Imagine listening to your favourite music for the first time
Posted by: Tarquin Maynard - Portly on 01 May 2003
Muchachos
Having been a music lover for over 30 years, I still play some of the same music I first heard in the early 70s; Ziggy, DSOTM, Yes, Electric Warrior etc. I was discussing the then imminent re-release of DSOTM with a work colleague, aged late 30s, when he astonished me by saying he had never heard it. I lent him my car copy of course, expecting fawning gratification the very next day.
To my mild astonishment he did not think it much good. In fact, it left him cold.
This really made me think. Do we listen to old gold because it stands up fresh today, or is it just force of habit that makes us love it? Try to imagine objectively that whatever piece you consider as an old favourite, is being heard for the first time.
Is it really as good as we tell ourselves?
Regards
Mike
Having been a music lover for over 30 years, I still play some of the same music I first heard in the early 70s; Ziggy, DSOTM, Yes, Electric Warrior etc. I was discussing the then imminent re-release of DSOTM with a work colleague, aged late 30s, when he astonished me by saying he had never heard it. I lent him my car copy of course, expecting fawning gratification the very next day.
To my mild astonishment he did not think it much good. In fact, it left him cold.
This really made me think. Do we listen to old gold because it stands up fresh today, or is it just force of habit that makes us love it? Try to imagine objectively that whatever piece you consider as an old favourite, is being heard for the first time.
Is it really as good as we tell ourselves?
Regards
Mike
Posted on: 01 May 2003 by Cheese
quote:Does it matter ? One of the very first records I loved was Rondo Veneziano, I have nowadays the greatest difficulty listening to such a thing but I enjoy looking at the sleeve from time to time - brilliant memories !
Is it really as good as we tell ourselves?
Cheese
Posted on: 01 May 2003 by Tarquin Maynard - Portly
Tom
I broadly agree. Tastes do change over time, which is why, to me, the premise of imagining that you are hearing for the first time an old, much loved piece of music, is interesting. Would it still sound as good as we may have become conditioned over time to expect ?
I rarely listen to classical music now, by the way; used to, but my tastes moved on. I did for some time make a point of buying any Deutsche Grammafon vinyl I saw, on the assumption that when I sink into my dotage my taste for classical music will return.
Regards
Mike
I broadly agree. Tastes do change over time, which is why, to me, the premise of imagining that you are hearing for the first time an old, much loved piece of music, is interesting. Would it still sound as good as we may have become conditioned over time to expect ?
I rarely listen to classical music now, by the way; used to, but my tastes moved on. I did for some time make a point of buying any Deutsche Grammafon vinyl I saw, on the assumption that when I sink into my dotage my taste for classical music will return.
Regards
Mike
Posted on: 01 May 2003 by ejl
quote:
I suspect that as we grow older we become more critical and more informed about what we are listening to
Tom,
In a way the opposite has happened with me. Sadly, I was something of a musical snob from my late teens into my early thirties. Luckily, at some point I got less judgmental about music (perhaps other things too -- I can only hope). What's lucky about this is that as I got less judgmental I found myself able to enjoy things that as a younger man I would have sneered at, such as Foghat, which as it happens I'm listening to right now. Of course on some level I know this stuff contains a fair bit of dross, but I can appreciate it more for what it is; some guys with a decent-but-hardly-stellar talent having fun and trying to make something good, sometimes with success, frequently without.
quote:
How much classical do you listen to and by your critera are these "old gold" or just force of habit?
I personally don't think I listen to very much of anything out of habit; there is too much other good music to explore. I DO however willingly listen to things I don't like, whether to trace lines of influence, to better understand a genre, or just to see what happened with an artist. For instance, I recently listened to Four Seasons again (which I don't like -- maybe overkill), in order to see if it was really Vivaldi that Schnittke parodies in "Concerto Grosso". I also listened to Crosby Stills, and Nash's "Allies", if only in a (perverse?) attempt to understand how a perfectly good band could ruin themselves when handed a few moogs and synths.
