It’s a Long Commute! (2024-Present)

As someone who has long relied on radio news to accompany my weekly commute, I recently decided to embark on a project that combines my love for music with a structured exploration of its history. The goal: to shift from news and dive deep into the albums that have defined popular music, starting in 1950 and moving chronologically through the years, one week at a time. This project has transformed my drive into an engaging and enlightening journey through the evolution of music and sound.

The idea is simple yet ambitious. Each week, I select a single year as my focus, starting in 1950. I aim to listen to as many albums as my schedule allows, ranging from 7 to 15 hours of music depending on teaching and work commitments that semester and traffic conditions. This isn’t about casually sampling tracks but rather immersing myself in complete albums to understand their context, artistry, and impact. By the end of the week, I choose four standout albums that resonate with me the most—the ones that capture the essence of that year’s music scene or simply speak to me on a personal level.

Although I started this fun little experiment in January 2024 and posted selections from the start, I didn’t begin this chronological theme until May. And that’s what recorded here…

With the help of online resources, music databases, and recommendations, the previous week I compile a list of about 25 notable albums from that year. I try to include a mix of popular classics, underrated gems, and pioneering works across various genres. My commute—a blend of quiet back roads and bustling highways—provides the perfect backdrop for uninterrupted listening. I also carve out additional time during the week to ensure I’m giving each album its due. Originally, I was going to add some commentary to my curations, but ultimately time didn’t allow for this … With 30 weeks of sharing these choices on social media accounts, I thought I’d share this here.

Starting with the 1950s has been a fascinating dive into the roots of modern music. Albums from this era often reflect the post-war optimism and cultural shifts that shaped the early days of rock ‘n’ roll, jazz, and blues. Listening to entire albums rather than isolated hits reveals a richer tapestry of themes and experimentation that might otherwise go unnoticed. Each week feels like unlocking a new chapter in a never-ending musical story. Of course, there’s another story here. Without text—commentary or even the identification of artists and album titles here—and without any audio files, we are only left with the visuals, the album cover art. Here, my own interests in the history of graphic design and visual arts are piqued. But I’m going to resist any impulse to share reflections or explanations here. This is it … I have to say this a loud to myself. This is it: a record of my selections for each respective week.

It’s impossible to listen to everything, so curating a representative sample becomes crucial. Another challenge is balancing my desire to listen attentively with the demands of a busy work schedule. However, these challenges are outweighed by the immense rewards. This project has deepened my appreciation for the artistry and craftsmanship of album-making. It’s also given me a better understanding of how music reflects and shapes cultural moments and just reminded me how much I love the listening experience (beyond the academic bubbles in which I often trap myself).

I love the music; I love the nostalgia; I love the surprises. (I love the art.) And as my commute continues, so does the adventure—one year, one album, and one unforgettable week at a time.