By Stefan Petrovic

Today, we prefer everything in our lives to be perfect. With the evolution of technology this standard of perfection has been elevated. For example, the clarity of music on our phones and speakers is so clear that you could possibly hear the breathing into the microphone. I, on the other hand, enjoy listening to records, not because I can’t afford good technology, but because I adore the imperfections that are emitted through the speakers.

The warm full tone of a record is not what I, compared to other people enjoy most about listening to records. I instead feel a sense of nostalgia and can relate more to the music when I hear the tiny needle scratching against the record. Ever since I have been little, the record player has always fascinated me along with its generation of music. The songs and albums that were created were in a way designed to be played on these specific plates.

When I listen to the blues harp album by Sonny Boy Williamson, I don’t just listen to the music, lyrics, or the incredible talent emitted by Sonny, but instead I also listen to the perfectly timed scratches on the old record that can only be played on a record player. When I hear this sound, I imagine the world of blues in the 30’s and 40’s and how old fashioned and beautiful the music really is. I find that listening to the music on a record player creates an appreciation for the music and the artist.

The collection of records that my father and I own is widespread covering an entire shelf, when all this music could easily be placed onto a computer or phone. I don’t mind the space that these heavy records take up. I enjoy them because they allow me to travel back in time and relive the music as it was originally lived.

If you’ve not listened to Sonny Boy Williams before, I recommend my favourite, “Help Me.”