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Albums you do not get...a plea for help and understanding

So like most of you (I bet), I listen to tons of music.  But there are just some albums I never learned to appreciate.  I hope this thread can serve as a teaching tool.  I did not get Mingus at first but now he is one of my favorites.

Perhaps ending each post with, "What am I missing?" would be a good idea.

I will start with Graceland by Paul Simon.  Most of my friends call me crazy (still after all these years...OUCH that was bad) but I never desire to listen to this record.  I get the African influence and rhythm but it just does not impress me.  Alternatively when Peter Gabriel did the African influence thing I found it stunningly good. Paul Simon as a musician impresses me in his other works.  What am I missing?

bancsee

Showing 1 response by ghdprentice

ghdprentice
6,485 posts
 

I found that my interests expanded with exposure… but some stuff just does not appeal to me. I started with rock in the 60’s and 70’s… then jazz, classical, blues, electronic, world…

 

There is usually a gateway album… one that bridges the stuff I like with a new type. Then when “I get it”… and slowly a whole new genera opens up.

The biggest gateway for me was Michael Franks. I was mid twenties staying in a cabin on Lake Tahoe doing research (I was a geologist). I went to this tucked away high end cool restaurants hidden in an old growth forest. One of his albums was playing… it completely changed my world… opened it up.

I have run at opera many times… I am just not going to like it. Mozart… not happening… Shostakovich just sends me into a dream. Coltrane… not happening.

There is so much music… some you will just not like… it’s OK. Worth giving a try every once in a while, but life is too short to waste too much time on something that doesn’t appeal to you.

More to discover