Records you disliked on first listen

Well, I was dubious about Donald Fagen at first but it has proved to be a real grower.
I bought 'tunng' 'comments of the inner chorus' after hearing a track on Bob Harris a few weeks ago. I was initially underwhelmed. It may be the weather, but over the last week it has begun to surrender its charms. Quirky, folky, reminiscent of Syd Barret and Meddle era Floyd. Perfect summer listening.

I have had albums in my collection for over 15 years, that on first play I didn't like, and never really returned to them. Then one day I think, well it's been five years since I last tried you, and suddenly I love it, and can't think what my problem was.

One such album was Tender Prey by Nick Cave, bought in 1988, finally got in to it in 2004! Early Mercury Rev, pre Deserters Songs, always takes a few listens for me.

I'm just glad I have a policy of not disposing of albums I don't like, just in case.

Willard Grant Conspiracy 'Regard The End' (which is playing now) is another that didn't explode straight away but, now its sunk in, is bloody marvelous.

HungryHalibut, I have the same problem with stuff I like on first listen - I tire of it very quickly and, often, permanently. One of these is KT Tunstall's Suddenly I See, which I got into thanks to The Devil Wears Prada. I love the song now, but I give it a couple of weeks at the most.

For me, the biggest grower has been Clapton at the Cream/Derek stage. It's been 15 years of regular listening and I still find so much to listen to in Sunshine of your Love - a song that I thought a little vague at first.

Thelonius Monk is another one. The first time I heard his solo piano work, I thought of how my wife (who hates jazz) described jazz piano ("Like a bird walking up and down the keyboard"). It took a while, but now Ruby My Dear is one of my favourite jazz songs.

quote:

Willard Grant Conspiracy 'Regard The End' (which is playing now) is another that didn't explode straight away but, now its sunk in, is bloody marvelous.

Malky, I hated the new album by WGC ('Let It Roll') on first listen. I still do-avoid! Regard The End is still a joy.

My real 'grower' as an artist was Billy Bragg. I saw him live (rather by accident) and found him far more entertaining than I expected. When I actually listened to his records with a more open mind I found many pleasures with witty and perceptive songs about love and life. An underrated artist IMHO who rather sufferred from his initial 'shouty socialist' image.

Bruce

I spent a year and a bit sneering at others in our school's sixth form recreation area getting excited by Genesis. I just didn't get it. The lyrics in several songs remain to this day, IMO, pants, but given extended listening I grew to love the interplay of the instruments and the driving rythms on many of their tracks. And Then There Were Three is one such album & they definately went off the boil in later years - presumably as Phil Collins' influence dominated.

Peter

I have never disliked a piece of music on first listen, but I have frequently misunderstood great music at the start.

It took me twenty years to really get to grips with the Missa Solemnis of Beethoevn, but now I love it. I found the B Minor Mass of Bach, much less difficult to love!

Fredrik

quote:

Originally posted by northpole:
Genesis ... they definately went off the boil in later years - presumably as Phil Collins' influence dominated.

For me, Genesis were Peter Gabriel's backing group and whilst they were content to be that they made some enjoyable music with a sense of humour - Selling England By The Pound being the high point. I don't consider anything after Lamb Lies Down as being listenable. I know Trick of The Tail and Wind and Wuthering and think they are totally without humour or inspiration - quite sad really when one compares them with Trespass or Foxtrot, which were full of both qualities. The early stuff is interesting - though Jonathon King's involvement is best brushed over. You are, without doubt, right about the reason for the decline of Genesis being the dominance of PC, though I'd cite the leaving of PG as the turning point - a bit like Creedence Clearwater without John Fogerty.

On thread, I find it hard to think of a piece of music I disliked then grew to like. Perhaps, when I first heard Tangerine Dream I wasn't so keen and then one night, I sat and listened to Atem with the lights out and I suddenly understood the quality of the music.

