Break in period for albums.?

Great post topic. I am aligned with most of you here and thus break music appreciation into two camps: (1) People who are only interested in music (but profess to like music) as a background soundtrack to their lives. These are those for whom CDs and FM stations are overly compressed-- they get a nice, even sound level from their car radio or portable CD player; (2) People who love listening to music. I fall into this hole-- I will usually play any new or unfamiliar piece as background, often on used CD or 50-cent thrift store LP. If it draws me in, I will progress through more involved sittings with more resolving systems (I have a few systems in different rooms with different purposes). When I get to Jan's stage, with a good glass of cab or zin or merlot in hand, sitting in my one-listener-only chair, I will have bought an original pressing (mono if it came out this way) as well as a MoFi or 180g or 200g, and given the CD version away to friends for their own discovery journeys.

I have noted that the particular mood that I am in significantly effects how and what I hear in music, however, other factors like ambient temperature, humidity, barometric pressure and air ionisation can have profound effects on one's involvement and how well a recording sounds. Even the time of day will make a difference in how a recording sounds. For myself, I find that listening to music early in the morning or late in the evening is best.

This assumes that one listens to music when sober. Alcohol and other drugs will dramatically change how and what we perceive music to be. At my age, a couple of glasses of wine can take the harshness out of a lot of recordings and move one to a mellower genre of music.

For background music, I normally resort to FM radio or digital TV radio if I want something just to raise the noise level in the house and keep me company. I tend not to play any of the recordings that I truly enjoy while doing household chores as I feel compelled to continually sit down and listen. I can get easily distracted .

As far as how much I will play a recording, well some recordings are timeless and I have no problem listening to them over and over again without tiring. That's why they are my favourites.

I don't buy software, whether digital or analogue just to fill up shelves. Space here is already at a premium. I buy music to listen to. So my collection might not be as extensive as others but what I have I truly enjoy.

These days I am more concerned about lifeless recordings that are engineered to sound good on low-end systems. Springsteen's 2007 Grammy winner comes to mind. A terribly hollow and compressed recording that music enthusiasts do not deserve.

Well, that's my 2c worth.

Rgds,

Jan

I have that experience often. A "so-so" reaction to the mood of the music, what it is trying to "be" or convey to the listener, etc. is either because I don't understand it (or "feel" it) at first and may take some repeated listening for me to appreciate its own (>possible<) special qualities. Some of my favorite recordings were one's that grew on me I think. It's exciting to me when I find something that I feel compelled to give a chance and then be rewarded later on.

I had that experience with Opeth's album Damnation. Somehow it flew right by head and I didn't give it a big chance the first time. Then I read some glowing reviews and tried it again. They are now one of my favorite bands.

>>I'd like to break in(to) many pieces 'Face Value' by Phil Collins<<

Probably would sell for a higher price than it does in original condition.

Truly one of the most hideous solo performers in rock music.

I'd like to break in(to) many pieces 'Face Value' by Phil Collins.

Now that its been brought up. Except for Tchaikovsky (I grew up on him) its taken some back ground music playing before I've started to enjoy a lot of classical music.

If I sent down and listen to an album and just love it the first time I know I'll geat tired of it sooner. My all time faves are albums I liked just enough to listen to again.. and again until they became familiar.

For classical especially, when listening to music I have never heard (a frequent occurrance) I'll put it on and keep it on background level a couple of times. If after that I find it at all interesting I'll listen seriously. If I don't find it interesting, I assume its probably due to a lack of developed appreciation for the form or styly and I'll put it away for a year or two and then drag it out again and see if my feelings have changed.

I agree with Sugarbrie, except that for me the composers in the second paragraph came long before any real appreciation of Beethoven's music which really required some developed attention span and contemplation beyond my extant capabilities.

Interestingly, I think, I have discovered that an early appreciation of anything usually results in diminishing interest and the pieces that came more slowly have endured. I find I now love pieces that often my friends can't get into. I get some wierd looks from folks who have listened based on my glowing recommendations. :-)

happened to me more than once. Bartok's string quartets, Prokofiev's "The Gambler" and Schoenberg's violin concerto were most recent. usually the music that "grows" on you is going to be the stuff you like most.

Something similar happens when people start listening to classical music in general. They all start out with the mainstream often played compositions by Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, Handel, Haydn.

Over time they branch out Brahms, Dvorak, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff, etc, etc.

They eventually get involved in listening to more complex compositions. No one I know started out in classical, listening to Mahler, Bruckner, Bartok, Schonberg, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, etc.

Although not related to vinyl, that is a fairly common occurrence for me. Some of my favorite albums were very so so with the first few listenings. Then over time as I was drawn into the music and what the artist was saying/doing I understood and could appreciate the album. There are probably quite a few cds sitting on my shelf that if I put away after one listen. If I spent some time with they would probably show themselves as real jewels.

I have this happen from time to time where I do almost exactly as you.....sit listen, uninvolved and throw in a digital copy if I have it and clean or work on projects then get pulled in and start it over on Vinyl and enjoy. Must just be a mood that isnt quite there when I start to listen but strengthens as I hear the music.