How does everyone consume all this music?

[Phil507]

So, here's my attempt at a serious thread (though, given the audience of this site, it's soon to turn into a shit-fest with the word "LULZ" popping up every 5 comments).

As we've forged further and further into the post-Napster, downloading world, amidst all the legal troubles and new trends in music, one interesting fact has presented itself: we all have a lot more options at our fingers. As such, we get exposed to new acts and we follow more and more acts. (AUTHOR'S NOTE: For the purpose of my post, act refers to solo artist and/or band). I've found that I like to digest albums as a whole, meaning I like to be able to give them plenty of listening time to fully digest all the material, be able to recall each song when I see them live, and speak intelligently about it. Problem is, I find it can be a bit exhausting to follow EVERY band and be an expert on EVERY band's back catalog. Another problem is that the new release schedule has just gotten ridiculous. Every week I'm presented with 3-4 new albums from acts I follow as well as new acts I'm getting into. On top of that, living in New York City, I maintain a ridiculous concert schedule (about 80-100 shows a year). Now, I don't know about you, but when I go to shows, I try to make sure I'm as familiar as possible with the new material in order to fully enjoy the show. Or, on the flipside, maybe I just got into a band and I want to be familiar with their OLD material, so I have to go backwards and do my homework.

My question to you, loyal AP readers, how do you consume all your music? Each year finds us listening to more and more albums and spending less and less time with each of them. I used to be able to memorize track listings, but that's a thing of the past. Hell, I can't even tell you song titles half the time anymore (though that's probably more of a product of the ipod). I feel like I don't spend enough time with my favorite band's new material because ANOTHER favorite band is releasing a new album while there's ANOTHER new band who releases their debut that I want to spend time with. I have a 160 GB ipod which, sounds cool in theory, but it can make it quite intimidating deciding what to listen to.

All thoughts, opinions and insults are appreciated...

[ZzyzxScarecrow]

i dunno. i tend to digest music pretty quickly, regardless of how accesible it is. that, and i have stuff playing almost all day.

[Phil507]

i dunno. i tend to digest music pretty quickly, regardless of how accesible it is. that, and i have stuff playing almost all day.

Yeah but don't you feel that you don't really spend enough time with most new tunes?

[ZzyzxScarecrow]

Yeah but don't you feel that you don't really spend enough time with most new tunes?

admittedly i'll occasionally buy something and forget about it for awhile, but for the most part if i like something, it's in constant rotation.

how much time would you say is "enough?"

[Phil507]

admittedly i'll occasionally buy something and forget about it for awhile, but for the most part if i like something, it's in constant rotation.

how much time would you say is "enough?"

I don't know, I feel like I don't spend enough time with albums anymore because I'm always consuming the next one. When I was younger, I'd really let stuff sink in, be able to sing back every line, know every bar of music. Now it's impossible to do that because there's so much demanding my attention.

[ZzyzxScarecrow]

I don't know, I feel like I don't spend enough time with albums anymore because I'm always consuming the next one. When I was younger, I'd really let stuff sink in, be able to sing back every line, know every bar of music. Now it's impossible to do that because there's so much demanding my attention.

hmmm. i guess i don't know my library to the extent that i'd be able to do that with every single song, but i think i have a good feel for everything.

[Gaugzilla]

I consume music with my nose.

[SSLYBY]

It is extremely hard to keep up with all the music I get. But when I get bored I just scroll through my itunes and listen to something I haven't gave much time too. Some CDs on my Ipod I've never listened too.

[ThisIsNotDan]

i dunno. i tend to digest music pretty quickly, regardless of how accesible it is. that, and i have stuff playing almost all day.

this

[Troggy]

Blows my mind TBH. I can barely handle the 3 or 4 thousand songs I have. I do not have music playing all the time though, I like to be paying attention when I listen to it.

[romantic rights]

I can usually keep track of the majority of the artists that I have (1,159) but there is always moments when I forget about a band only to 'rediscover' them later. There are certian artists (and I think this can apply to everyone) who I listen to more often and still know their song titles etc...

I also have a policy not to load anything I download onto my itunes unless I'm going to listen to it right then.

[micahistheballs]

By staying up til whatever am and listening to music and reading.

[Five-Star]

Yea I'm always up late listining to music. Never want to turn my ipod off.

[matchbox202006]

you don't have to always stick with an album you've started.Once you finish it, if you want to keep with it for a while, do so. If not,you check a whole other record out and digest that one. I go through phases where i'm totally into a CD, but feel like it's time to go back to another one. If a new one comes out that i really want, I get it and digest it whole. Then, when the time comes, i pick up and "oldie", and review.

[c_rob2700]

I digest slower than a lot of people because I actually take the time to listen to every single album that I get/download and I also delete things that I don't listen to. My mentality has always been that if I don't have the time to listen to the album, I'm not going to download it just to boost my song count and it's something that hasn't changed.

That being said, I still import a lot of albums but I'd say that the only time music is not playing during my day is when I sleep and I also take an hour or two to actually sit down , with no distractions, to listen to every album I get. I may not get as much music as everyone else but that's fine with me so long as I can give everything a fair and concentrated listen

[IWasaCamera]

I''ve got tunes on all day whether it be on the way to work, at work, during the commute home, or as I'm preparing to sleep. A typical day will amount to maybe 12-15 records played. As a result, I can usually stay afloat with new releases while savoring favorites as well.

[MattDennis]

I struggle with the same thing.
I was a pretty big music pirate for a while, so a lot of albums I really love I don't even own. I'm trying to reverse the trend by buying albums that come out and I'm interested in...but it sucks spending the money when on the other hand I could use it on the albums I really love but never bought.
My advice would be to buy an external hard drive...it really helps if you tend to accumulate a lot of music and use an iPod.

[oddwithoutend]

I do my best not to have the "staying caught up" philosophy that seems to be growing in popularity. For example, if there are 3 releases I want to check out this week, and 3 more next week, I do not set a goal to give the first 3 proper listens before next week. Instead, I look at it as 6 releases that I will eventually listen to. This way, I never feel rushed and believe that I can enjoy music more than if I was trying to "keep up".

[iam_theculprit]

I love this thread so much. I've been thinking about this a lot lately, actually. I've just been discovering so much awesome music recently and getting more and more and finding myself overwhelmed with things to listen to. What I've decided to do now is listen to and focus on the music for the next concert I'm going to. When I finish that, then the next concert I plan on going to. So that's just been a good place to start for me.

[matchbox202006]

I do my best not to have the "staying caught up" philosophy that seems to be growing in popularity. For example, if there are 3 releases I want to check out this week, and 3 more next week, I do not set a goal to give the first 3 proper listens before next week. Instead, I look at it as 6 releases that I will eventually listen to. This way, I never feel rushed and believe that I can enjoy music more than if I was trying to "keep up".
amen

[Genuma]

I solve this problem by listening only to very select music and not taking any reccomendations. :nod:

[matchbox202006]

I solve this problem by listening only to very select music and not taking any reccomendations. :nod:

Doesn't that deprive you of an artists whole institution? wouldn't want a more open selection?

I reccomend a more open selection.

[thespearkid]

Mostly, I only listen to what I'm interested in. For instance, I've only got three Radiohead albums. I like each of them well enough and I don't feel any particular pressure to get the other albums. Plus, I typically explore genres rather than individual bands and if a band strikes me, I'll download more of them.

[Indoor Living]

I listen to music 24/7, and I'm always finding new bands/songs, but I have a specific group of bands that are my favorites, and it takes a lot of good releases for a band to get into my group of favorites.

[iam_theculprit]

Mostly, I only listen to what I'm interested in. For instance, I've only got three Radiohead albums. I like each of them well enough and I don't feel any particular pressure to get the other albums. Plus, I typically explore genres rather than individual bands and if a band strikes me, I'll download more of them.

Haha, well, with Radiohead you have to be careful. Depending on which three albums you have the ones that you don't own can be COMPLETELY different. They are one of the bands that made a big change but it was actually a good transition.