For better or worse, I can also still listen to the stuff I listened to when I was 13 ("Fly By Night", anyone?), and enjoy it.
Cheers,
Eric
Posted on: 02 May 2003 by Mekon
Is now a good time to admit that I've never listened to DSoTM?
Posted on: 02 May 2003 by greeny
Tastes clearly do change. As a twenty year old I could have never considered myself liking some of the folk flavoured stuff or Urban Soul that I now enjoy.
However there is very little that I used to like that I now do not. Ok some stuff has dated but I certainly don't dislike it.
It is mildly frustrating, when an album you consider spectacular is dismissed by someone else. I am much more into music than most of my mates and work collegues so when someone dismisses say the Beatles as being overrated (or some such similar). I lend them Abbey Road and they might come back with 'It's OK I suppose but nothing special', I almost lose the will to live.
However there is very little that I used to like that I now do not. Ok some stuff has dated but I certainly don't dislike it.
It is mildly frustrating, when an album you consider spectacular is dismissed by someone else. I am much more into music than most of my mates and work collegues so when someone dismisses say the Beatles as being overrated (or some such similar). I lend them Abbey Road and they might come back with 'It's OK I suppose but nothing special', I almost lose the will to live.
Posted on: 02 May 2003 by Malcolm Davey
Mike - Yes it really is as good as I tell myself
Posted on: 02 May 2003 by garyi
I was listening to dar side when I was twelve, bearing in mind it was released the year before I was born!
Thats what I find amazing about music, that all this good stuff was happening before I was even thought of.
However listening to some of my old music sometimes makes me wince. Some of yeses stuff I find hard work now, (Although there are classics there I wouldn't do without)
However as has been mentioned I think its the remembering of things from your poast which is associated with music is what gives it that appeal.
Truthfully, if I heard dark side today for the first time I would love it.
Also I listened to Tangerine dream, Pheadra the other day, with the new amp in listening to this is like listening for the first time and I wthought it wonderful.
Thats what I find amazing about music, that all this good stuff was happening before I was even thought of.
However listening to some of my old music sometimes makes me wince. Some of yeses stuff I find hard work now, (Although there are classics there I wouldn't do without)
However as has been mentioned I think its the remembering of things from your poast which is associated with music is what gives it that appeal.
Truthfully, if I heard dark side today for the first time I would love it.
Also I listened to Tangerine dream, Pheadra the other day, with the new amp in listening to this is like listening for the first time and I wthought it wonderful.
Posted on: 02 May 2003 by Not For Me
I have not heard DSOTM until this week.
A friend bought DSOTM on vinyl and SACD. He got the vinyl so that he could bring it round and listen on my system.
We did this on Sunday, and I must confess, I would rather listen to about 2000 other things - It did not engage me at all, apart from a historical perspective, and the ability to hear the tape hiss behind the music.
Why is it such a iconic recording?
I honestly don't get it?
I can listen to early PF first few albums, but not the later stuff.
I have the same problem with Dylan. Zappa, Van Morrison and others.
DS
ITC - Anthony Rother - Elixir of Life
A friend bought DSOTM on vinyl and SACD. He got the vinyl so that he could bring it round and listen on my system.
We did this on Sunday, and I must confess, I would rather listen to about 2000 other things - It did not engage me at all, apart from a historical perspective, and the ability to hear the tape hiss behind the music.
Why is it such a iconic recording?
I honestly don't get it?
I can listen to early PF first few albums, but not the later stuff.
I have the same problem with Dylan. Zappa, Van Morrison and others.
DS
ITC - Anthony Rother - Elixir of Life
Posted on: 06 May 2003 by Dobbin
David,
If, as per yr profile, u were born in 1960, what on earth did you listen to during your teens?
I think dsotm holds up exceedingly well. WYWH, Ummagumma, early Genesis, Yes etc are still stunning to me, (as is much of my early collection). Bung on Fragile and play Mood for a Day if you think I'm off on one!
quote:
I have not heard DSOTM until this week.
