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?
First things first, as others have said the Dead were all about the live show. I wouldn't expect to convert 100% of folks here but it would be a life changer for some of you.
A couple that caught me late in life that have been discussed already:
Rush (when Neal passed I gave it another listen and for whatever reason it worked, despite not really liking it all through my heavy metal HS experience).
Steely Dan (thanks to the Gaia demo video where they use Hey 19 as the song to show value of their product).
One I still cannot possible connect with even though on paper I should: Little Feat. Everyone raves about Waiting for Columbus and nothing about it excites or otherwise moves me.
The albums by jazz guitarist “Ava Mendoza”- particularly “New Spells”. I studied guitar and have played for years yet I don’t think I will ever understand this- have listened beginning to end three times. If someone understands what’s going on here please explain it to me!
There is so much good music I can't waste my time listening to Miles Davis, the Beach Boys, U2, REM, most of the 1980's and 90's, "bro country", and the list goes on. Probably a shorter list of things I like. Ain't music grand?
I'd agree that Graceland (1986) is a wonderful album, but when those self-appointed afficionados start telling you what a ground-breaking appropriation/discovery of Township rhythms it represents, have them listen to Malcolm McLaren's Duck Rock (1983).
And as for Zappa... yeah, well... maybe I'm a turnip. I do like some of his tracks but after a while ...
I saw him in concert once and what a yawn fest. People were getting up and just leaving early... I stuck it out to the end, but reluctantly, and on the way out my companion and I just shook our heads and rolled our eyes...
I'm also not a big fan of Springsteen's Darkness on the Edge of Town... yeah, a few great tracks but when I put it on I want to take it off before hearing the whole thing.
I much prefer Born To Run and Wild, Innocent, E-street Shuffle albums, with Wild being my favorite. Nebraska is great, too.
And, more recently, The Rising is good, ... better than Darkness.
Didn't think I'd ever like choral music. (Forced to go to chapel every day as a youth. Twice on Sundays.) Now I think Bach's Mass in B Minor is the pinnacle of Western Civ.
The Rite of Spring caused a riot at its premiere and has been jangling nerves ever since. You prolly know it from Fantasia. Here the composer gives his own take.
Personally I love what a well-positioned dim. chord can contribute but tension and resolution is a major aspect in my listening enjoyment. This is not necessarily true for everyone.
@dayglow- indeed, the Doors had a unique signature style that I was totally in love with. Plus those were great records to sing along with 'cause Jim sang in my key!
Yes, Frank Zappa was very innovative and successful with his early works in avoiding "The Beatles" sound signature. IMO The Doors were the most exemplary band of the late 1960's when regarding a unique style of pop music.
@dayglow - and on those early albums on Verve, FZ's 'attempts' at being 'clever and unique' were 100% successful and then some, in my view.
I enjoyed the few after that as well, including the instrumental albums 'Hot Rats' and 'Waka Jawaka'. But I agree that after awhile, his humor started becoming a bit more 'frat-boy'-ish and I lost interest. But from 'Freak Out' through 'Uncle Meat', that's some seriously great stuff (though 'Lumpy Gravy' just confuses me)....
@sls141 love me some Zeppelin, but never did get the stuff between "IV" and "In Through The Out Door". There is the occasional song, but as a collection these albums are mostly forgettable.
Why the need to defend Frank Zappa? He played with talanted musicians and attempted to be clever and unique with his music/lyrics. After awhile his "shitck" becomes worn out and even corny!
A lot of FZ’s music was written about turnips like yourselves. Put on some Pink Floyd or Led Zeppelin, loudly, and dance around the room. Ye haw!
BTW I’m a big Steely Dan/Donald Fagan too.
Sure, we all have our preferences. However, something that adds a lot of value to the listening experience is to recognize that what drives the shaping of our own individual preferences is the willingness, or not, to always maintain a certain amount of humility in the process of taking in any art. IOW, approach new (to us) music without the expectation that it is its job to convince us. Try to get into the musician’s head instead and ask a simple question: “is it sincere?”. Of course, one man’s sincerity is another’s BS, but better to start out with an open mind.
”There’s only two kinds of music, good music…and the other kind” - Duke Ellington
….but, I’ve really tried, I agree about Springsteen. I don’t get it.
For those who want to get Steely Dan but don't, I recommend FM (No Static at All)
It didn't appear on any of their albums but shows up on the compilations.