[thespearkid]

Haha, well, with Radiohead you have to be careful. Depending on which three albums you have the ones that you don't own can be COMPLETELY different. They are one of the bands that made a big change but it was actually a good transition.
I've got OK Computer, Kid A, and In Rainbows.

[Genuma]

Doesn't that deprive you of an artists whole institution? wouldn't want a more open selection?

I reccomend a more open selection.
I only download things that I think I'll like. I am the best judge of myself, after all. I don't really need to look for new albums either. I usually get older stuff I missed out on. Plus two of my favorite artists, Elvis Costello and Springsteen put out two of my favorite albums of the year. So I don't really need to do much work to "discover" those albums, since I was already a fan.

[matchbox202006]

I only download things that I think I'll like. I am the best judge of myself, after all. I don't really need to look for new albums either. I usually get older stuff I missed out on. Plus two of my favorite artists, Elvis Costello and Springsteen put out two of my favorite albums of the year. So I don't really need to do much work to "discover" those albums, since I was already a fan.

i respect that

[micahistheballs]

I have only been listening to older records though lately. I think I've heard 5-6 new releases this year and they were all by bands I already liked.

[Robototron]

I have a 160 GB ipod which, sounds cool in theory, but it can make it quite intimidating deciding what to listen to.

I used to have a 30GB iPod until it broke, and now I'm quite glad it did. My iPhone is 8 gigs total and it's basically the perfect size to allow me to keep a few gigs of my favorites on there, while keeping enough space to put on whatever new albums & singles I've been enjoying lately. It forces me to listen to a lot of stuff that I probably would've simply forgotten about if I had several thousand songs instead of several hundred.

That, and I keep a lot of playlists on my Foobar that split up all of my new music into easily manageable smaller pieces, although my system isn't totally perfect.

I wish I could say I listen to everything I download, but with all the music I'm constantly finding (new and old) it's almost impossible. Every few weeks I'll delete stuff that I never listen to or listened to once or twice and didn't like, but I still have several hundred gigs of music on my computer.

[Phil507]

I struggle with the same thing.
I was a pretty big music pirate for a while, so a lot of albums I really love I don't even own. I'm trying to reverse the trend by buying albums that come out and I'm interested in...but it sucks spending the money when on the other hand I could use it on the albums I really love but never bought.
My advice would be to buy an external hard drive...it really helps if you tend to accumulate a lot of music and use an iPod.

Oh yeah, I'm totally rocking the external hard drive. Currently up to 110+ gigs.

What's even more exhausting is that, not only am I trying to keep up with today's bands, but I'm trying to go back and do all the homework I never did when I was younger (i.e. checking out bands of the past). You'd be amazed how much Led Zeppelin stuff there is to go through.

One thing I usually do is keep a "New Music" playlist which contains albums of the last 4 months and I just put it on shuffle. That way, I get to hear bits and pieces of everything recent that I've gotten.

[Phil507]

I've got OK Computer, Kid A, and In Rainbows.

That should give you a general idea of all their elements. I think those are the best 3 actually.

[drewk16]

So, here's my attempt at a serious thread (though, given the audience of this site, it's soon to turn into a shit-fest with the word "LULZ" popping up every 5 comments).

As we've forged further and further into the post-Napster, downloading world, amidst all the legal troubles and new trends in music, one interesting fact has presented itself: we all have a lot more options at our fingers. As such, we get exposed to new acts and we follow more and more acts. (AUTHOR'S NOTE: For the purpose of my post, act refers to solo artist and/or band). I've found that I like to digest albums as a whole, meaning I like to be able to give them plenty of listening time to fully digest all the material, be able to recall each song when I see them live, and speak intelligently about it. Problem is, I find it can be a bit exhausting to follow EVERY band and be an expert on EVERY band's back catalog. Another problem is that the new release schedule has just gotten ridiculous. Every week I'm presented with 3-4 new albums from acts I follow as well as new acts I'm getting into. On top of that, living in New York City, I maintain a ridiculous concert schedule (about 80-100 shows a year). Now, I don't know about you, but when I go to shows, I try to make sure I'm as familiar as possible with the new material in order to fully enjoy the show. Or, on the flipside, maybe I just got into a band and I want to be familiar with their OLD material, so I have to go backwards and do my homework.

My question to you, loyal AP readers, how do you consume all your music? Each year finds us listening to more and more albums and spending less and less time with each of them. I used to be able to memorize track listings, but that's a thing of the past. Hell, I can't even tell you song titles half the time anymore (though that's probably more of a product of the ipod). I feel like I don't spend enough time with my favorite band's new material because ANOTHER favorite band is releasing a new album while there's ANOTHER new band who releases their debut that I want to spend time with. I have a 160 GB ipod which, sounds cool in theory, but it can make it quite intimidating deciding what to listen to.

All thoughts, opinions and insults are appreciated...

i can really identify with everything you said here. you and i are almost the same age. i feel like when we were in middle and high school and really getting into music seriously there was no ipods and the internet wasnt nearly as accessible as it is now. we had more time to digest an album before coming across a new band. with so much new music at our fingertips i think the key is just to slow down and take our time when we come across a new band or new album. as a product of the mtv generation our attention spans have shortened tremendously and i think we are starting to overlook a lot of great songs and the end of albums or b-sides we havent taken the time to seek out.
idk if theres a right answer or solution to the problem but i think ive just found myself slowing down and have stopped trying to consume so much new stuff at one time.

sorry to ramble but your post struck a nerve. i def know where your coming from

[iam_theculprit]

I've got OK Computer, Kid A, and In Rainbows.

Yeah, those three are a lot different from their earlier stuff. Personally I like those three albums the best, but the old stuff is also pretty awesome.

[Phil507]

i can really identify with everything you said here. you and i are almost the same age. i feel like when we were in middle and high school and really getting into music seriously there was no ipods and the internet wasnt nearly as accessible as it is now. we had more time to digest an album before coming across a new band. with so much new music at our fingertips i think the key is just to slow down and take our time when we come across a new band or new album. as a product of the mtv generation our attention spans have shortened tremendously and i think we are starting to overlook a lot of great songs and the end of albums or b-sides we havent taken the time to seek out.
idk if theres a right answer or solution to the problem but i think ive just found myself slowing down and have stopped trying to consume so much new stuff at one time.

sorry to ramble but your post struck a nerve. i def know where your coming from

Fully agree. I mean, I like being able to go through so many albums, I just feel like I don't give anything enough time anymore.

However, as much as some bands say "we made a full, complete album" most albums aren't like that. They're a collection of songs that you can feel free to play in whatever order, most of the time.

[MattDennis]

Oh yeah, I'm totally rocking the external hard drive. Currently up to 110+ gigs.

What's even more exhausting is that, not only am I trying to keep up with today's bands, but I'm trying to go back and do all the homework I never did when I was younger (i.e. checking out bands of the past). You'd be amazed how much Led Zeppelin stuff there is to go through.

One thing I usually do is keep a "New Music" playlist which contains albums of the last 4 months and I just put it on shuffle. That way, I get to hear bits and pieces of everything recent that I've gotten.

Nice dude, what brand do you use? I had an external that was 250+ but the thing shit out on me after like a year (damn you to hell SimpleTech!)

And I absolutely know and can identify with the amazement involved in going through Led Zep's discography...I'm a huge fan, I have "I" all the way through "Physical Graffiti" on my iPod. What's even more daunting than that though is The Beatles back catalogue.

I think I'm going to have to use that "New Music" playlist idea...only thing is for some reason my itunes won't show me my "recently added" or "top 25 most played" anymore. AH well.

[BrennanHickson]

I typically consume all this music by adding a pinch of salt and a bit of ketchup.

It's just personal preference, though. You have to experiment until you find the right ingredients.

[ignition]

i can really identify with everything you said here. you and i are almost the same age. i feel like when we were in middle and high school and really getting into music seriously there was no ipods and the internet wasnt nearly as accessible as it is now. we had more time to digest an album before coming across a new band.

