Accepting new music

Posted by: mikeeschman on 04 February 2010

When you are listening to something that is completely new to you, when do you decide to give up and move on, and what makes you do so?

For me, I give a new CD anywhere from 2 to 5 listens before I give up. Most CDs I love have me by the 2nd or 3rd listen. Many of these "rejects" will get another chance months or years later. Still, few CDs make it on a second try.

This method has expanded what I listen to, but not in ways I expected or hoped for. Over the past year, it has added Bach, Debussy, Chopin, Schubert, and Haydn to the love list.

With music other than classical, things haven't changed much over the past year, despite some effort on my part.

I think accepting new music is different for each of us.

So it goes.

One thing I have to remark on : Of all composers, J.S. Bach is the most consistent in terms of sheer enjoyment. A week of Chopin or Debussy will leave you yearning for something different, while Bach is good for a month or more. After a month of Bach, a week or two of other music will leave you ready for another month of Bach, and the Bach always seems "fresh". I can't say those things about any other composer.
Posted on: 04 February 2010 by mongo
Hi Mike, interesting question.

Mood appears to affect my music mind more than the new music itself. For instance if I'm in the mood for rock, such as say Kasabian, The Jam, Stone roses and the Clash (yesterday morning), then new Handel will not cut it.

Yet today I'm blasting out Concerto Grossi OP6, (as kindly instructed by George) and nothing could induce me to change it. (Except Bach, whose Harpsichord concertos are up next for the rest of the afternoon).

I am in the similar position to you regarding classical and 'other stuff'. Classical is becoming my music of first choice and I see this expanding in the near future at least.

Quite recently I was finding it more difficult to begin to enjoy new music but now, since i discovered this forum, I've been re-enthused as it were, and am enjoying new stuff more and more.

Long may it continue.

Paul.
Posted on: 04 February 2010 by Lontano
No science with me.

Be open minded, adventurous and sit back and enjoy. Let your emotions engage and the foot do the tapping. I like to explore the new and push my tastes to places they have not been before. I normally know first listen whether I will like or not - that does not mean I like first listen but I see the potential for growth.

I have a pretty good strike rate on trying out new music. I also mix up what I listen to so often two albums in a row will have little connection.
Posted on: 04 February 2010 by JamieL_v2
For me it is very influenced by what others say about the album, if people who's opinions I respect are positive about it I will keep giving it a try. In that respect I find this forum very helpful as I have found quite a few people here who's tastes overlap a great deal with mine.

One of my favourite albums of the past ten years took many listens, and 18 months until it clicked what was good about it (Tool 'Lateralus'), and I know that is common for that album.

Some albums do get less positive treatment.
Posted on: 04 February 2010 by BigH47
I will use others whose taste overlaps mine. I then have a listen , this is where Spotify is such a boon, usually a track or 2 is enough to make or break the album, some don't get passed a few lines though.
Even with like minded souls we diverse and this is where this system breaks down, especially if I use the 'J' word.
I can't remember many albums I have learnt to like by repeated listening though. They are there or not.

I usually rip any CDs my son brings in if I see them, trouble is he keeps downloading stuff now.