FM was a 1978 film where Martin Mull in my opinion stole the move. Fun movie, great soundtrack and a great representation of what Steely Dan is all about.
@curtdr- If you can find it, see if you can hear a live version of 'Dark Side Of the Moon' from the 'Meddle' tour, well before the album came out, and it was called 'Eclipse: A Piece For Assorted Lunatics' - quite different from what was eventually released!
The chaotic Bebop jazz never did it for me, it’s just very annoying. I can’t listen to country music either. Dylan, Neil Young & CSNY are as country as I get. I like funk & soul of the 60’s-80’s but not rap, house or whatever other noise can be made when you don’t play any real instruments.
Grunge from the 90’s is my cutoff! Anything past that in the last 25+ years pretty much sucks, except for a handful of songs. Please help me out here, I’m sure that there’s much more good music during this stretch of time that I just don’t know about.
On the Boss: once he did that Nebraska LP, he jumped the shark, IMHO. His early stuff was great though. Now & ever since Nebraska every song has a midwestern twang to it. He just can’t even speak like he’s from North Jersey anymore.
The 80’s music was just fun music, mostly all of it, even the whiny New Wave stuff. Love the 60’s & 70’s music, even the terrible “Billy Don’t Be a Hero” kind of horrible 70’s music :)
Although I like some tracks and the sonics of the album, I have not really been able to listen to Pink Floyd's "The Wall" very consistently in recent years. Turgid... I'm also not a fan of "Wish You Were Here." For PF, I prefer Animals and Dark Side, although I wish Dark Side wasn't so darned overproduced that it's softened down...
I saw Waters do Dark Side in entirety show and he stripped it all back to fundamental rock, not so glossy, live and it was excellent as such. His semi-recent Wall tour, which I did go see, bored me.. the show just bored me.
Springsteen appreciation might require a dollop of some Catholic guilt or similar, and a small dose of self pity.
Born to Run and Darkness on the Edge of Town are good places to start as Bruce finally found his own voice after sometimes brilliantly aping Dylan previously.
Anyone who missed his last two tours have missed him at his best since he toured with Tom Petty in 1986. IMHO. Obviously very different but gripping and with a great band.
You guys have covered the gamut and much of it mirrors many of my artist disconnects as well
The Dead, Tom Waits, Dylan, Miles, Radiohead, etc
@curiousjimthe Shatner stuff was off the charts funny
Unable to connect with Kind Of Blue, have tried at least a dozen times but do align more with the BB and Jack Johnson Sessions era material, his work with John McLaughlin and Herbie Hancock I do enjoy but still unable to get through the entire album
I didn't get Dylan until I was in my 50s, tried in my 20s, 30s and 40s but it just escaped me. Based on reviews, accolades and just the shear body of work over 4 decades made me think it has to be me, what am I missing
I finally broke through with Dylan through covers of his songs by other artists. I'd often times find that I enjoyed what I thought was a new song only to find that it was a Dylan remake. Just for sport check out Maggie's Farm by RATM
If imitation is the highest form of flattery, I think there are more than 5000 covers of Dylan songs
Once I had this breakthrough I couldn't absorb Dylan fast enough, music, books, magazines, interviews, art, etc
The man is a true national treasure, IMO
His interpretation of world events, society and the day to day things that we all experience is so relatable and still relevant today
There's a documentary called Trouble No More. It's various biblical scholars and gospel singers doing a dep dive on Dylan's gospel albums. They applaud his translation of scripture to song relative to accuracy and context and have approved his songs for multiple gospel hymn books
What he endured from the media as this voice of a generation pedestal was brutal, the repetition of the same line of questioning for near 20 years and the self protection techniques he developed just to break the monotony, false pretenses and public expectations
His decision to go from folk to electric, one of the great decisions in rock n roll. He had it figured out 10 years before most people could accept it. Was way ahead of the curve on that decision and was torched in the press and folk fanbase
Another one that took 25 years for me to enjoy was Derek and the Dominoes, and I really enjoy EC and Duane Allman
I tried in my 20s and 30s four or five times and could never get through the entire album, seemed too laid back
I saw Derek Trucks in a small club in my 40s, they played Anyday and Tell The Truth, he played both guitar leads and left my jaw hanging. I found out those were Derek and the Dominoes songs and the disk owned me for the next 6 months
The weaving of those two guitars is a thing of beauty and the engineering by Tom Dowd is very underrated
Where EC was in life and pouring his heart out to George Harrison's wife is a whole other matter - very different times.....