I totally agree. I noticed awhile ago that most of my absolute favorite albums were things that I listened to before the whole "music on the internet" thing started, and I think a big reason why is because I would buy 1 or 2 albums a month and listen to them nonstop. I recently stopped buying albums from emusic/amazon/itunes because it was so cheap and easy that I ended up with a ton of albums that I hadn't even listened to yet. I'm trying to go back to just buying 1 album at a time now, and taking the time to fully digest it.

I also kind of miss buying an album based on reviews/recommendations/liking the coverart/whatever random reason, without "previewing" the whole thing on the internet first. You end up with some clunkers, but I discovered a lot of my favorite albums that way when I was younger. Sometimes it takes me quite a few listens to get into something, and I guess I put more effort into giving something a good listen if I own it, rather than flipping through Myspace pages or random downloads.

[fran.182]

This is also a big problem for me. There's so much new music to check out... I end up downloading a lot and many times I will listen an album for the first time like 4 or 5 months later.

Also, checking all back catalogue from bands like The Beatles, Pink Floyd or Bad Religion is fucking hard indeed.

The good thing for me is that I don't have any difficulty in digesting my core artists new music. That list isn't that extensive though. It's probably around 30 artists. If I really get into a band, I'll only need 2/3 full listens to memorize the whole album.

Maybe I just spend too much time listening to the same stuff... Even if I try to avoid that.

[iam_theculprit]

Although I love my iPod it also is responsible for my not focusing on new albums I get. My iPod just fuels my music ADD. I'll sit down and tell myself I'm going to listen to a new album and then a few songs in I'm like, "Man, I'd really like to listen to this song..." and off I go. So I wind up listening to the first few songs from the album a lot but never the whole thing. With CD's and CD players you put one in (before 5 disc stereos, etc.) and you listen to it and you find out which songs you really don't like and you skip them.

[ReignofFiction]

When I first get an album I listen to it the whole way through, then I'll go back to it and re listen to ones that stand out and that usually leads to me listening to the rest of the album searching for more. I listen to the majority of my music on my computer or at work on my zune, I basically have music going on all the time. Don't try to stay up with every new band that comes out or new album just go at your own pace, as sad as it is to say you'll never get to listen to everything you'd enjoy before you die anyway.

[Miss Heartcore]

I solve this problem by listening only to very select music and not taking any reccomendations. :nod:
This pretty much sums up how I am. I mean, I can keep a bigger selection on my itunes but at least for my itouch, it's only music that I listen to frequently. I'm also really picky about music recs. Only a select few people that I know, have a good idea of what my taste is and can rec me the best music for my liking.

I agree about the titles of songs too. I used to know them so well and now I just know songs by track numbers. meh.

[tipoftheiceberg]

I don't know, I feel like I don't spend enough time with albums anymore because I'm always consuming the next one. When I was younger, I'd really let stuff sink in, be able to sing back every line, know every bar of music. Now it's impossible to do that because there's so much demanding my attention.

its sad but the first CD my parents bought me was nsync's first album and that was all i had.
so i can still listen to it and know every bar of music and all the lyrics like you said.

the first CD i bought myself was "Take Off Your Pants and Jacket" and i have similar memories about it.

now, there's just too much
that's why itunes is so popular
bands have the spotlight for 10 minutes and get one hit song and they have to make it count

its one of the reasons the industry is reverting back to a "singles" mentality

[theguy77]

Blows my mind TBH. I can barely handle the 3 or 4 thousand songs I have. I do not have music playing all the time though, I like to be paying attention when I listen to it.

this is exactly my response to this. the way i deal with it all is to really compartmentalize my music; i tend to give one band a specific niche and any other lesser band that seems to fit the same niche, i disregard. things were a lot easier when i only really liked pop-punk/other "scene" music styles because i just listened to the best bands a lot and the lesser bands only occassionally, but now i really only have the time of day for like three of the best bands in that style. thats partially a good thing becuase it means im learning to diversify and only absorb the best acts in a certain trend. but at the same time i feel like its hard to give all the music styles i listen to complete justice, since its hard to establish a niche with acts that all sound so different. therefore, like the OP, i have a hard time deciding which unique act i want to return to at any given time, especially when my established favorites are right in front of my face. its so easy to just go listen to radiohead or broken social scene again, instead of becoming familiar with caribou.

not to mention how tedious it is to listen to classics like bruce springsteen and bob dylan, even when you enjoy their music immensely, when they have SO MANY albums to get through and become familiar with before you can consider yourself well versed in their material, and list them under your favorite artists. music is hard to keep up with these days especailly since my taste has expanded. and i, like troggy, dont do the whole "listening casually on an ipod while focused on doing something else" thing; i dont even own an ipod. i really only listen to music when i have the time to really analyze and objectify it, and let it sink in, when im either at my computer or in the car. its that important to me to really get the full experience of whatever im listening to. otherwise i feel like im cheapening the value of that band's artistic energy by only paying attention to the song's shallow components and that bothers me; they didnt spend tens (or even hundreds) of thousands developing an album just for me to let the beat and melody go in one ear and out the other, and thats the artist in me speaking. i really have to percieve everything.

[chipdip18]

It just takes time. Things like Ipods do make it easier. I digest more music by having music around me more often. In the car in the CD player, on a bike ride in my Ipod, through the computer, i mean you simply have to try to keep up with it. I sacrifice money toward shows to money toward albums. Doesn't help out the artists like i'd like to, but let's face it, going to a concert takes more energy than just listening to their music.

I also have kept the shuffle button an option. I have lots of music on my computer, and shuffling through songs diversifies my listen for the day.

And like Ryan's getting at; If they've got a big discography, i only have the best albums of their discography in my library.

[Chromefox]

Every time I grab a new album online, I halve it, then dump it into a folder of songs sitting in limbo. Once this folder reaches 700-1000 songs, I dump no more music into it until I have listened to every single song and dumped it into my playlist. From there, some artists stick out more than others, and I continue to revisit their songs until I buy their full album, which I then try to give several listens. As for the remaining artists, they stay in my playlist for when I feel like shuffing, or when I have a reason to bring them back up.

In two months I bought 30 CDs, and I still have four to go before I can reasonably buy more. It's a slow process, and I'm not intimately familiar with probably 95% of the music I have at my fingertips, but I would prefer to be overwhelmed than underwhelmed by music.

I wrestle with the decision to download albums and listen to them in-full illegally, especially when it comes down to realizing that in doing so, I could form solid opinions on so much more music than I am able to now, however, I really like to collect my albums.

[theguy77]

Every time I grab a new album online, I halve it, then dump it into a folder of songs sitting in limbo. Once this folder reaches 700-1000 songs, I dump no more music into it until I have listened to every single song and dumped it into my playlist. From there, some artists stick out more than others, and I continue to revisit their songs until I buy their full album, which I then try to give several listens. As for the remaining artists, they stay in my playlist for when I feel like shuffing, or when I have a reason to bring them back up.

In two months I bought 30 CDs, and I still have four to go before I can reasonably buy more. It's a slow process, and I'm not intimately familiar with probably 95% of the music I have at my fingertips, but I would prefer to be overwhelmed than underwhelmed by music.

I wrestle with the decision to download albums and listen to them in-full illegally, especially when it comes down to realizing that in doing so, I could form solid opinions on so much more music than I am able to now, however, I really like to collect my albums.

this is the damn truth.

also i am the bad influence on the morality in question in the last paragraph hahaha.

[Chromefox]

this is the damn truth.

also i am the bad influence on the morality in question in the last paragraph hahaha. I still feel really horrible about not owning Pollyanna or Is a Real Boy, and not even because I enjoyed them thaaaaaat much.

I do feel though, that some kind of compromise could be made in purchasing the albums I love, and then buying secondhand the albums I like, however, fucked if I can find a place to do that anywhere nearby that sells more than old Backsteet Boys CDs that nobody wants.

