Inspired by Quentin Tarantino’s e book, Cinema Speculation, I resolved to spend 2023 going deep into the films of the late Nineteen Sixties and thru the ’70s. Tubi has been my good friend for the D-grade grindhouse and horror movies that Tarantino loves (I do, too) whereas different on-demand channels have crammed in some gaps.
One of the primary issues I did was re-watch 2001: A Space Odyssey for the 945th time, paying shut consideration to the issues Stanley Kubrick and Arthur C. Clarke obtained proper and incorrect concerning the future. Yes, they had been fairly optimistic about the way forward for house exploration, however they seen issues from the house race period, a interval after we went from janky rockets that exploded if you happen to checked out them incorrect to touchdown on the moon in lower than 10 years. Why wouldn’t now we have house tourism, moon colonies, and an atomic energy mission to Jupiter overseen by a homicidal AI by 2001?
Both preserving a New Year’s decision and predicting the longer term are exhausting, however I’m going to attempt to do each.
Resolution: Learn extra concerning the coming metaverse. I’ve had a number of eye-popping demonstrations of metaverse expertise that make me suppose this will probably be a giant a part of the way forward for music. If I’m going to maintain up, I’m going to have to purchase some new {hardware}.
Prediction: I’ll purchase Apple’s new AR/VR headset when it comes out, use it for a few week, get bored, and transfer on to the subsequent shiny object. My spouse will then yell at me. I need assistance.
Resolution: Start shopping for bodily music magazines once more. Having digital points delivered to my iPad is ok, however paper variations appear to comprise much more.
Prediction: I used to spend hundreds on the month-to-month editions of Q, Mojo, Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Record Collector, Prog, Classic Rock, and a ton of others. Some are nonetheless publishing precise magazines, however given the decline in stock on journal racks, they’re getting tougher to seek out. Time to subscribe. I’m already having fun with having quarterly problems with the newly resurrected CREEM journal present up in my mailbox. I be ok with this one.
Read extra:
Alan Cross has seen the way forward for music and says it’s all about ‘Web3’ and the metaverse
Read subsequent:
With automobile theft rising in Canada, what are automakers doing to beef up safety?
Resolution: Use the report evaluate sections of these magazines to create recent Spotify playlists. There’s an excessive amount of music within the universe for anybody to kind by means of on their very own. These evaluate seconds are a godsend.
Prediction: Already began. My Spotify Wrapped for 2023 is gonna be…bizarre.
Resolution: Cancel reoccurring subscriptions to streaming providers I don’t use. During the pandemic, I ended up subscribing to all types of providers simply to maintain myself occupied. It’s to the purpose the place I don’t know every little thing I’ve. I actually need to undergo my bank card statements.
Prediction: This goes to be a problem, nevertheless it’s the fiscally accountable factor to do. Have I ever used BritBox greater than a few occasions? How did I find yourself with two accounts for Qello? And who’s concept was it to get AMC+? Does this family actually need that a lot Walking Dead content material?
Resolution: Change all these passwords that Google says have been compromised. That appears…essential.
Prediction: I have to find time for this. I simply have to determine which password supervisor is greatest.
Resolution: Expand my musical vary. In years previous, I vowed to be taught extra about jazz and opera and failed at each.
Prediction: I’ve given up on opera (I simply can’t do it). Country will all the time be a no-go for me (I’ve tried so exhausting to no avail) And though I’ve made some headway with jazz (Brubeck, Davis), it’s nonetheless a battle in most areas. Same with lots of present hip-hop (I’m taking a look at you, Drake). I’m, nevertheless, gaining floor with reggaeton and a few African music, particularly materials popping out of Nigeria. It’s an eye- and ear-opening break from Western music. Recommended.
Resolution: Keep a watch on AI-generated music. This is part of the recorded music business that’s set to blow up.
Prediction: I consider it’s solely a matter of time earlier than now we have a string of hit songs generated by AI. Computer scientists know that if they will get a machine to create cheap facsimiles of songs, it will likely be a significant technological breakthrough. HYBE, the leisure firm behind Okay-pop juggernauts BTS, not too long ago purchased an AI agency able to performing some wonderful issues with music. I wouldn’t be stunned to listen to new BTS materials over the subsequent few years whereas the members full their nationwide service in South Korea. In the military? No drawback. We’ll have AI cowl off your components.
Resolution: Buy extra merch at concert events. Especially swag from smaller bands at smaller venues. Merch gross sales are an essential income stream. An excellent evening on the merch desk and the band can afford to sleep in a lodge as an alternative of begging for house on a fan’s sofa.
Prediction: Done deal. Got vinyl on the market at your gig? I’m in.
Resolution: Make time to take heed to extra of my vinyl assortment. There’s no excuse to not. Besides, I’m shopping for vinyl at gigs.
Prediction: I’m such a giant fan of the format and the nice and cozy sound it delivers. Instead of binge-watching one more true crime sequence on Netflix, my thoughts will probably be higher served by being immersed in music. I can do that.
Resolution: Clean up my CD closet. I’ve a small room off my dwelling workplace with cabinets and drawers stuffed with CDs, all lengthy since full. On prime of the cabinets is a pile of a number of hundred discs which have but to be filed anyplace. The solely approach that is going to work is that if I cull my assortment. No drawback. There are solely about 10,000 CDs in there. The good factor is that they’re in alphabetical order. Mostly.
Prediction: For the fifth 12 months in a row, I’ll discover some excuse to place it off. Meanwhile, that pile of unfiled discs will simply get larger. Better luck in 2024.
—
Alan Cross is a broadcaster with Q107 and 102.1 the Edge and a commentator for Global News.
Subscribe to Alan’s Ongoing History of New Music Podcast now on Apple Podcast or Google Play
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.