The art of listening to albums

[zoopertrip]

Have singles ruined the whole album oriented music experience?

Has the concept of listening to entire albums at a stretch gone for a toss ?

Maybe I'm a little old school, but usually, when I start listening to an album, it's from start to finish. But even I've begun to sometimes organize playlists with just the songs I want to hear. Even on websites like last.fm and people's msn messenger "what you're listening to" displays point to this fact. there seems to be no consistency in artistes, let alone albums, that follow any sort of order.

It's a little disconcerting because I've always found listening to entire albums at a stretch the most amazing way to really get "into" a band. I can understand people picking their favourite songs which are one hit wonders like "My Sharona" or "Runaway Train", etc. but it just seems weird for me to be able to listen to a Tool album or a "Rust in Piece" or a "Reign in Blood" or a "Dirt", without actually just picking a few favourite songs from them.

Perhaps this is the reason we see fewer concept albums today ? Because rarely do listeners today listen to the albums for more than just the kiler songs in it and not assimilating the aesthetic or the art that the artist is representing ?

Is music and its artistic value just not as important nowadays ?

Your thoughts.

[L_A_X__addiction]

i'll usually buy (or download...i know, i like illegal stuff) an entire album, skip through it on the first listen and then listen a little more on the next one, and more on the next, until one day i've chosen which ones i like best. this may or may not make sense.

[musicchic33]

Good thread.

The last time I remember listening to an album inside and out was back in junior high.

It's all about skipping to the "good stuff" these days.

[zoopertrip]

i'll usually buy (or download...i know, i like illegal stuff) an entire album, skip through it on the first listen and then listen a little more on the next one, and more on the next, until one day i've chosen which ones i like best. this may or may not make sense.

But that's still different. Picking favourites from an album after a few listens is one thing, but at least you give the entire album a few spins before settling on your favourite songs, right ?

I'm talking about how people just don't do the whole "album" thing any more. It's all about a quickfix, songs that are catchy for about a month before you move on to the next big thing.

I'm referring more to the artistic perspective on this. I've always believed the greatest works of music to be the ones that are timeless, which remain relevant no matter which era you hear them in, like The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's album, or Led Zeppelin IV or Van Halen's 1984.

Each song on these albums has something to say, and cannot be dismissed as filler material.

which brings me to :

Good thread.

The last time I remember listening to an album inside and out was back in junior high.

It's all about skipping to the "good stuff" these days.

Maybe that's because most artistes today approach albums from a "singles" perspective i.e. put 2-3 singles and surround it with filler material and bam, you have album sales.

[L_A_X__addiction]

But that's still different. Picking favourites from an album after a few listens is one thing, but at least you give the entire album a few spins before settling on your favourite songs, right ?

I'm talking about how people just don't do the whole "album" thing any more. It's all about a quickfix, songs that are catchy for about a month before you move on to the next big thing.

I'm referring more to the artistic perspective on this. I've always believed the greatest works of music to be the ones that are timeless, which remain relevant no matter which era you hear them in, like The Beatles Sgt. Pepper's album, or Led Zeppelin IV or Van Halen's 1984.

Each song on these albums has something to say, and cannot be dismissed as filler material.

which brings me to :



Maybe that's because most artistes today approach albums from a "singles" perspective i.e. put 2-3 singles and surround it with filler material and bam, you have album sales.



point noted. but i don't do that for all artists. i still listen to the popular music, but then i have stuff that i listen to and i found myself.
example: i know only the miley cyrus song that has been on the radio. (see you again). don't judge. but i also know every Brand New (i don't know if you've heard of them) song. ever.
you knoww?

[zoopertrip]

Nah, I haven't heard of that band. Most of what I listen to comes from recommendations from friends who know the kinda music I like. But I'm always open to listening to new stuff; e.g. I'm not into hip hop at all, but I love Timbaland's work. He's a bassist as well, so that might be why he's got some brilliant grooves going on, besides being an excellent knob twiddler behind the boards, something that I look out for as an aspiring sound engineer.

Back to the original topic, what I essentially meant was with regard to common themes running through an album. I think the example of Tool's Lateralus should help clarify my viewpoint.

Now, Tool's most "popular" or radio friendly song from the album is "Schism". A brilliant song in its own right, no doubt. However, when I heard in the context of the entire album, it transcends into a work of art.

My limted thought-to-words mechanism is probably not the ideal way to get the point across, so if you have the time, go through this :

http://www.bofe.org/overthinking.htm

To me, music extends beyond casual listening, so maybe I feel connected to the ideas of concept albums as a complete aural experience.

Maybe, as I said before, to most people today, music simply isn't as important anymore :)

[musicchic33]

Maybe that's because most artistes today approach albums from a "singles" perspective i.e. put 2-3 singles and surround it with filler material and bam, you have album sales.

well yeah, that's the obvious answer

[Infamous_MicMan]

i listen to whole album.. from start to finish.. and thats when you realize how much of good music is not being appriciated..

[FistaCuffs]

I agree, today a lot of people listen to only one hit wonder type songs, but never really appreciate the fact that sometimes the best songs are the ones that don't get radio or tv play.
But, I also think artist today lack the talent to create albums that are quality start to finish, which seem to be much more prevalent in music of past decades.