[El_Jeffe]

i never have this feeling of being out of my depth with music. i just listen to what i listen to when i'm in the mood for it. it's really that simple for me. i don't listen to music or attempt to "keep up" with it because i feel like i should or have to, it's purely a passion for me, one of great enjoyment. i'm always listening to a mix of something new & a much loved personal classic on any given week. there's no regulated cycle of album turn over for me

i also think people shouldn't be put off searching through an established artists back catalogue just because it's rather extensive. best of's serve no real purpose. the journey through an artists back catalogue can be of great joy to the listener if you're a fan of their music. you're just cutting yourself so short & in a way cheating yourself out of some potentially great tunes. i wouldn't even like to imagine what i now know i'd be missing out on if i'd only stuck with compilations of many of my favourites like bob marley, van morrison, curtis mayfield, james brown, toots & the maytals, marvin gaye, & countless others. for me, it's not a chore to search through discographies, it's an exciting adventure. you're missing great portions of the story with compilations. it's like taking the seven harry potter books, compiling the best 16 chapters from all of the books & binding those 16 chapters together & calling it one complete story... it just doesn't work like that at all. that's how i see it anyway

[MattDennis]

i never have this feeling of being out of my depth with music. i just listen to what i listen to when i'm in the mood for it. it's really that simple for me. i don't listen to music or attempt to "keep up" with it because i feel like i should or have to, it's purely a passion for me, one of great enjoyment. i'm always listening to a mix of something new & a much loved personal classic on any given week. there's no regulated cycle of album turn over for me

i also think people shouldn't be put off searching through an established artists back catalogue just because it's rather extensive. best of's serve no real purpose. the journey through an artists back catalogue can be of great joy to the listener if you're a fan of their music. you're just cutting yourself so short & in a way cheating yourself out of some potentially great tunes. i wouldn't even like to imagine what i now know i'd be missing out on if i'd only stuck with compilations of many of my favourites like bob marley, van morrison, curtis mayfield, james brown, toots & the maytals, marvin gaye, & countless others. for me, it's not a chore to search through discographies, it's an exciting adventure. you're missing great portions of the story with compilations. it's like taking the seven harry potter books, compiling the best 16 chapters from all of the books & binding those 16 chapters together & calling it one complete story... it just doesn't work like that at all. that's how i see it anyway

Searching through a discography isn't taxing in the sense of the time you spend listening, more so in eaten up memory on your computer...if downloading is the means by which you acqure music that is...which is the sad reality of the times.

and i couldnt agree more with you on "best of" albums.

[IWasaCamera]

i never have this feeling of being out of my depth with music. i just listen to what i listen to when i'm in the mood for it. it's really that simple for me. i don't listen to music or attempt to "keep up" with it because i feel like i should or have to, it's purely a passion for me, one of great enjoyment. i'm always listening to a mix of something new & a much loved personal classic on any given week. there's no regulated cycle of album turn over for me.
Same deal here. It isn't some incredibly arduous task to spin new albums every week. On the contrary, it's an activity of great enjoyment and appreciation for the medium. As stated above, I always balance out my listening with older favorites as well.
i also think people shouldn't be put off searching through an established artists back catalogue just because it's rather extensive. best of's serve no real purpose. the journey through an artists back catalogue can be of great joy to the listener if you're a fan of their music. you're just cutting yourself so short & in a way cheating yourself out of some potentially great tunes. i wouldn't even like to imagine what i now know i'd be missing out on if i'd only stuck with compilations of many of my favourites like bob marley, van morrison, curtis mayfield, james brown, toots & the maytals, marvin gaye, & countless others. for me, it's not a chore to search through discographies, it's an exciting adventure. you're missing great portions of the story with compilations. it's like taking the seven harry potter books, compiling the best 16 chapters from all of the books & binding those 16 chapters together & calling it one complete story... it just doesn't work like that at all. that's how i see it anyway
Agreed wholeheartedly.

[micahistheballs]

i never have this feeling of being out of my depth with music. i just listen to what i listen to when i'm in the mood for it. it's really that simple for me. i don't listen to music or attempt to "keep up" with it because i feel like i should or have to, it's purely a passion for me, one of great enjoyment. i'm always listening to a mix of something new & a much loved personal classic on any given week. there's no regulated cycle of album turn over for me

I always have that feeling of not being in touch. I'd also consider it a passion of great enjoyment, but there's just so much out there and as this board shows, many people who know much more about music than I do. What I'm doing right now is going through classic albums lists from rateyourmusic.com/Rolling Stone/Pitchfork and just trying to listen to every acclaimed album I possibly can and that can be slightly discouraging and overbearing at times no matter how much I'm enjoying Curtis Mayfield.

i also think people shouldn't be put off searching through an established artists back catalogue just because it's rather extensive. best of's serve no real purpose. the journey through an artists back catalogue can be of great joy to the listener if you're a fan of their music. you're just cutting yourself so short & in a way cheating yourself out of some potentially great tunes. i wouldn't even like to imagine what i now know i'd be missing out on if i'd only stuck with compilations of many of my favourites like bob marley, van morrison, curtis mayfield, james brown, toots & the maytals, marvin gaye, & countless others. for me, it's not a chore to search through discographies, it's an exciting adventure. you're missing great portions of the story with compilations. it's like taking the seven harry potter books, compiling the best 16 chapters from all of the books & binding those 16 chapters together & calling it one complete story... it just doesn't work like that at all. that's how i see it anyway

I agree wholeheartedly. As a Bob Dylan fan, it's ridiculous how much great music you'd pass over if you only listened to the 'hits.' You'd be missing albums and albums worth of material as good as you'll find anywhere else.

[El_Jeffe]

I always have that feeling of not being in touch. I'd also consider it a passion of great enjoyment, but there's just so much out there and as this board shows, many people who know much more about music than I do. What I'm doing right now is going through classic albums lists from rateyourmusic.com/Rolling Stone/Pitchfork and just trying to listen to every acclaimed album I possibly can and that can be slightly discouraging and overbearing at times no matter how much I'm enjoying Curtis Mayfield.

i've heard a lot of people here going through those sorts of publication lists searching each & every albums. i never did that & could imagine those who do finding it a bit of a chore. sure you might just find some material you enjoy on those, but there's so much great music out there that will never make those shoddy lists, i could see how that would tire someone out. they may be a good starter point, but for me, i've always delved down all paths of music that present themselves to me, it's never seemed bothersome as i've always greatly enjoyed it & done it out of my own desire rather than wanting to keep up with others

although awesome to hear you're getting into curtis mayfield! perhaps the most important american artist of all-time. you're going to hate hearing this, but he's one of those artists where pretty much every album (either solo or with the impressions) has something incredible to offer

I agree wholeheartedly. As a Bob Dylan fan, it's ridiculous how much great music you'd pass over if you only listened to the 'hits.' You'd be missing albums and albums worth of material as good as you'll find anywhere else.

exactly, it's not about anything competitive when it comes to searching through discographies, it's about finding music that satisfies your own soul. i always take the opportunity to feed the soul... why starve it? it just comes down to a personal choice. if you dig into the back catalogue of an artist that you truly enjoy, it's a personal experience, so again, it's never worn me out

[Deezlink]

I find it daunting whenever I get into a band and their old material is not even listed somewhere on their myspace or I want to know their history and they have nothing up, and then the 3-4 people that have been with the band since the start don't mention anything when you ask. :P

[theguy77]

regarding this current debate about sifting through the catalogue of classic artists, i agree with what everyone is saying that it's not doing proper justice just to listen to the hits. they're arbitrarily determined by a mainstream of people who dont generally understand media so much as they understand groupthink, and laud the same songs as everyone else. you should make your own decisions about which albums you find most appealing and which sides of each artist speak to you the most. however, the issue i come across is not LISTENING to all their material, but becoming familiar with it. such "classics" as bob dylan tend to have dozens of albums, of which likely around 10 are worth revisiting consistently. i dont know about anyone else but i personally find it difficult to keep up with 10 albums of the same artist, i feel that you really have to listen to them pretty exclusively compared to the rest of your library if you want to digest it to the point of retention and familiarity in a time period less than like 2 years. i really enjoy dylan and springsteen and find myself pretty intrigued by david bowie and neil young but im not passionate enough about any of them to listen to them more than 30 of my other favorite artists in my library that frequently. at the same time, its almost like you have an obligation to really indulge into the extensive discographies of these classic artists, because they're the ones who were innovative, and made an impact that paved the way for your modern favorites in the first place. its not like listening to new albums is a chore, but it really does take a long time and a significant amount of dedication to receive a substantial chunk of what these artists have to offer.

