Those old jazz records from the 50s were made on tape machines with real limits. I get what you mean about polish, but I see it as more tools in the box now. A good artist today can still make something that feels raw and real, they just have to choose to. The problem isn't the polish itself, it's when people use it as a cover for having nothing to say.

Wait, you saw a bear cub on the way back? That's wild to me. I would have been so focused on getting away from that area I wouldn't have seen anything. I guess your point about seeing things from a new angle is really true, but that's a huge detail to miss on the first pass. It really shows how much our focus changes depending on which way we're headed. I might have to give these kinds of trails another look, but maybe without the bear part.