If, as per yr profile, u were born in 1960, what on earth did you listen to during your teens?
I think dsotm holds up exceedingly well. WYWH, Ummagumma, early Genesis, Yes etc are still stunning to me, (as is much of my early collection). Bung on Fragile and play Mood for a Day if you think I'm off on one!
Posted on: 06 May 2003 by Not For Me
Dobbin,
I liked Hawkwind and a few others, but it was Punk that lit my musical fuse.
Pink Floyd / Supertramp / Yes / Genesis / Caravan etc. were in a musical no-go area for me for a long time, and as time as proved, rightly so.
DS
ITC - Sebastian Skrabic - Outwork
I liked Hawkwind and a few others, but it was Punk that lit my musical fuse.
Pink Floyd / Supertramp / Yes / Genesis / Caravan etc. were in a musical no-go area for me for a long time, and as time as proved, rightly so.
DS
ITC - Sebastian Skrabic - Outwork
Posted on: 06 May 2003 by BigH47
I know the music I listen to now still includes early stuff. Bearing in mind that Buddy Holly, Bill Haley Elvis (Presley) etc were so different. Just look at the 50's pop charts to see what was about. I think the same thing carried on to the 60s/70s when I started listening to (underground) music ie non pop chart music Dylan, Buffy St Marie, Them, Genesis Floyd etc. Obviously we all thought it was really good, but I suspect an element of peer pressure. Saying that I still listen to alot of that music, but looking at my collection there is quite alot that don't get played, maybe one day. Mind you the vinyl from that time is mostly unplayable being "party" albums. Some of the "needed" albums have since been replaced with CDs or vinyl if possible.
Eric I'll go with Fly By Night only got introduced to Rush in 81.
Garyi I bought Pheadra intead of Meddle listened to it twice second time stoned it sounded good then, not previously. Perhaps I'll give it another another spin soon.
Howard
Eric I'll go with Fly By Night only got introduced to Rush in 81.
Garyi I bought Pheadra intead of Meddle listened to it twice second time stoned it sounded good then, not previously. Perhaps I'll give it another another spin soon.
Howard
Posted on: 07 May 2003 by seagull
The eighties (well early 80's) weren't too bad
when you think about it.
I liked prog at school, punk was a laugh and pretty disposable but it opened up the market for a flood of different bands/singers/musical styles...Joy Division, Madness, The Undertones, Elvis Costello, Ian Dury etc. etc.
when you think about it.
I liked prog at school, punk was a laugh and pretty disposable but it opened up the market for a flood of different bands/singers/musical styles...Joy Division, Madness, The Undertones, Elvis Costello, Ian Dury etc. etc.
Posted on: 09 May 2003 by Pete
I've got quite a few records I really like primarily because I enjoyed them as a sprog: stuff like ELO and the Moody Blues which if I came to them cold now I doubt I'd bother, but familiarity has lodged them in a happy place in my head.
As for DSotM, is it any good? Great themes (death and madness!), superb lyrics (concise and to the point with a good degree of depth and wit, compare and contrast with The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, or, preferably, don't...), a cohesive whole, good tunes and awesome axe work from Dave Gilmour (Money has to be an all-time great tennis racquet piece). It just hangs together very well with a whole greater than the sum of its parts, and the parts themselves are superlative as it is.
But, hey, not everyone likes the B Minor Mass, why should DSotM be universally adored?
Pete.
As for DSotM, is it any good? Great themes (death and madness!), superb lyrics (concise and to the point with a good degree of depth and wit, compare and contrast with The Pros and Cons of Hitch Hiking, or, preferably, don't...), a cohesive whole, good tunes and awesome axe work from Dave Gilmour (Money has to be an all-time great tennis racquet piece). It just hangs together very well with a whole greater than the sum of its parts, and the parts themselves are superlative as it is.
But, hey, not everyone likes the B Minor Mass, why should DSotM be universally adored?
Pete.