Music forum: can't we do a little better

Posted by: Iver van de Zand on 23 November 2014

Hey forum members,

 

Probably like many others, I enjoy the Music Room and the "What are you listening ...." thread every single day. For me it is THE source of exploring new artists and albums. I already discovered many great ones and believe the taste of the forum members to qualitative music is very high.

 

However, also every single day I struggle with the lack of information I see when somebody posts an album. Here is what I do: I zoom into the screen (literally) hoping to be able to read the Artist or AlbumName on the picture. If I don't know the album, I go to YouTube trying to find some records, play and listen to them. A lot of times it appears to be music that is not to my taste, however often it is. When it is, I Google further to explore and listen and buy in a Webshop when I really like the album.

 

With the easiness of web-development these days, wouldn't it be an idea that HoopLa gives us a small template with drop-down boxes when we post something on an interesting album. These boxes could be Artis, Album, Genre and maybe a few others. The same HoopLa could also foresee an Export-to-CSV option so I can quickly get a dump of all the suggested music.

 

The above functionality is not difficult and of the shelf. If so many people like the music room, we should be a bit more critical in the info we get back. Again, it is not a lot of work for the person posting: if somebody takes the time to post an album cover, it will be no issue to simply tick 3 or 4 boxes with it.

 

Iver

Posted on: 24 November 2014 by Bruce Woodhouse

Personally I find the album picture the least useful bit of information, so when I post about music I don't include one.

 

The most useful thing for me is either a few lines trying to review or describe the album or best of all some comment on the lines of 'you might like this if you already like so-and-so'. That way I know if it is possibly going to tickle my fancy.

 

A link to soundcloud/grooveshark or some streamed sample I think is a good help too.

 

Bruce

Posted on: 24 November 2014 by joerand

I use a picture of the album cover, and when possible find a photo that exactly matches the specific release I'm listening to. I also state the format and year of release. This makes relevant any comments I make on SQ, etc, to those that might be interested. It's nice when I get feedback.

 

I usually answer the question "Why?" I'm listening to it. Many don't, so the post is merely a jpeg of the album cover. I still enjoy seeing the album art and what folks are listening to. If I have specific questions, I'll reply and ask them. It would be nice if more folks would take a few seconds to state the format, specific release, and of course "Why?".

 

I like Iver's idea and certainly would use it. Maybe it could be used for a more in depth topic thread for those of us that are willing to take the time. Those that want to post an album cover jpeg could use the current topic thread, perhaps with the "Why?' eliminated. I would still enjoy the album art and seeing LPs I'd forgotten about or wasn't aware of.

Posted on: 24 November 2014 by Bert Schurink

Iver I will do my best in the future to add some more info on the albums I am listening - however I don't always have time to completely brief about the experience I have while listening to the album, or even in a 1st run I normally find it difficult to come with a definitive review of the album.

Posted on: 24 November 2014 by Iver van de Zand
Hi Bert,
 
Thanks for your reply. I have already discovered lots of music from your postings !
 
Personally I believe that using a simple template with drop-down can make it way easier to post on music, than it is today. The number of choices on such a template should be very limited; it would be just to "force" people to share some info (i.e. artist, album name, genre and scoring ??). Positive side effect would be that in the same stream one could easily extract on overview of all postings
 
Iver
 
 
Originally Posted by Bert Schurink:

Iver I will do my best in the future to add some more info on the albums I am listening - however I don't always have time to completely brief about the experience I have while listening to the album, or even in a 1st run I normally find it difficult to come with a definitive review of the album.

 

Posted on: 24 November 2014 by Bert Schurink
Originally Posted by Iver van de Zand:
Hi Bert,
 
Thanks for your reply. I have already discovered lots of music from your postings !
 
Personally I believe that using a simple template with drop-down can make it way easier to post on music, than it is today. The number of choices on such a template should be very limited; it would be just to "force" people to share some info (i.e. artist, album name, genre and scoring ??). Positive side effect would be that in the same stream one could easily extract on overview of all postings
 
Iver
 
 
Originally Posted by Bert Schurink:

Iver I will do my best in the future to add some more info on the albums I am listening - however I don't always have time to completely brief about the experience I have while listening to the album, or even in a 1st run I normally find it difficult to come with a definitive review of the album.

 

Interesting though you bring up. If NAIM would put this in a little database then we could even build a database of the most favorite recordings - that would be of immense value.....because keeping track of all the posts is not always that easy...

Posted on: 24 November 2014 by Iver van de Zand
Hey Bert, you are way better than me expressing what I actually wanted to say :-) thanks !!!!
 
