The Journal
The Ritual of the Album Side: Why Listening in ...
Why does the album side still matter? Rafi Mercer explores sequencing, patience, and the ritual of flipping records in listening bars and at home.
The Ritual of the Album Side: Why Listening in ...
Why does the album side still matter? Rafi Mercer explores sequencing, patience, and the ritual of flipping records in listening bars and at home.
From Soul to Electronica: Building a Balanced L...
How do you build a balanced listening bar shelf? Rafi Mercer explores the flow between jazz, soul, reggae, electronica, and ambient that keeps a collection alive.
From Soul to Electronica: Building a Balanced L...
How do you build a balanced listening bar shelf? Rafi Mercer explores the flow between jazz, soul, reggae, electronica, and ambient that keeps a collection alive.
Ten Albums That Always Sound Better on Vinyl
Some records only come alive on vinyl. Rafi Mercer selects ten albums — from Kind of Blue to Mezzanine — that always sound better in analogue.
Ten Albums That Always Sound Better on Vinyl
Some records only come alive on vinyl. Rafi Mercer selects ten albums — from Kind of Blue to Mezzanine — that always sound better in analogue.
Vinyl Pressings Explained: Original, Reissue, o...
Original pressing, reissue, or remaster — what’s the difference? Rafi Mercer explains how each shapes the sound of vinyl and what belongs on a listening bar shelf.
Vinyl Pressings Explained: Original, Reissue, o...
Original pressing, reissue, or remaster — what’s the difference? Rafi Mercer explains how each shapes the sound of vinyl and what belongs on a listening bar shelf.
Jazz First: Why Every Home Listening Shelf Shou...
On the timeless gravity of jazz records and why they anchor any collection. By Rafi Mercer Every shelf needs a foundation. Before the eclecticism of genres, before the experiments of...
Jazz First: Why Every Home Listening Shelf Shou...
On the timeless gravity of jazz records and why they anchor any collection. By Rafi Mercer Every shelf needs a foundation. Before the eclecticism of genres, before the experiments of...
What Makes an Album Perfect for a Listening Bar?
What makes an album perfect for a listening bar? Rafi Mercer explores the qualities — detail, dynamics, sequencing, and atmosphere — that let some records transform a room.
What Makes an Album Perfect for a Listening Bar?
What makes an album perfect for a listening bar? Rafi Mercer explores the qualities — detail, dynamics, sequencing, and atmosphere — that let some records transform a room.