downtown for a real crazzzzy night. Play something that would get you in a dancing mood or excited about staying up way too late. Let’s face it though, you’re really just going to fall asleep while watching NCIS reruns in your recliner around nine o’clock tonight.
November 11
:::quiet Saturday morning:::
Shoot, you woke up way too early today even though you had plans to sleep in. No one else is up, it’s just you, your morning cup of coffee, and your turntable. What do you feel like playing to ease you into today?
November 12
Them: “Hey, Vertical Horizon is playing at the fair this year! We’re gonna’ get tickets, you wanna’ come?”
You: (gesturing towards your new haircut) “Can’t you see? I’m Emo now; I only listen to Emo.”
Play an artist that represents a certain style you adhered to during a certain time in your life. If your physical/clothing style never changed, then play something that maybe connected to your emotional style. I’m not sure what that means exactly, so why don’t you interpret it?
November 13
(singing along, music playing loud in headphones) “Late night, come home/WORK SUCKS, I KNOW!!”
(boss pokes head over your cubicle wall): “Sorry, what was that?”
What albums got you through tough shifts at work, either in the past or in your current job?
November 14
(pulls record from behind coats in closet)
(to self) : “What? Why and when did I buy the Bay City Rollers?!”
Play a record that you have neglected or don’t recall buying. Now think: why do you have this? Why haven’t you played it? Do you even want it anymore? If not, why don’t you PIF it, if it offends you so much? Maybe because offering it up would offend everyone else? In that case, yeah, don’t PIF it, just drop it off at Goodwill.
November 15
“Hat me, please”
Did the previous day’s prompt confuse you? Were you like, “What the heck is a PIF?” You should head over there, it’s pretty awesome. If you’re familiar and have participated, play the best record you’ve received. What was the best record you’ve offered to others?
If you haven’t participated before, play a record that you received for free or for a crazy-low price.
I’ve enjoyed participating in these challenges for the past several years, but this is my very first month of hosting. I love the creative themes that have been featured on past months and had actually planned on doing a neuroanatomy-based month, but after coming close to completing it I realized it was the nerdiest thing I’d ever done and ditched the idea.
My favorite prompts in the past have been those that elicit more personal responses; especially when participants share their stories about why they love these records, or how it reminds them of a particular time in their lives. I think that’s why we obsessives are here in this forum and not just casually listening to whatever Spotify decides to play for us as background music.
Therefore, personal stories about your selections are highly-encouraged this month but share as much as you want/feel comfortable doing. November has historically been a low-participation month for whatever reason (especially election years), but I appreciate your consideration of sticking with us as long as you can! Those who complete each day’s challenge by December 6th will be entered to win a free record (personally chosen for you by me).
Coming from someone who loves all physical forms of music, vinyl, tapes, and CDs will be accepted. Screenshot of streaming music can also be used if it helps your story.
November 1
Guest comes to your home for the first time: “You seem to like music a lot- holy smokes that’s a LOT of vinyls!” (Guest runs their hand -too aggressively, you determine- across the spines of the records)
What was the first album you remember having? Did you get it as a kid or did you more recently get into this silly hobby? Can you still smell the liner notes when you hear these songs?
November 2
“Yeah the record’s great, but you’ve GOT to see them live!”
What was one of your all-time favorite concerts that you’ve been to, who went with you, and where was it? If you’ve never been to a show, who would you love to see (or love to have seen) live? Digital high-fives will be given if you include photos from the show.
November 3
“Hey, this is our song! Remember?”
“No.”
What record will forever remind you of that special someone, a relative, or a good friend and why? What does it remind you of doing with them? (ahem, keep it clean)
November 4
You: “If you like _____, then you’ll DEFINITELY love _______. This is THE BEST ALBUM OF THE YEAR!!”
Them: :::crickets:::
What is one of your favorite artists/records that you feel is criminally underrated or ignored and makes you question your taste in music because no one else is raving about it? Now is the time to sell us on it!
November 5
You: “Excuse me, but could you special order two records for me?”
Record store clerk: “Sure thing! Which ones?”
You: “um, Chicago’s 19 and also their fourth Christmas album”
Record store clerk: “Uhh…”
You: “I made the mistake of buying their first record and now I have to own them all.”
Which band/musician made you “go down the rabbit hole,” making you feel the need to buy everything they ever put out? What? You never did that? You have incredible will-power, you say? Ohhh well good for you! Play whatever you want then, I don’t care.
November 6
“This is probably in my top 5 favorite acid-funk alternative jazz -country albums of all time.”
Play an album that is a perfect representation of one of your favorite musical genres. Why do you like this genre so much? What are some other artists/records that you’d recommend in this genre?
November 7
You’re sitting at a red light, playing your all-time favorite song at full volume in your car when the driver in the vehicle next to you makes eye contact. This stranger looks concerned about you and mouths the words: “Is that OMC’s ‘How Bizarre?!’”
I know you bought an album that you had to order online because you were too embarrassed to buy it in person. Don’t be shy; play one of these “guilty pleasures.” Tell you what, to help out a bit: no explanation is necessary for this one.
November 8
“You might have heard of them. They’re part of this new Estonia-Pop scene.”
Play a record from one of your favorite location-based scenes. Were you into this trend while it was happening, or did you discover it after it was all over?
November 9
“Oh yeah, I used to know those guys before they became huge. I served them coffee every day. They were cool then but their fame went to their heads.”
Play an artist from your hometown (or any of your previous homes of residence). Did you ever run into them?
November 10
:::loud Friday night:::
You and your crew are about to head downtown for a real crazzzzy night. Play something that would get you in a dancing mood or excited about staying up way too late. Let’s face it though, you’re really just going to fall asleep while watching NCIS reruns in your recliner around nine o’clock tonight.
November 11
:::quiet Saturday morning:::
Shoot, you woke up way too early today even though you had plans to sleep in. No one else is up, it’s just you, your morning cup of coffee, and your turntable. What do you feel like playing to ease you into today?
November 12
Them: “Hey, Vertical Horizon is playing at the fair this year! We’re gonna’ get tickets, you wanna’ come?”
You: (gesturing towards your new haircut) “Can’t you see? I’m Emo now; I only listen to Emo.”
Play an artist that represents a certain style you adhered to during a certain time in your life. If your physical/clothing style never changed, then play something that maybe connected to your emotional style. I’m not sure what that means exactly, so why don’t you interpret it?
November 13
(singing along, music playing loud in headphones) “Late night, come home/WORK SUCKS, I KNOW!!”
(boss pokes head over your cubicle wall): “Sorry, what was that?”
What albums got you through tough shifts at work, either in the past or in your current job?
November 14
(pulls record from behind coats in closet)
(to self) : “What? Why and when did I buy the Bay City Rollers?!”
Play a record that you have neglected or don’t recall buying. Now think: why do you have this? Why haven’t you played it? Do you even want it anymore? If not, why don’t you PIF it, if it offends you so much? Maybe because offering it up would offend everyone else? In that case, yeah, don’t PIF it, just drop it off at Goodwill.
November 15
“Hat me, please”
Did the previous day’s prompt confuse you? Were you like, “What the heck is a PIF?” You should head over there, it’s pretty awesome. If you’re familiar and have participated, play the best record you’ve received. What was the best record you’ve offered to others?
If you haven’t participated before, play a record that you received for free or for a crazy-low price.
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