[Genuma]

Yeah, the back catalog is completely true. I've listened to artists new albums and when I go back to their back catalog I sometimes like the albums even more. Springsteen is a rgeat example of this. Some of his best songs are off of Tracks which most people see as a big block of demos they don't need to listen to. I found one of my favorite of his songs off of it. Sure, you strike out sometimes but it is definitely worth it.

[DejaNew]

I know how you feel. When I first got into music way back in grade 7/8, I knew every word of every blink-183 and Sum-41 song. Then I started listening to Yellowcard, Dashboard, Billy Talent , MxPx and a few others. I was still able to spend a lot of time with each album, giving them lots of listening time. Once I turned 17, I liked a wider range of music, and now, I have almost 50 bands that I can consider favorites(some better than others of course)

With all of the music I listen to, I was finding it difficult(like yourself) to actually consume the music. I would listen to a new album, maybe once or twice, and if it wasn't one of those ones where it is an instant hit, I would forget about it. I have a new way of listening though. A few months ago, I sat down for a night and took a look at all my music. I was able to compose a list of my top-40 bands. Not only did the list help me to better shape my musical interests, but it gave me a really good idea of what I wanted to get really into, if I wasn't already.

So now I listen to what's on my list most of the time. But since there is so much new shit, I also made a list of stuff I wasn't sure about, and a list of stuff that I really had no opinion on. Now if I want to find something new, or give a band I've never listened to a chance, I have a list. That one can get really big, so there's really no need to write those down, but maybe put them in a folder in your itunes. I love the fact that my musical taste is always expanding, so I like to explore new music quite often, but I never want to forget the shit I already like. So it's important not to forget about your favorites when exploring new music.

Hope this helps, it seems to have worked for me.

[RecklessXRandy]

Blows my mind TBH. I can barely handle the 3 or 4 thousand songs I have. I do not have music playing all the time though, I like to be paying attention when I listen to it.

This

[IWasaCamera]

however, the issue i come across is not LISTENING to all their material, but becoming familiar with it. such "classics" as bob dylan tend to have dozens of albums, of which likely around 10 are worth revisiting consistently. i dont know about anyone else but i personally find it difficult to keep up with 10 albums of the same artist, i feel that you really have to listen to them pretty exclusively compared to the rest of your library if you want to digest it to the point of retention and familiarity in a time period less than like 2 years.
Why place time constraints on this matter? If you truly wish to explore Dylan's (since this was the example) discography in depth, do so as exhaustively as you see fit and put lower priority releases on the back burner. This is all predicated on which course you choose to steer your listening in. Seems to me that listeners these days are too concerned with projecting an illusion of diversity in lieu of genuine enjoyment. The abundance of music to discover should not be seen as a discouragingly massive ocean but rather an endless assortment of streams you can frequent for as long as you wish.
i really enjoy dylan and springsteen and find myself pretty intrigued by david bowie and neil young but im not passionate enough about any of them to listen to them more than 30 of my other favorite artists in my library that frequently. So don't.
at the same time, its almost like you have an obligation to really indulge into the extensive discographies of these classic artists, because they're the ones who were innovative, and made an impact that paved the way for your modern favorites in the first place. I don't particularly agree with this. If the tunes don't appeal to you, why bother repeatedly forcing them on yourself? For all of the praise Captain Beefheart or The Beach Boys are showered with, I don't give a flying shit about them nor do I feel the need to constantly revisit everything they've ever written. Have they shaped a portion of the sounds I enjoy? Absolutely. Does this change how I feel about their music? Not in the least.
its not like listening to new albums is a chore, but it really does take a long time and a significant amount of dedication to receive a substantial chunk of what these artists have to offer. Therein lies the beauty of music as a true passion as opposed to a casual interest; it repays your investment of time and energy. No one stumbles upon every single favorite of theirs within seconds, it occurs over weeks, months, and years while sifting through hundreds of thousands of albums. When you do find that diamond in the rough though, it is spectacular and well worth the hunt.

[theguy77]

Why place time constraints on this matter? If you truly wish to explore Dylan's (since this was the example) discography in depth, do so as exhaustively as you see fit and put lower priority releases on the back burner. This is all predicated on which course you choose to steer your listening in. Seems to me that listeners these days are too concerned with projecting an illusion of diversity in lieu of genuine enjoyment. The abundance of music to discover should not be seen as a discouragingly massive ocean but rather an endless assortment of streams you can frequent for as long as you wish.

whos to say i cant feel overwhelmed by the volume of material even when i have genuinely enjoyed what ive heard? i recently hit highway 61 revisited and was so enamored by it that i subsequently repeated it a second and third time in the same sitting. however, at this point ive yet to remember the lyrics or know the songs by title, and thats only one out of dylan's 40 or 50. for clarification this isnt me saying its an awful chore to sit through dylan's discography, its actually a lot of fun. but even though that album impacted me immensely, i feel its a long time coming before i can really call myself a dylan fan and declare him a favored artist, considering i still dont feel like i know his music all that well. and there are multiple artists like this, and like you said i dont feel the need to listen any more than i desire. so while i enjoy the music, i dont artificially devote the exclusivity that it would take to become familiar with 10 albums of these artists as opposed to 2 or 3 from my established favorite artists. this is what i mean when i say its hard to keep up; it takes awhile to become familiar with this much music, when there's always more new material to listen to, and you always tend to favor revisiting the music you're already familiar with.

I don't particularly agree with this. If the tunes don't appeal to you, why bother repeatedly forcing them on yourself? For all of the praise Captain Beefheart or The Beach Boys are showered with, I don't give a flying shit about them nor do I feel the need to constantly revisit everything they've ever written. Have they shaped a portion of the sounds I enjoy? Absolutely. Does this change how I feel about their music? Not in the least.

well, you're right about this. had i, for example, really been obligated to listen to all that's influenced my tastes, then in my pop-punk days theoretically my favorite bands should have been lifetime, nirvana, sunny day real estate, jawbreaker, and saves the day. of those five, i can only say i enjoy one. but i feel theres a huge misinterpretation going on here; i never force music on myself. i either like it or i dont. music is not about social status or credibility. however, for the sake of giving credit where credit is due, i do feel that i need to at least listen to all these classic albums and give them a chance to click with me, and that in itself is a long process.

Therein lies the beauty of music as a true passion as opposed to a casual interest; it repays your investment of time and energy. No one stumbles upon every single favorite of theirs within seconds, it occurs over weeks, months, and years while sifting through hundreds of thousands of albums. When you do find that diamond in the rough though, it is spectacular and well worth the hunt.

this was not an issue of mine; if it doesnt click, it doesnt click, and i dont waste my time trying to make something grow on me when im not intrigued on first listen. this also does not at all discourage me from hearing new tunes, especially since over the past year i'd say 90% of what ive been encouraged to listen to by friends, ive loved. plenty of hits and few misses in this expansionary enlightenment ive undergone.

[tD77]

I'm probably the worst on keeping up with new tunes. I'll get a desired CD as soon as a good enough deal warrants my attention, get it, but then leave it idle until I have enough time, or worse, memory (gigs). I get my CDs from a variety of different outlets including Amoeba and other eBay stores, SwapaCD, Hastings, and local used music stores. I get the ones from Amoeba in bulk and it really adds up if not tended to in a timely manner...


http://i358.photobucket.com/albums/oo26/tD777/IMG_0714.jpg

But playing songs on random and shuffle is really a good way to hit around your library when you are looking to shave some unwanted weight, so to speak.

[WideEyes]

I agree that it's harder to digest music lately, and think that the internet has a lot to do with that.