[zoopertrip]

I agree, today a lot of people listen to only one hit wonder type songs, but never really appreciate the fact that sometimes the best songs are the ones that don't get radio or tv play.
But, I also think artist today lack the talent to create albums that are quality start to finish, which seem to be much more prevalent in music of past decades.

Agree with most thigns said, but I reall don't think that there has been as much of a dip in quality, in terms of solid concept albums in the last few years.

Of the top of my head, and you chould get these :) in the last few years, we've had :

Tool - 10,000 Days
Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero
Protest the Hero - Kezia and Fortress
Dream Theater - Systematic Chaos
Pain of Salvation - The Perfect Element, Part 1 and Be

And I'm not getting into the more extreme genres :P

Maybe RD could use a music recommendations/reviews thread ? I write freelance reviews for magazines anyway, might as well copy them onto here !

[Iron_Lungs]

Have singles ruined the whole album oriented music experience?

Has the concept of listening to entire albums at a stretch gone for a toss ?

Maybe I'm a little old school, but usually, when I start listening to an album, it's from start to finish. But even I've begun to sometimes organize playlists with just the songs I want to hear. Even on websites like last.fm and people's msn messenger "what you're listening to" displays point to this fact. there seems to be no consistency in artistes, let alone albums, that follow any sort of order.

It's a little disconcerting because I've always found listening to entire albums at a stretch the most amazing way to really get "into" a band. I can understand people picking their favourite songs which are one hit wonders like "My Sharona" or "Runaway Train", etc. but it just seems weird for me to be able to listen to a Tool album or a "Rust in Piece" or a "Reign in Blood" or a "Dirt", without actually just picking a few favourite songs from them.

Perhaps this is the reason we see fewer concept albums today ? Because rarely do listeners today listen to the albums for more than just the kiler songs in it and not assimilating the aesthetic or the art that the artist is representing ?

Is music and its artistic value just not as important nowadays ?

Your thoughts.


completely agree
but with albums today, u can't
they're no 'flow' story line along the tracks
they jus sing about w.e then, slap in on plastic

u can vibe through anything (well for me and hip-hop) before 2000

like
talib kweli - train of thought
ras kass - soul on ice
jay-z - reasonable doubt

NAS - ILLMATIC - best like 50 minutes of my life

[Synical]

Have singles ruined the whole album oriented music experience?

Has the concept of listening to entire albums at a stretch gone for a toss ?

Maybe I'm a little old school, but usually, when I start listening to an album, it's from start to finish. But even I've begun to sometimes organize playlists with just the songs I want to hear. Even on websites like last.fm and people's msn messenger "what you're listening to" displays point to this fact. there seems to be no consistency in artistes, let alone albums, that follow any sort of order.

It's a little disconcerting because I've always found listening to entire albums at a stretch the most amazing way to really get "into" a band. I can understand people picking their favourite songs which are one hit wonders like "My Sharona" or "Runaway Train", etc. but it just seems weird for me to be able to listen to a Tool album or a "Rust in Piece" or a "Reign in Blood" or a "Dirt", without actually just picking a few favourite songs from them.

Perhaps this is the reason we see fewer concept albums today ? Because rarely do listeners today listen to the albums for more than just the kiler songs in it and not assimilating the aesthetic or the art that the artist is representing ?

Is music and its artistic value just not as important nowadays ?

Your thoughts.

I agree, that is what the industry is metamorphisizing to. But I don't think the idea of a "solid album" is dead, well not yet atleast. You are right that it's usually those with an old school state of mind that appreciate an entire album. I listen to a shitload of music and have gone through alot of albums- mostly rap, though, and I gotta say that I'm not disappointed in my music.

In the commercial aspect of music, the thought of making a solid album IS more or less dead, since you just need a catchy single to get your momentum rolling. Point and case: Solja Boy, even though he'll be finished in a minute. Therefore, if your taste lies there (in commerciality) then you're out of luck.

To find the good albums, you've gotta go looking for them. For hiphop, it's almost entirely found underground. But most probably won't take the time to look for them, unless they're really into music. So, if the listener is really interested in the entire album, I'd assume he or she is an avid fan of music and should go get the albums.

Two fairly recent albums that I break my neck to from start to finish are Shades of Grey by Braille and The Rising by Jeru The Damaja. If you're into solid lyrics and conceptual music, I strongly recommend these.

Oh, and if anything I touched upon was already mentioned, then my bad.

[zoopertrip]

@Synical :

Sorry for the late reply mate, was away on work. Thanks for the recomendations :) Will check them out soon.

Recommended concept albums of the day :

King Crimson - In the hall of the crimson King.
Edge of Sanity - Crimson (One song. 40 minutes. One of the most complete concept albums IMO)
Savatage - Streets: A Rock Opera
Rush - 2112
Blue Oyster Cult - Imaginos

[Synical]

I've heard a bit of Savatage, but I'll have to look into the rest.

I just picked up Rising Down by The Roots the other day, and it'd be musically blasphemous to even think of skipping over a track on that cd