Recently we’ve been looking at greening your music experience here at Tree Hugging Family. If you need to catch up, so far we’ve looked at how digital music is more eco-friendly then non-digital music and how to buy greener music.
Today we’re going to learn about some general ways to green your music.

Buy the smallest music system you need. For example, an iPod, used via cord, in your car, is super small. A record player with smaller speakers is semi-small. A mega stereo system in your living room (I’m talking huge speakers, multi-disc functions, etc) is not so small. Get good, …read more

So, my official Earth Day minded post is now officially behind schedule. It’ll be up shortly though; no worries. While you’re waiting I think it’s a good day to enjoy some music. I’ve got a couple picks for you.
First up, Mr. Havens doing his take on Here Comes the Sun – which is one, my favorite version of this tune, and two, a little ironic for Earth Day, but I’m sure we’ll live… NOTE: This is a live version and a little fuzzy. His audio version of this song is amazing and available on Alarm Clock (usually you have to …read more

Earlier this week we took a look at whether or not iTunes is eco-friendly. iTunes and MP3s are greener than other music gear and tunes because it cuts down on packaging and big equipment. However, some of us, including me still love vinyl and other people still like CDs. So, how can we green our music up somewhat?…

GREEN YOUR VINYL:

Close the loop by buying used records. There is plenty of used vinyl out there in great shape. BONUS, you’ll save scads of cash. Buying used means less packaging and less new PVC vinyl on your personal footprint.
Learn how to …read more

I’ve been thinking about this title question a lot lately. Mainly because since I got iTunes, I rarely listen to my CDs.

Music overall is not that eco-friendly. Sure you’ve got bands like Cake using solar power to create music, which is a step in the right direction, and you’ve got recycling resources for used music. For example, you can recycle old discs or make them into something new, and vinyl records can be made into multiple items like dishes and art. Although, keep in mind that relatively few people recycle their music properly.

That said, vinyls are made of PVC …read more

I’m a big Cake fan; no not the cake you eat, Cake the kooky band. I suppose I won’t turn down ice cream cake if offered; but I digress.
Cake is getting cooler by the minute (literally) with their sixth full length album. The yet, as far as I know, unnamed album, is being recorded with 100% solar energy. Go them.
Cake has a nice little solar installation video up at their site, but we never get to discuss music here, so I’m going to show a different Cake video – my fave Cake tune of all time. I like all their …read more

It’s been a long week. Many distractions. My week actually starts on Friday (weird I know) but that’s how I roll. I work a lot on the weekends so it makes more sense to start each Friday clean, with a new schedule. In any case, long story short I figured I could we could use some peaceful music to kick off the week. This is my favorite Grateful Dead song – it’s from a cassette bootleg that I have. It came from an 82′ show at the Oregon State Prison in Salem. I guess if you’re tree hugging, you may …read more

It’s about two hours until the new year where I am. I’m hanging out with some people but thought I’d take a break and post a little something. Instead of a New Year’s picture I thought a song might be nice. My friend Stacey posted this over at Hippie Sounds, a former blog of mine. I had forgotten that this cover existed but am really glad I found it again. It seems like a good way to kick off the New Year.
Wishing everyone and their families a wonderful, peaceful, and green-filled year.

Some of you may know that I write a music blog here at b5media. If you don’t the 411 is that I’m fairly obsessed with vinyl. Don’t like CDs as much. Not nearly. That said I get emails from cool people who have cool vinyl stuff themselves. Which I love hearing about.
Recently I got an email about some very nice vinyl art that I’ll be talking about at the music blog but I also thought would be very cool to show here.
Daniel Edlen is the artist behind Vinyl Art, a really neat site that showcases Daniel’s portraits of musicians. The …read more