It is common for collectors to lose focus on the product and obsess over the process. We begin to buy just for the sake of buying, and we don’t often appreciate the music that we own. In a world full of algorithms and curated playlists, we have access to physical media that we love and appreciate, media that we chose and not media that was chosen for us. But it often sits on the shelf like a trophy and never sees a turntable.

Recently, I lost access to an email address. This caused many issues, but the biggest issue was being locked out of my Discogs account. I have been on Discogs for years, and not only do I have my entire collection catalogued, but I have built a strong and well-thought-out want-list.  

This was a nightmare for me. All that work was gone. All the time I spent was wasted. But luckily, I had a three-week vacation and a very supportive partner. I took this opportunity to not only start fresh, but to revisit my collection.

Going through my records ended up being a cathartic experience. I was flooded with memories: where I bought the album, who bought it for me, when I bought it, or most importantly, why I bought it.  I “found” albums that I forgot I owned. I even found a Russian rap album in a Dead Kennedy’s sleeve, and I still can’t figure out how it got there.

This entire experience ended up being a great opportunity to spin some tunes, drink a beer, and actually touch and interact with albums that had been nothing more than decorations for years.

This weekend, put your phone down, close your laptop, and make an excuse to crack a beer, pull out some records, and reconnect with your collection.

By Ren Hillier