Why I’m Expanding Beyond the ’70s
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from writing 70s Music Wisdoms, it’s that music fandom isn’t something that freezes at a certain age. We grow, our tastes shift, and every now and then something unexpected sneaks up and knocks us sideways. Even though this blog is rooted in the songs and stories of the ’70s, I’ve never stopped listening to everything else — new artists, new scenes, different genres, and anything that carries honesty or heart. And recently, a new album reminded me that even after decades of listening, discovering great new music can still feel fresh.
How One YouTube Night Changed My Perspective
That’s the backdrop for what happened next — a simple YouTube rabbit hole, a live performance I didn’t expect to hit as hard as it did, and a reminder that great songwriting is still very much alive. And it all started with a night on the couch and a recommendation from my fiancée.
Breaking Out of the ’70s Box and Owning My Real Music Taste
Running a site called 70s Music Wisdoms makes people assume I’m stuck in the past — like I only listen to the Eagles, Fleetwood Mac, Elton John, Billy Joel, and every other giant of that decade. And yes, the ’70s shaped my musical heartbeat. But here’s the truth: my playlists are all over the place.
I’ll go from Rush to Harry Chapin to Billy Joel without thinking twice. I can jump from Jelly Roll to Kenny Chesney in the same drive. And believe it or not, I even like a few Eminem songs.
I’ve never boxed myself in as a listener — I just built a blog around the decade that raised me.
But there’s something about the ’70s that still appeals to me: the storytelling. The singer-songwriter truth-telling. The sense that a song was built by a human being actually feeling something, not by software stitching sounds together. That’s the soul of the decade — and it’s why country music grabs me too.
So lately I’ve been asking myself:
- Why not talk about all the music I love, not just from one decade?
- Why not bring my readers along for the ride?
When Albums Mattered — And Why That Still Resonates
Music listening has changed. We live in a playlist world — skip around, customize everything, pick the hits and move on. Nothing wrong with that, but it comes at a cost: the art of the full album.
There was a time when you dropped the needle and listened front to back. No skipping. No shuffling. No “I’ll just play my favorites.” Albums had arcs, themes, and emotional flow.
These days? That kind of listening is rare.
Alex Warren surprised the hell out of me earlier this year. His album You’ll Be Alright Kid wasn’t just a set of songs — it was a full experience. Emotional. Cohesive. Intentional. One of the only modern albums I’ve listened to without skipping a track. It proved that full-album storytelling isn’t dead after all.
And now, I’ve found another artist who pulls it off.
How Brandi Carlile Finally Grabbed My Attention
This whole journey toward Brandi Carlile started with my fiancée — our household’s official Howard Stern ambassador. She heard Brandi perform on Stern while promoting her new album Returning to Myself, and she was hooked instantly. She played the album around the apartment and kept saying, “I love this album.”
Meanwhile, I heard bits and pieces throughout the week. Nothing drove me away, but nothing reached out and grabbed me either. It was listenable — just not something that forced me to stop what I was doing.
Then came one of our rituals: we sit on the couch at night and watch music videos on YouTube together. Part nostalgia, part relaxation. So I typed “Brandi Carlile” into the search bar.
The First Hook: Hearing “Human”
The first video we pulled up was “Human.”
It was a good song, with a really cool video. There was an honesty in her voice that caught my ear.
I remember thinking, “Okay… I’m starting to feel it.”
The Song That Changed Everything: “Church and State” at Red Rocks
Then YouTube served up the next video — and everything shifted.
“Church and State,” live at Red Rocks.
This wasn’t background noise anymore. This was one of those “Holy F” moments where you realize you’re watching something special.
The energy was incredible — drums pounding, four guitarists ripping, and Brandi’s voice cutting through all of it. Red Rocks added its own electricity, almost like the stage itself was taking part in the performance.
This Song is one of my favorite Protest Songs of this Century
And in that moment, I felt it:
The thrill of discovering a song that hits you right between the eyes.
Why This Matters — And What’s Coming Next
Here’s where I’m landing:
I’ll always be a ’70s guy at heart.
But I’m also someone who loves great songwriting wherever it shows up — whether it’s from 1973 or 2025. And I want to share all of that with my readers.
Good music is good music.
And if something hits me, I’m bringing you along.
Brandi Carlile’s Returning to Myself reminded me that full albums matter. That storytelling matters. That honest songwriting still exists.
And in one of my next posts, I’ll be breaking down the entire album — track by track, theme by theme — because it deserves that kind of attention.
For now, just know this:
Sometimes one performance is all it takes to remind you that discovering new music never stops being one of life’s great little thrills.