 
 
Originally Posted by Bert Schurink:
Originally Posted by Iver van de Zand:
Hi Bert,
 
Thanks for your reply. I have already discovered lots of music from your postings !
 
Personally I believe that using a simple template with drop-down can make it way easier to post on music, than it is today. The number of choices on such a template should be very limited; it would be just to "force" people to share some info (i.e. artist, album name, genre and scoring ??). Positive side effect would be that in the same stream one could easily extract on overview of all postings
 
Iver
 
 
Originally Posted by Bert Schurink:

Iver I will do my best in the future to add some more info on the albums I am listening - however I don't always have time to completely brief about the experience I have while listening to the album, or even in a 1st run I normally find it difficult to come with a definitive review of the album.

 

Interesting though you bring up. If NAIM would put this in a little database then we could even build a database of the most favorite recordings - that would be of immense value.....because keeping track of all the posts is not always that easy...

 

Posted on: 24 November 2014 by Gianluigi Mazzorana
 

Interesting though you bring up. If NAIM would put this in a little database then we could even build a database of the most favorite recordings - that would be of immense value.....because keeping track of all the posts is not always that easy...

 

 

www.discogs.com

Posted on: 24 November 2014 by dave4jazz

And if you guys are looking to discover new music try AllMusic.com.

 

Dave

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by Foot tapper

I find the "what are you listening to & why might anyone be interested" thread to be a superb idea. However, this only applies in practice when posters remember the second half of the thread title.

 

Simply posting a bunch of album covers without explanation of why they are good is a bit of a turn off.  However, when someone goes to the trouble of explaining why they like the album, I really appreciate those posts And often search for them on "Grooveshark" for a preview.... The buy the CD or vinyl!

 

Happy listening, FT

 

P.s. Bought Sgt. Pepper's lonely hearts club band today and the Rolling Stones "exile on Main Street" from a new record store cum cafe in Cambridge, then played both. Exile sounded thin & nasty but Sgt. Pepper was a absolute revelation. It's the new, mono version, remastered off the analogue master tapes and I've never heard the Beatles sound so marvellous.

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by ewemon

I am the opposite of some of you guys. I don't give write ups and never will as the most interesting part for me is the album cover.

 

I always pop over on to some site and listen to at least one track of at least 95% of what is posted that I don't have. 

 

The fact that someone has gone to post an album cover tells me as a general rule they like the album. 

 

Besides that I get promos of up and coming albums which I post on here but can't write about.

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by hungryhalibut

Just posting the album cover is a bit lazy though, albeit a good way of zipping up the forum rankings. I am trying harder with the 'and why' part.

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by Tony2011
Originally Posted by ewemon:

I am the opposite of some of you guys. I don't give write ups and never will as the most interesting part for me is the album cover.

 

I always pop over on to some site and listen to at least one track of at least 95% of what is posted that I don't have. 

 

The fact that someone has gone to post an album cover tells me as a general rule they like the album. 

 

Besides that I get promos of up and coming albums which I post on here but can't write about.

+1 Ewe.

 

It's much more fun looking for the album, band, cover history than being given it all on a plate. I stopped that and some people dig it while others just don't...

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by Tony2011
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

Just posting the album cover is a bit lazy though, albeit a good way of zipping up the forum rankings. I am trying harder with the 'and why' part.

Is that so? Come on H , you're better than  that mate. I did not expect that from you.

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by hungryhalibut

Sorry, I'm not trying to be grumpy. Just posting the picture is a bit lazy - the thread title asks why, so people will ideally say a little. it might encourage others to try something new, which is what it's all about in my view.

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by rodwsmith

I find it's really, really, really annoying when people just post the cover with no hint of explanation of what the music is like, why they are listening to it, or whether they like it. Sometimes, cover dependent, not even a scooby of what it even is. 

 

It's lazy, ineffective, not in the spirit of what the thread actually is (or is titled), and fecking annoying. Several people have said so in the thread, me included, and someone has taken the trouble to start a new thread specifically for the purpose. 

 

I often explore further, but not if the person cannot even be bothered to allude to what genre the music is, and this is not apparent from the cover. The thread says "WHY" in big fat capitals. For a reason.

 

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by George J
Originally Posted by rodwsmith:

I find it's really, really, really annoying when people just post the cover with no hint of explanation of what the music is like, why they are listening to it, or whether they like it. Sometimes, cover dependent, not even a scooby of what it even is. 

 

It's lazy, ineffective, not in the spirit of what the thread actually is (or is titled), and fecking annoying. Several people have said so in the thread, me included, and someone has taken the trouble to start a new thread specifically for the purpose. 