When I actually used to buy all my CDs, there was something so appealing about getting a new one. Even if I didn't really like it the first listen, it would sit in my CD player and when I wanted to listen to music, that is what I would listen to. After I was really familiarized with that CD, I would put in an old one, or get another CD from the same band if it had caught my interest. On my iPod, I usually just hit shuffle and have it on in the background so my new songs rarely get more than one play through unless I make it a point to listen later on.

Also, I remember I heard a bunch of Bouncing Souls songs and thought they sounded interesting. I downloaded 4 of their CDs at once, and then when I listened to them all there were so many they started blurring together. I never really got to know any of the songs and lost my interest for now. They only way I fix this is when I have my weekly 6 hour car ride, and I put one CD on and listen a few times until I'm familiar with it. Like for the Bouncing Souls CDs, I'll only let myself listen to one album that week and save the rest for later. It builds the excitement and makes me actually appreciate the songs.

Now that I think about it, the more easily accessible music is, the less we appreciate music. I think our musical attention spans have grown shorter and as soon as we listen to one thing, we're already searching for something new. And it's not even like you have to SEARCH to find it...most of the time you come across it on the internet, especially if you go on music sites often. I don't know, I'm rambling. But the point is, I do agree and think it's so easy to fall into a pattern of listening to large quantities of music and not appreciate it. Musical ADD?

[IWasaCamera]

whos to say i cant feel overwhelmed by the volume of material even when i have genuinely enjoyed what ive heard?
You're certainly entitled to feel that way, I'm simply not seeing why you would given your subsequent description of the enjoyment derived from Highway 61.
i recently hit highway 61 revisited and was so enamored by it that i subsequently repeated it a second and third time in the same sitting. however, at this point ive yet to remember the lyrics or know the songs by title, and thats only one out of dylan's 40 or 50. If you're digging this particular one, why worry with the fact that he's released 40 others? Savor this release until you feel satisfied, then move on to the next. This isn't a race and his admittedly large catalog will still be there after you're done with Blonde On Blonde or The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.
but even though that album impacted me immensely, i feel its a long time coming before i can really call myself a dylan fan and declare him a favored artist, considering i still dont feel like i know his music all that well. If a record "impacted me immensely", odds are I'm a fan. Is there listener etiquette that determines how many records you must consume from one artist before deeming yourself a true fan? Who cares? From the way you're going on about Highway 61 Revisited, it sounds like you've stumbled upon a work that strikes a sincere chord.
i dont feel the need to listen any more than i desire. so while i enjoy the music, i dont artificially devote the exclusivity that it would take to become familiar with 10 albums of these artists as opposed to 2 or 3 from my established favorite artists. In other words, there is no issue.
this is what i mean when i say its hard to keep up You stated above that you don't listen to more than you desire, so don't. Forget about keeping up.
i do feel that i need to at least listen to all these classic albums and give them a chance to click with me, and that in itself is a long process. if it doesnt click, it doesnt click, and i dont waste my time trying to make something grow on me when im not intrigued on first listen.Considering how quick first listens are, this should not be nearly as long a process as you've made it out to be.
this also does not at all discourage me from hearing new tunes, especially since over the past year i'd say 90% of what ive been encouraged to listen to by friends, ive loved. plenty of hits and few misses in this expansionary enlightenment ive undergone. You've been luckier than most. Usually the other way around.

[iam_theculprit]

I agree that it's harder to digest music lately, and think that the internet has a lot to do with that.

When I actually used to buy all my CDs, there was something so appealing about getting a new one. Even if I didn't really like it the first listen, it would sit in my CD player and when I wanted to listen to music, that is what I would listen to. After I was really familiarized with that CD, I would put in an old one, or get another CD from the same band if it had caught my interest. On my iPod, I usually just hit shuffle and have it on in the background so my new songs rarely get more than one play through unless I make it a point to listen later on.

Also, I remember I heard a bunch of Bouncing Souls songs and thought they sounded interesting. I downloaded 4 of their CDs at once, and then when I listened to them all there were so many they started blurring together. I never really got to know any of the songs and lost my interest for now. They only way I fix this is when I have my weekly 6 hour car ride, and I put one CD on and listen a few times until I'm familiar with it. Like for the Bouncing Souls CDs, I'll only let myself listen to one album that week and save the rest for later. It builds the excitement and makes me actually appreciate the songs.

Now that I think about it, the more easily accessible music is, the less we appreciate music. I think our musical attention spans have grown shorter and as soon as we listen to one thing, we're already searching for something new. And it's not even like you have to SEARCH to find it...most of the time you come across it on the internet, especially if you go on music sites often. I don't know, I'm rambling. But the point is, I do agree and think it's so easy to fall into a pattern of listening to large quantities of music and not appreciate it. Musical ADD?

Totally agree. I have a terrible case of Musical ADD. That's why I hate to love my iPod. It fuels my ADD.

[micahistheballs]

i've heard a lot of people here going through those sorts of publication lists searching each & every albums. i never did that & could imagine those who do finding it a bit of a chore. sure you might just find some material you enjoy on those, but there's so much great music out there that will never make those shoddy lists, i could see how that would tire someone out. they may be a good starter point, but for me, i've always delved down all paths of music that present themselves to me, it's never seemed bothersome as i've always greatly enjoyed it & done it out of my own desire rather than wanting to keep up with others

It can seem kind of chore-ish at times just due to how much music there is and how much I can never feasibly listen to, but I really don't mind it. For every Pink Floyd album I find underwhelming, there's a Televison or Neil Young or Rolling Stones record I find that I genuinely enjoy, perhaps come to love. A lot of it also stems from me simply wanting to have a better understanding of music. For example, I know about the Kinks and Aretha Franklin and how important they are and what not, but not knowing any of their music is something that should be remedied. It's certainly been rewarding more so than not.

although awesome to hear you're getting into curtis mayfield! perhaps the most important american artist of all-time. you're going to hate hearing this, but he's one of those artists where pretty much every album (either solo or with the impressions) has something incredible to offer

This may be due to my 'western perspective' as you put it, but I'll take Bob Dylan as the most important American artist anyday. I've only listened to Curtis and Superfly, but I thoroughly enjoy both records and Superfly may even sneak into my top 50 or so. Also, why would I hate all the records having something incredible to offer?

exactly, it's not about anything competitive when it comes to searching through discographies, it's about finding music that satisfies your own soul. i always take the opportunity to feed the soul... why starve it? it just comes down to a personal choice. if you dig into the back catalogue of an artist that you truly enjoy, it's a personal experience, so again, it's never worn me out

Once again, I agree wholeheartedly. Most people don't feel the need to listen to every single release by Bob Dylan in addition to bootlegs, etc. etc., but I love his music more than anyone else's I've encountered so listening to 50 or more albums doesn't seem like a chore as much as it does a journey and a treasure. There's just no other artist I feel the need or desire to probe into as deeply as I have him.

[Gumbyjag]

I too have a 160GB IPod and having so many songs is actually very daunting. I counter it with putting on music all the time. The way i choose music to listen to is by starting alphabetically in my library from A-Z, adding in bands and existing bands' new records as they are released. so you can imagine i go back and forth a lot, but it's nice because it helps me keep track of what i've listened to and what i have yet to. i'm proud to say that i am on "s" at the moment.

As far as digesting new albums, i have a rule where i must listen to a cd straight through with all or most of my attention at least once. if i feel i haven't spent enough time or if i'm planning to see the band or bands at a show, i spend more time than usual on it. every night i also fall asleep to a random band's discog so that's a good way to go through artists fast.

For the arguement regarding whether people should sift through artists' discographies or just buy 'best of's', i am for the former. i go by this mantra: do not overlook any artist's music for any of their songs may be your next favorite. i believe that all music should be given attention, good or bad. it's not healthy for everyone to have 20,000 songs or whatever, but i think that some people need to be overwhelmed by something as sweeping as music is.

