reviews

I’ve been 37 for all of one month, though this month alone has aged me a decade. A cluster of recurrent issues at work—ghosts of bad decisions past—have returned to haunt the codebase, and since I’m the last soul standing from that era, the blame has naturally settled on my shoulders like a heavy, unfair shroud. Even the promotion I finally secured felt less like a triumph and more like a long-overdue debt settled with interest. But, enough about the corporate grind. To keep from spiraling, I’ve been retreating into a media diet focused on permanence: building a physical library that doesn’t vanish when a subscription lapses or a server goes down.

Still subscribed to too many things, but hopefully, over time that will be less of a factor when I can just grab a movie, series, book, or album I love off the shelf. I’m enjoying the ritual of listening to vinyl as well, though, I’ll admit I’m less likely to give up my Apple Music subscription for discovery and listening on the go. Gaming is a bit of a sore subject, though.

Joining the Vinyl Club

The new record player has been a total joy to use, offering a warm and unique sound that digital formats just can’t replicate. I chose Sufjan Stevens’ “Illinois” and of Montreal’s “Skeletal Lamping” as my first acquisitions because they are both complex, layered albums that really benefit from the tactile listening experience and rich acoustics of vinyl.

Sufjan Stevens,
Illinois (2005)
★★★★☆

This album makes my cry like a little baby while questioning what we might all have in common with a killer clown.

of Montreal,
Skeletal Lamping (2008)
★★★★☆

Mr. Barnes is always a delight, and two albums deep into his deep lean into experimental funk he may be at his peak for me.

Blu-ray Buys

There is a deep sense of satisfaction in building a physical movie library. Selecting “Rope” for its masterful suspense and “Speed Racer” for its vibrant, overwhelming visuals felt like the perfect way to start this collection. Beyond the aesthetic, it’s increasingly important to me to have high-quality media available that doesn’t rely on the whims of internet connectivity or streaming licensing deals.

Rope (1948)
★★★★★

The way this film gets suspense to build to the point that you’re staring at a door in the background in fearful anticipation is magical.

Speed Racer (2008)
★★★☆☆

Worth owning for the visuals alone. Felt a bit like Austin Powers and/or Spice World meets Spy Kids. John Goodman and Susan Sarandon are, of course, great.

Previously, I had invested in a digital library of movies that I’d add to whenever a sale was on, but some de-listing issues around some recently-dead stores have scared me away from leaning too far in on that—besides, most UHD releases include a digital copy anyway, so you get the best of both worlds.

Next, I’m wanting to grab some series on blu-ray. Starting with some of my comfort shows if I can find them.

Game Time?

I really would prefer the ability to pop a disc into my Xbox or cartridge in my Switch 2 and just play, but modern games tend to treat physical media as more of a license tracker than anything else. This is why the game key cards don’t upset me, because of drive speeds almost all physical blu-ray games have to be installed and updated when you pop them in.

So, for that I’m stuck building libraries across the walled gardens of Xbox, Nintendo, and Steam.

What About Books?

Books, on the other hand… I do want to start buying more physical copies. Frankly, my Kindle is nice, but a physical reminder helps me remember to finish a book and not just leave it on 45% complete sitting on an e-reader.

Plus, I really want to pick up some of my favorite comic arcs in trade paperbacks so I can enjoy them whenever I want.

Are you turning to a move physical media collection? Why or why not? And, if so, any advice on the video games of it all?