Although dislike is far from it, when I first heard Trouble Over Bridgwater. I thought this is not up to the usual HMHB standard - now, when I'm making up one of those top ten greatest records in the universe ever lists (silly I know), it tends to vie for the number 1 position with Folk Roots, New Roots and 5000 Spirits. Visitor For Mr. Edmonds, being the best minute-long one note recording (a hospital's heart monitor slowing to a steady flatline tone) I have heard.

Rotf

Pink Floyd - Atom Heart Mother

On first listen many years ago, thought it was a horrible clash of sound and I didn't play it again for some time.

On further listening I discovered the musical undertones and have since come to love it as an album. On the B side, Alan's Psychedelic Breakfast is an odd but nice track.

Steve.

Other way round for me. Loved Floyd as a teenager, can't go within a mile of them now.

What not even Piper At The Gates of Dawn? That along with Madcap Laughs, Barrett. Opal and Magnesium Proverbs are my favourite albums featuring members of the PF. Though I didn't like Opal when I first heard it, but it's a grower. Peel Sessions is very good up to the point where it sounds like it was recorded in a barn with Syd outside and the mikes inside.

I still love Syd. I tend to regard 'Piper' as a different band to the lumbering vehicle they subsequently became.
As mentioned above, check out Tunng for a contemporary Syd type pastoral, quirky, folky thing.

Deep Purple Made in Japan
First heard this age 16, noisy nonsense was my conclusion, how times change

I'm not sure I'd say 'dislike' but there have been a number of discs that left me cold on the first listen. One such was the Who's Live at Leeds. Last summer I decided to pick up both it and Who's Next and then proceeded to listen to both back to back - I thin this is why, after the originality of Who's Next, Live at Leeds seemed a little samey. Anyway, I gave it another spin a week or two back and loved.

Many years ago, I fell in love with Miles Davis, via Kind of Blue, so I rushed out to buy more recordings. The two I stumbled across were Bitches Brew and Pangaea - not quite the same sort of thing. Actually I got on remarkably well with the latter, but it took me much longer to come to terms with the anger and intensity of Bitches Brew.

When it comes to classical music, there are a number of works that I have disliked on first hearing, but come round to with the right performance - the symphonies of Bruckner are a good example, Tintner's set left me cold, but then I picked up Jochum...... [big grin]. More surprisingly, perhaps, I never much cared for either the Beethoven violin concerto or the Emperor concerto. I think the emperor was down to the fact that my introduction was Kempff, whose unique approach suites the 4th concerto to perfection but doesn't quite work on the 5th. Then I heard Solomon, and little more need be said, except this is a staggering performance (the scale and grandeur he achieves is remarkable). For the violin concerto it was the recent live recording from the 40s with Rohn, Furtwangler and the BPO that showed me what a work this is.

I'm sure there are more examples, but that's all I can think of for now.

regards, Tam

Eels , Beautiful Freak. It took me a few years and multiple listenings and not that long ago I started to enjoy it. Watching Shrek helped, I think.

I didn't really like The Kick Inside by Kate Bush when I first bought it back in the eighties. Now it's probably my favourite album.

Mark

I hated all punk, rap, hip hop, and heavy metal on first listening. One second listening I hated it even more.

quote:

Originally posted by erik scothron:
I hated all punk, rap, hip hop, and heavy metal on first listening. One second listening I hated it even more.

What about on the third listen?

And what about Ed Banger an the Nosebleeds Ain't Been To No Music School - the double negative is deliberate, as I understand Mr Banger had indeed studied at a music school. I think some forms of music that may be difficult to like can save themselves with a bit of humour.

Though I just don't give rap or hip-hop a chance, it seems to take itself seriously and to me that's a big mistake (or perhaps it's my mistake). Anyway I counted up all the rap and hip-hop records I've bought over the years and it's none: I double checked with a recount and it's still none. Am I really missing anything?

Two spring to mind, A love supreme by John Coltrane (I just was not ready) and Pet Sounds by the Beach Boys. Both now among my faves. On the matter of Hi Hop, it really pees me off when people write off a whole musical genre just because they have yet to find something they like. I think The Streets are one of the most important acts to have emerged in recent times and I struggle to think of a better lyricist than Mike Skinner.