In closing here's the first verse to Dylan's Highway 61 Revisited, still amuses me each time I hear it
Oh God said to Abraham, "Kill me a son"
Abe says, "Man, you must be putting me on"
God say, "No". Abe say, "What?"
God say, "You can do what you want Abe, but
The next time you see me comin' you better run"
Well Abe says, "Where do you want this killing done?"
God says, "Out on Highway 61"
I saw Miles Davis live in concert during his Bitches Brew days. I never liked the album but I got to say that the performance was truly involving and excellent.
I used to feel the same way! Every couple of years I'd pull out my copy of BB and try to listen but I could not get through even one whole side. I ended up springing for a MoFi release and played it LOUD. I think these two things, plus years of effort, and click! I finally got to like the album. That opened up the gateway to his releases after BB for me. I now also really like Agharta and Pangaea, as well as others.
Bitches Brew by Miles - still don't get it. I have found there are some albums I did not like on the first couple of spins, but let them sit a few weeks or months and another spin, and I find I like them. Except for BB. Still working on that one. Anything Miles did before BB I LOVE.
As far as albums I’ve come around to- Amon Dull 2 Dance of the Lemmings. I got this when I was 16 and hated it for about 2 years. Now it’s one of my all time favs.
So… The Beatles. They found a formula - the secret key to making good harmonies - but it somehow always comes off as unauthentic. The early work is better, but still maybe I can listen to 1 song per album. For a comparison of their various incarnations, I’d listen to Them, or Lazy Smoke, or Bob Smith any day.
That's the wonderful thing about music, there are so diverse tastes, they often change over time, so it's totally natural not to "get" a vast chunk of recorded music.
My addendum to the issue:
The audio gear bears a VAST impact on how wide your inclusion zone is, and what you consider as beloved, tolerable, or insufferable. The majority of audiophile systems are overspecialized and they allow only a select few genres to play properly, and the excluded genres / songs are just presented so awful to hunt your nightmares.
A system that does not narrow down your choices can allow access even to genres that you found intolerable. I was surprised to get moved to tears by a few pieces that I previously did not get...
I’ve already posted but can please somebody explain Wilco / Uncle Tupelo to me? It just seems generic and uninspiring. This is truly inline with the OPs title. I want to get it but I can’t get thru more than three songs without moving on.
Adele: enough already. Stop smoking. Stop writing about old boyfriends
Heavy metal: screaming unintelligible lyrics
Rap:Ticking on a cymbal and electronic bass while they talk about drug dealing and killing cops. Mumble rap, c'mon
Jazz: can't understand sixties experimental. Uninformed cause I couldn't even give it a chance
Country: generic most of the time. I like some.
I always wanted to listen to the groundbreaking stuff. Synthesizers, sampling, polyrhythms, African rhythms. Now we've done all that. Just looking for modern bands of many genres that sound good to me.
Jazz after about ’64. Rush, Steely Dan, Radiohead, rap after 2002, I don’t get anything from them. They just don’t do it for me, but I don’t denigrate anything except christian rock (and I’m a preacher’s kid, so take it with a boulder of salt)...infinite awfulness that transcends time, space and dimensions. ...to me.
Lots I just don't get, am indifferent to, or actively dislike.
Oasis are in the latter category. They were unavoidable here in the UK back in the 90s, and for me utterly insufferable. Everytime you turned the radio on, the TV, everywhere. The whole "Brit-pop" thing was excrutiating.
Don't get - Springsteen; yep, don't get it at all, and I've tried. I did some promoting work for a band in the early 2000s, and their manager for some reason, made it his life's work to convert me. Everytime we met he would go on and on, waxing lyrical over some album or other. I did try to get it, but nope, not happening. At one point he questioned my sanity. I think in the end his pathological need to get me to like Springsteen had the opposite effect. Bizarre individual.
One band I didn't get at the time but became appreciative of after the fact was The Clash. Never a Punk fan as such, but there was something about The Clash that resonated with me, especially the songs Mick Jones penned.
Love Crosby Stills & Nash (& Young) but there's a fly in the ointment there in the form of Graham Nash. Don't get him, and I understand what an integral part of the CSN machine he was, but could never take to him. Crosby and Stills were the better writers for m personally.
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