[El_Jeffe]

It can seem kind of chore-ish at times just due to how much music there is and how much I can never feasibly listen to, but I really don't mind it. For every Pink Floyd album I find underwhelming, there's a Televison or Neil Young or Rolling Stones record I find that I genuinely enjoy, perhaps come to love. A lot of it also stems from me simply wanting to have a better understanding of music. For example, I know about the Kinks and Aretha Franklin and how important they are and what not, but not knowing any of their music is something that should be remedied. It's certainly been rewarding more so than not.

that is a good point, the more you discover, the more you understand, the more you wish to dig deeper. something that's been intriguing me since day one. it's an itch rather impossible to stop scratching mate


This may be due to my 'western perspective' as you put it, but I'll take Bob Dylan as the most important American artist anyday. I've only listened to Curtis and Superfly, but I thoroughly enjoy both records and Superfly may even sneak into my top 50 or so. Also, why would I hate all the records having something incredible to offer?

without getting into that debate, let's just say it might not be as clear cut as some might suggest. it may crossover with what was mentioned above. oh & no no i meant "you're going to hate hearing this..." in the sense that i was essentially saying all 30-40-odd mayfield albums are pretty much worth checking out haha. but it comes down to enjoyment & willingness to pursue that. if you're crazy about his tunes then that might excite you, if you're still so-so then i could understand not wanting to get into it straight away. each to their own


Once again, I agree wholeheartedly. Most people don't feel the need to listen to every single release by Bob Dylan in addition to bootlegs, etc. etc., but I love his music more than anyone else's I've encountered so listening to 50 or more albums doesn't seem like a chore as much as it does a journey and a treasure. There's just no other artist I feel the need or desire to probe into as deeply as I have him.

i'm all too aware of your liking with dylan, which is a great thing. it's a real musical passion, & while now it may seem like no one else will ever excite you with their music quite like he does... there will be other artists who excite you in different ways but on the same level in the future. it always starts with one haha, welcome to the endless realm of expressive arts, what an exciting world!

[chipdip18]

that is a good point, the more you discover, the more you understand, the more you wish to dig deeper. something that's been intriguing me since day one. it's an itch rather impossible to stop scratching mate




without getting into that debate, let's just say it might not be as clear cut as some might suggest. it may crossover with what was mentioned above. oh & no no i meant "you're going to hate hearing this..." in the sense that i was essentially saying all 30-40-odd mayfield albums are pretty much worth checking out haha. but it comes down to enjoyment & willingness to pursue that. if you're crazy about his tunes then that might excite you, if you're still so-so then i could understand not wanting to get into it straight away. each to their own




i'm all too aware of your liking with dylan, which is a great thing. it's a real musical passion, & while now it may seem like no one else will ever excite you with their music quite like he does... there will be other artists who excite you in different ways but on the same level in the future. it always starts with one haha, welcome to the endless realm of expressive arts, what an exciting world!


Craig! Good to see you on here. So i recently dug up this list of rec's you sent me over a year ago and am finishing downloading the albums i didn't get. Summer has got me wanted more Funk and Reggae and Ska. What are your Soul rec's?

[micahistheballs]

Craig! Good to see you on here. So i recently dug up this list of rec's you sent me over a year ago and am finishing downloading the albums i didn't get. Summer has got me wanted more Funk and Reggae and Ska. What are your Soul rec's?
I know I'm not Craig, but I think an overlooked (and very good) soul record is James Carr's 'You've Got My Mind Messed Up.' Up there with Otis.

[CalRahhh]

I think the way I'm able to say, listen to new albums properly is because I don't grab them as soon as they come out, unless its a band I really love. So by doing that I listen to albums I got before a lot more before I move onto the next new release. Sometimes If i have multiple albums I tend to listen to them once or twice, then come back to them a few weeks later and become addicted. For example, with the new The Chariot album, I listened to it once or twice when it first leaked, and now in the past week I've listened to it over 20 times.

[xtheaudition]

good point man i was thinking the same thing the other day haha it must be us old timers! but yah it seems like 2009 is the year of new albums, a day to remember, tbs, anti-flag, tsh, fm static, thursday, eleventyseven... the list goes on & on! but i dunno i guess if it hold my intrest i'll go back to it ya know? im still rockin thursdays new album and that came out in febuary, and its almost summer, so halfway through the year aint bad, and i over listened to adtr's newest cd i cant even listen to it. but for me i still find myself going back to listen to my fav oldies, tsl, sugarcult, the ataris, etc...

[micahistheballs]

that is a good point, the more you discover, the more you understand, the more you wish to dig deeper. something that's been intriguing me since day one. it's an itch rather impossible to stop scratching mate

Certainly. Listening to album upon album can seem overwhelming at times, but definitely in a good, rewarding way. This may seem like a trite comparison, but it's like being a student just beginning to take classes regarding a subject he absolutely loves, looking forward to it.

without getting into that debate, let's just say it might not be as clear cut as some might suggest. it may crossover with what was mentioned above. oh & no no i meant "you're going to hate hearing this..." in the sense that i was essentially saying all 30-40-odd mayfield albums are pretty much worth checking out haha. but it comes down to enjoyment & willingness to pursue that. if you're crazy about his tunes then that might excite you, if you're still so-so then i could understand not wanting to get into it straight away. each to their own

Yeah, once again, as you point out, it boils down to if I have the same passion for exploring Mayfield beyond the 'essential' albums and he becomes my Dylan 2.0 for lack of a better term.

i'm all too aware of your liking with dylan, which is a great thing. it's a real musical passion, & while now it may seem like no one else will ever excite you with their music quite like he does... there will be other artists who excite you in different ways but on the same level in the future. it always starts with one haha, welcome to the endless realm of expressive arts, what an exciting world!

Haha, everyone's aware of that liking. I feel like I've probably reached the pinnacle of my musical enjoyment at times between him and Radiohead, but I don't think I'd view it as a disappointment if I never found anyone else I enjoyed as much. Like Vinh said, you discover your favourites over weeks, months, and years not immediately. I was listening to Dylan off and on for a year and a half before it went from casual enjoyment to fanatacism.

[theguy77]

You're certainly entitled to feel that way, I'm simply not seeing why you would given your subsequent description of the enjoyment derived from Highway 61.
If you're digging this particular one, why worry with the fact that he's released 40 others? Savor this release until you feel satisfied, then move on to the next. This isn't a race and his admittedly large catalog will still be there after you're done with Blonde On Blonde or The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan.
If a record "impacted me immensely", odds are I'm a fan. Is there listener etiquette that determines how many records you must consume from one artist before deeming yourself a true fan? Who cares? From the way you're going on about Highway 61 Revisited, it sounds like you've stumbled upon a work that strikes a sincere chord.
In other words, there is no issue.
You stated above that you don't listen to more than you desire, so don't. Forget about keeping up.
Considering how quick first listens are, this should not be nearly as long a process as you've made it out to be.

right, i see what you're saying in all of this and i agree. i guess the point im trying to put across is that i want to be very familiar with everything that ive listened to and loved, so that i can get a better picture of what my tastes are, and that's hard to do with my library expanding at a rate like this. theres just so much material to become familiar with at one time. the only reason i brought up "classics" in this discussion is because they're the ones who tend to have the MOST material, but for example ive got a caribou album sitting in there that i only listened to once four months ago, and i still havent revisited it -- not because i didnt care for it, i really loved it, made a massive post about it in the thread and everything. but with so much other new music to listen to and so many old favorites that i keep returning to, i just never got around to it, and the reason for this is the familiarity issue. i established that i loved that album even on first listen, but i cant yet pinpoint what it was that made me enjoy it, so im never like "im feeling some caribou right now" specifically, becuase i dont remember in what way it appealed to me and why. this bothers me because i know i love that album and yet i never listen to it. that example applies on multiple occassions.

You've been luckier than most. Usually the other way around.

haha, well it's all new ground being covered for me right now. you know im coming out of my little pop-punk cocoon and im flying around in all this open space looking at all the different scenery, and its really amazing to finally break those genre and style boundaries becuase now its like, every band that i listen to these days is totally unique and stands out in their own way to me. a year and a half ago it was a bunch of bands making different versions of the same thing, and some clearly better than others, but nowadays there tends to be something about the music of each artist i indulge in that ive never heard or experienced before.

[IWasaCamera]

For every Pink Floyd album I find underwhelming, there's a Televison or Neil Young or Rolling Stones record I find that I genuinely enjoy, perhaps come to love.
Oh cool, so you're getting into Television?
right, i see what you're saying in all of this and i agree. i guess the point im trying to put across is that i want to be very familiar with everything that ive listened to and loved, so that i can get a better picture of what my tastes are, and that's hard to do with my library expanding at a rate like this. theres just so much material to become familiar with at one time.
It's understandable, I just feel you'd have a far more gratifying experience if you looked past the end goal (in this case, "a better picture" of your taste) and focused your energy on relishing the process. It can be a long and occasionally bumpy road, but the ride sure is a lot of fun.
but for example ive got a caribou album sitting in there that i only listened to once four months ago, and i still havent revisited it -- not because i didnt care for it, i really loved it, made a massive post about it in the thread and everything. but with so much other new music to listen to and so many old favorites that i keep returning to, i just never got around to it, and the reason for this is the familiarity issue. i established that i loved that album even on first listen, but i cant yet pinpoint what it was that made me enjoy it, so im never like "im feeling some caribou right now" specifically, becuase i dont remember in what way it appealed to me and why. this bothers me because i know i love that album and yet i never listen to it. that example applies on multiple occassions.It's often said that music is its own language and I tend to agree, which makes attempting to qualify it in words an exercise in futility a lot of the time. The moods it can create aren't always that distinct that you can isolate and pinpoint them, so they become synonymous with the artist at hand. If you honestly love Andorra (I'm guessing this is the record in question), you'll know precisely when it is you feel like playing it. I don't recall this massive post you're referring to but I suspect some of the answers lie in it.
haha, well it's all new ground being covered for me right now. you know im coming out of my little pop-punk cocoon and im flying around in all this open space looking at all the different scenery, and its really amazing to finally break those genre and style boundaries becuase now its like, every band that i listen to these days is totally unique and stands out in their own way to me. a year and a half ago it was a bunch of bands making different versions of the same thing, and some clearly better than others, but nowadays there tends to be something about the music of each artist i indulge in that ive never heard or experienced before.This is great to hear.

[chipdip18]

I know I'm not Craig, but I think an overlooked (and very good) soul record is James Carr's 'You've Got My Mind Messed Up.' Up there with Otis.


Alright thanks Micah.

[fly_guy]

When I buy a cd, I listen to it a lot because I dont want to feel like I wasted my money, but if Im just downloading something, I give it less thought because it was free and I delete it if its not good. I buy it if it is good and so on. That is how I get my music.


TRY AND BUY FTW

[TotalCollapse]

I hate the feeling of being overwhelmed with music, so I like to make sure I'm caught up on the latest releases that I already bought before getting new stuff. I'll usually have to listen through a new album twice without any distractions to decide what I think of it. If I like the album then I'll tend to listen to it at least five or so times a week for the next month and then it gets added to the music that I listen to on occasion when I get in the mood for it. If I don't like the album at all, then I'll make sure to not add it to my ipod. If the album is so-so, then I'll keep it on my ipod and will probably come back and listen to it much later.

I also like to make playlists that include the 10 most recent albums I've gotten and title it with the approximate date. I'll keep all those playlists so that if I'm bored, I can choose an old one at random. I also make it a point to listen to my library on shuffle for at least a couple hundred songs and while listening I'll remember some old albums that I haven't listened to recently.

[micahistheballs]

Oh cool, so you're getting into Television?

Downloaded Marqueen Moon and I am really, really liking it.

Alright thanks Micah.

No problem. I hope you enjoy it.

[Miss Heartcore]

Micah! :inlove:

[deathcabkid11]

If it's an album I'm really looking forward to I'll just put it in my CD changer usually. I keep those in rotation, and some of them just stick with me more, so I'll keep them in longer.

[IWasaCamera]

Downloaded Marqueen Moon and I am really, really liking it.
Fair to assume you've warmed up to Life In The Hive?

[fly_guy]

I hate the feeling of being overwhelmed with music, so I like to make sure I'm caught up on the latest releases that I already bought before getting new stuff. I'll usually have to listen through a new album twice without any distractions to decide what I think of it. If I like the album then I'll tend to listen to it at least five or so times a week for the next month and then it gets added to the music that I listen to on occasion when I get in the mood for it. If I don't like the album at all, then I'll make sure to not add it to my ipod. If the album is so-so, then I'll keep it on my ipod and will probably come back and listen to it much later.

I also like to make playlists that include the 10 most recent albums I've gotten and title it with the approximate date. I'll keep all those playlists so that if I'm bored, I can choose an old one at random. I also make it a point to listen to my library on shuffle for at least a couple hundred songs and while listening I'll remember some old albums that I haven't listened to recently.

What a great idea. I will try this

[micahistheballs]

Fair to assume you've warmed up to Life In The Hive?
Well I feel it doesn't apply to the feature as well as some of the others, but yes I have warmed up to it quite a bit.

[micahistheballs]

Micah! :inlove:
Hello dear, how are you?

[briewer]

for example ive got a caribou album sitting in there that i only listened to once four months ago, and i still havent revisited it -- not because i didnt care for it, i really loved it, made a massive post about it in the thread and everything. but with so much other new music to listen to and so many old favorites that i keep returning to, i just never got around to it, and the reason for this is the familiarity issue. i established that i loved that album even on first listen, but i cant yet pinpoint what it was that made me enjoy it, so im never like "im feeling some caribou right now" specifically, becuase i dont remember in what way it appealed to me and why. this bothers me because i know i love that album and yet i never listen to it. that example applies on multiple occassions.
Not attempting to pile on to your problem, but if you liked Andorra, you'll probably also like Up In Flames, an album he put out when he was still named Manitoba.

[mrxstripes]

I'm terrible at this lately to be honest.
When I'm at home (like now for the summer) I don't want to have music playing out loud because my family won't care to listen to it, I don't want to always have headphones on because then I'm not talking to anyone, and I don't want to be just in my room listening to music and not talking to anyone, so I barely ever have music playing anymore. At school I'd always have music on while studying, reading, walking to class, or just in my room. It's really bad too because I have CDs I've just recently bought that I have yet to really listen to.

Also my computer with my entire music collection and iTunes got Spyware and is dead (and like an idiot I didn't back up my library in some way, I'm kicking myself for that. I have all of the CDs, but there was a lot of b sides/demos/live sets I've downloaded, mostly thanks to the B-Sides R Us blog haha, that I have to go redownload). So I have no new stuff on my iPod from back to about January I think, or even before.

[cshadows2887]

I know exactly what you mean. I have 3 records a week most weeks and I get piles of stuff I just don't have time to process, let alone delving into back catalogs. The way I get really familiar though is through my car. I tend to give quick listens to every new album I get and the one or two that really light a fire under me go in my car and I absolutely wear them out until I know every note. The only problem with this is, with most car rides being 20 minutes or less, I can sometimes get lazy and get really familiar with the first half of an album. But I find that the albums I really love and know every note of have spent some serious time in my vehicle. But there are CD's on my shelf that I really have never listened to all the way through yet, and that bums me out. Even ones I know I'm going to like when I finally get around to it, i.e. the new Thursday or the Earth disc from Thrice's Alchemy Index.

[cshadows2887]

Oh and as far as the debate a few people were having about the validity of best of compliations, I am very anti-greatest hits. My best example is Springsteen. Check out his two greatest hits collections. If you know his catalog well, I guarantee at least half of your favorite songs aren't on either one. I can't even imagine being a Springsteen fan and not knowing "Incident on 57th Street" or "Jungleland," which I wouldn't if I let a greatest hits suffice for my Springsteen collection. Take as long as you want and be as spotty as you like through someone's back catalog, but don't let anyone but you choose which songs are worth your attention.