A Good Bit of Music
It's important to have at least a little bit of fun. "Do">http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/110205not/">Do doingfully," says JA.
A Good Girl
Associate publisher, Keith Pray leads a parade of Primedia staffers from the office, down the hall, through the revolving doors, onto Madison Avenue, and into Mulligan's Irish Pub. On his way, he sings out:
A Good Turntable
Some people might wonder what it is about me and the">http://www.stereophile.com/turntables/708rega/">the Rega P3. Why would I simply settle on the old Rega when there are so many other similarly priced turntables out there?
A House of Monkeys
The success of any party depends on just a few things: the venue, the guests, the food and drink, and (of course) the music. Evenings at John DeVore's factory at the Brooklyn">http://blog.stereophile.com/stephenmejias/111806wander/">Brooklyn Navy Yard are invariably successful. More than that, they are fun. You love the place. You enjoy the company. The food is delicious and the drinks do the trick. And (of course) the music is intoxicating. You want to be there.
A Large Brass Hookah
"Stevie!"
A Large, Rambling Stack of Vinyl
In Living Stereo's Steve Mishoe keeps a large, rambling stack of vinyl nearby at all times.
A Learning Tool, A Listening Tool, A Protractor
A gift from Uncle JA: The DB Systems DBP-10 protractor. This thing has been around since the dawn of time. When Jesus needed a protractor to properly align the Denon DL-103 moving-coil cartridge on his heavily modified Technics SL-1200 turntable, he called up David Hadaway at DB Systems. “Thou shall never sell this kick-ass protractor for more than $49, David,” said Jesus. David, of course, allowed Jesus to keep his sample on “a long-term loan.”
A Legitimate Stereophile
I'm still surprised whenever approached by some faithless audiophile — hair thinning, ears sagging, belly bulging — and asked (seriously): "Do you think there's any hope for our industry?"
A Letter from Natalie to Members of the Audio Asylum
Throw your hands in the air!
In our July issue, I open “The Entry Level” by discussing some recent nights spent with my dear friends, Natalie and Nicole, dancing and drinking and laughing at our favorite local bar, Lucky 7, in downtown Jersey City. I go on to discuss the loneliness I sometimes feel when the night is over and the time has come to walk back home, beneath the pale yellow light of streetlamps and through the neon-puddled streets.
I know that sounds sad and all, but, come on, I’m writing about music. I’m trying to be evocative, emotional, musical. When I go on to mention that Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back” plays over and over in my mind as I walk past Hollywood Fried Chicken, I’m obviously being silly, right? I’m mixing pathos and absurdity to create a fun and interesting read.
Everything I write is true, to some extent, but everything is not necessarily the stuff that makes up reality. I take scenes from my life and bend them, distort and manipulate them, leaving room for insinuation and ambiguity, in order to create compelling stories. I attempt to relate those stories to music and hi-fi. I do it for my own pleasure, and I hope it brings you pleasure, too.
(Don't worry: The stuff I write about sound, however, is all as accurate and straightforward as I can possibly make it.)
Anyway, I think it was my July issue column that got some people talking over at the Audio Asylum, the popular online forum for hi-fi enthusiasts. Regor Ladan started the tread. He wrote: