keepin' fresh!

I first started DJing in February of 2008. A year or so later, I realized how hard it is to keep things fresh as a DJ... I think we all, in life, tend to fall into patterns. I started feeling like I was getting in a rut playing the same artists over and over. I couldn't even remember what my favorite albums had been even before I was ever a DJ! Finally, I started to dig deep, back into my musical archives and remember what brought me to love this music in the first place. That, and I have some pretty amazing listeners who had a great time making playlists for me and emailing them to me. I have a few that have become "kindred musical spirits" who know my tastes because they share a love for the same bands and songs I love. (insert "shout out" here! you know who you are! KP, Bertie, Darrel, and Derek, haha) I also went back to listening to the DJs I used to listen to before becoming one myself... which reminded me why I was inspired to DJ in the first place. Shout out here to Lee Michael Dempsey, Chris Jones, Terry Herd, Cindy Baucom, Bill Knowlton, Carol Beaugard, Buddy Merriam, and more! You have inspired me once again! Have I mentioned I love this job?

But now I'm writing music reviews for the Bluegrass Mix, and I'm finding I'm in a rut once again. I am in the middle of writing a review for my new favorite CD, "The Other Side of Towne" by Grasstowne, and I can't help but wonder how many ways can you say, "I love this CD!" "I love the rich tones of that fiddle!" "The harmonies are amazing!" "They are a master of their instruments!" I can't say enough good things about this CD, but can't seem to find new ways to say what I haven't already said a dozen times before. But I already told Steve Gulley I was writing it, so now I'm committed to getting it done! Maybe I should review a few "crappy" CDs too, just so it feels like I don't say the same thing over and over. Maybe I should come up with a new phrase other than "This is my new favorite CD."

Or, maybe I should once again turn to my listeners for suggestions. Is this Grasstowne CD the hottest thing to hit your player since... (insert most recent favorite here!)?? How would YOU describe it? What new and unique phrases or sentences would you use to describe a CD that really moves you?

Your thoughts are always welcome... I read all my emails, because let's face it... I'm not quite ready to be "Broadcaster of the Year" and don't get several hundred emails a day just yet. If you have a good sentence for my latest review, I will happily plagiarize it. I may not give you credit in the review, but I am a big fan of rewarding those who deserve it when I finally figure out how!

OK... I'm obviously procrastinating with this long blog post... now.... back to work!

happy pickin'!