 

I often explore further, but not if the person cannot even be bothered to allude to what genre the music is, and this is not apparent from the cover. The thread says "WHY" in big fat capitals. For a reason.

 

Quite.

 

And I never post covers. Almost always the cover has nothing to do with either the music composer or the music. When music depends on the album cover then it is useless ...

 

ATB from George

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by ewemon
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

Just posting the album cover is a bit lazy though, albeit a good way of zipping up the forum rankings. I am trying harder with the 'and why' part.

Don't care about zipping up the forum rankings. Apart from that I sometimes only listen to 2 or 3 trax on a lot of albums so is it worth my while to write something about them?

 

 

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by Tony2011
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

Sorry, I'm not trying to be grumpy. Just posting the picture is a bit lazy - the thread title asks why, so people will ideally say a little. it might encourage others to try something new, which is what it's all about in my view.

I have just seen some of your contributions, recommendations and deep analysis on the above mentioned topic. Oh, dear! 

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by Tony2011
Originally Posted by George J:
Originally Posted by rodwsmith:

I find it's really, really, really annoying when people just post the cover with no hint of explanation of what the music is like, why they are listening to it, or whether they like it. Sometimes, cover dependent, not even a scooby of what it even is. 

 

It's lazy, ineffective, not in the spirit of what the thread actually is (or is titled), and fecking annoying. Several people have said so in the thread, me included, and someone has taken the trouble to start a new thread specifically for the purpose. 

 

I often explore further, but not if the person cannot even be bothered to allude to what genre the music is, and this is not apparent from the cover. The thread says "WHY" in big fat capitals. For a reason.

 

Quite.

 

And I never post covers. Almost always the cover has nothing to do with either the music composer or the music. When music depends on the album cover then it is useless ...

 

ATB from George

Oh, George..... 

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by Tony2011
Originally Posted by rodwsmith:

I find it's really, really, really annoying when people just post the cover with no hint of explanation of what the music is like, why they are listening to it, or whether they like it. Sometimes, cover dependent, not even a scooby of what it even is. 

 

It's lazy, ineffective, not in the spirit of what the thread actually is (or is titled), and fecking annoying. Several people have said so in the thread, me included, and someone has taken the trouble to start a new thread specifically for the purpose. 

 

I often explore further, but not if the person cannot even be bothered to allude to what genre the music is, and this is not apparent from the cover. The thread says "WHY" in big fat capitals. For a reason.

 

Have you tried posting some of your tastes in music in one form or another?

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by Marky Mark
Originally Posted by Tony2011:
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

Just posting the album cover is a bit lazy though, albeit a good way of zipping up the forum rankings. I am trying harder with the 'and why' part.

Is that so? Come on H , you're better than  that mate. I did not expect that from you.

There is a look-at-me element to just posting lots of covers.

 

It speaks more to an acquisitive approach to music and rotating covers is something a computer could do.

 

It is harder to discuss why the music might be interesting.

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by George J

Dear Tony,

 

I do realise that most of my posts on this thread in particular are boring, and on this forum page still verge on boring.

 

But pictures do not mix well with music except in the theatre and opera. 

 

Infact I have a great issue with music that set words, especially  ... in foreign!

 

ATB from George

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by rodwsmith

Yes I have Tony. But only if it's something I think other people might enjoy, and I try to explain why I think that.

 

There really is no value whatsoever in a simple chronicle of what people are listening to, with no further explanation. From what you and Ewemon appear to be saying, you will post something in the thread even if you don't actually like it, or only listen to a "couple of trax". What use is that to anyone else, or even to you? What purpose? If the thread wasn't so full of such pointlessness, maybe you would have noticed some of my posts in it.

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by Tony2011
Originally Posted by Marky Mark:
Originally Posted by Tony2011:
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

Just posting the album cover is a bit lazy though, albeit a good way of zipping up the forum rankings. I am trying harder with the 'and why' part.

Is that so? Come on H , you're better than  that mate. I did not expect that from you.

There is a look-at-me element to just posting lots of covers.

 

It speaks more to an acquisitive approach to music and rotating covers is something a computer could do.

 

It is harder to discuss why the music might be interesting.

Mark,

 

respect your input even if you and I have not been the best of mates at time, but people  criticising  here hardly get off their butts to post even a picture but are very quick to  have a go at others sharing some taste in music. 

ATB,

Tony

Posted on: 25 November 2014 by Tony2011
Originally Posted by George J:

Dear Tony,

 

I do realise that most of my posts on this thread in particular are boring, and on this forum page still verge on boring.

 

 

Oh, George......