Music forum: can't we do a little better

Dear Tony, Now you really are teasing, and I am tired!

Lots of affection from George

I only post music I listen to...if people identify with it fine, it not ... It's a free country. At least, it used to be!

You know I "loves" you, babe!

ATB

Tony

98% of what I post I like the other 2% tend to be promos I have to write about for various online sites.

Why on earth would I trash an album that maybe liked by someone else on the forum. Don't see the point in that.

I have always gone on the principal of letting my own ears do the listening and buying what I like not what someone else tells me is good. There are plenty of albums posted on the forum that are renowned to be classics but I wouldn't bother having in my collection.

If you ask me then I will tell you what it is like if I am allowed to or can.

But that's the whole point! Posting a picture of an album cover is not 'sharing your taste in music' it's posting a picture of an album cover.

Okay, so we can (probably) assume that in some way you like it otherwise you wouldn't bother, but surely if you like it enough to post the cover you could at least tell the rest of us what it sounds like, and why you like it.

Frankly that's all anyone else is, or possibly could be, interested in, unless they happen already to know that their taste exactly coincides with yours.

Which no-one will, if you never say 'WHY'...

Take it as read. We're asking. That's what the thread is for.

I disagree posting an album cover does show your taste in music. I know from one members postings of album covers that he has the same taste in music as me and I would like to meet him one day and see his collection. 

Your going to have a long wait then.

That almost deserves a response but if the originall poster has not bothered so far, I think I'm gonna have a cup of tea!

Best, 

Tony

It's a date. They're just jealous! 

I also think there is a difference between posting the cover of Led Zeppelin 4 or Dark Side of the Moon, and some other newer or more obscure stuff.  I mean, what can you write about those 2 albums that hasn't been written already?  (And probably a hundred times for that matter.)

I do post both just covers, as well as a sentence about some things.  I only post what I am actually listening to.

But Iver makes a good point, and on stuff where I think it may not be as well known as other recordings, I will try to provide some info going forward.

My only gripe is when someone posts an album cover that only has a picture on it with no indication of the artist on the cover, and I am supposed to guess or just remain in the dark.

Wow, what a contentious thread! Just shows how many different views there are on here on even a simple subject like this.  Personally I find posting the picture a pain and always feel guilty when I don't do it. Perhaps,  if it isn't working as it is, people should share what they would like to get from the music threads (and if there is consensus and its possible,  change the title to reflect this)? I'm listening to Signals by Rush,  btw, from 82 which was the first Rush album of the synth era and a stark departure from the classic Moving Pictures. Behind the Beatles and the Stones, Rush are the most successful album group ever (based on gold and platinum albums)

I am with Ewan and Tony on this. Of an evening I can just be choosing music as the feeling takes me. No particular reason just 'oh i had forgotten about that', 'I haven't heard that in a long time' or having seen a post I will play one or one similar from my collection. Sometimes it intrigues me enough to search the album out and buy it. I have been introduced to many great albums this way.

I take it that if someone has posted an album then they have thought it worth listening to for them and as i have learnt to trust that some peoples taste is more likely than not to be similar to mine i will investigate. I am always intrigued when say Ewan or George posts an album. And occasionally jealous that they have a version that i can't get hold off etc.

If i think there is something particularly relevant or important about one album I am playing then I am happy to elucidate but frankly I usually just go where my muse is taking me. For instance just now it is the MFSL cd of Living in the Past. No particular reason except I fancied a listen to that song.

Finally often a conversation will develop around particular albums, better pressings, versions etc. I enjoy those a lot. Even if, when i am being very honest, I doubt whether i would actually hear the difference. 

But that, dear friends, is part of the fun!

atb

james

Ah, interesting posts and it seems like two perspectives.

first, apologies for not posting artwork of the Rolling Stones and Beatles albums in my previous post.

I'm in hospital so not able to master Photobucket etc. just at the moment.

Second, the full title of the "What are you listening..." thread is pretty clear.

Perhaps we could have a second thread entitled "What are you listening to?" for those of us who appreciate reading what others are playing and do not seek the extra insight provided by a personal commentary.

I suspect that this would receive mainy more posts, not least because posting is easier this way.

this seems like an inclusive rather than divisive way forward for everyone.

Best regards, FT

Sometimes the music posted speaks for itself...

G

If people just want to post a cover that is fine, but many of them don't even show the artist or the album. Maybe I should just 'know'?

I just think it is worth the effort to add a bit more in terms of sharing with others. It might get somebody to step outside their usual listening 'comfort zone'. See my thread re the album 'Ypres'. Posting the cover is not going to help anyone, and people who already have some knowledge of the artist will not realise it is completely unlike their prior output. I don't want to do this for everything I'm listening to but for those that I think are especially interesting, particularly with reference to new releases perhaps.

I also mention again that the most useful thing is often a couple of references ie 'you might like this if you already like x and y'. That is what gets me exploring samples etc.

I think we should be brave enough to write about what we like. I don't care if you criticise my taste!

On the subject of which (and totally off-topic) I just bought the new David Bowie 3CD set for my wife as a present. It must be me but after battling through the later years especially I have no desire to listen to it ever again-an artist who leaves me totally bemused and indifferent!

Bruce

90% of my posts on this fourm are in the 'What are you listening to' thread. When I post I have certain people in mind who I know share my taste in music. I do not buy that much new music, so no point telling people what they already know! My posts serve two purposes, one is to say hello to my fourm friends and two share our mutual taste in music, much like when I was younger when I would go round to a mates house to share the music we loved. If people want a more in depth critique there are other fourms on the Internet which are dedicated to reviewing and analysing. The Steve Hoffman fourm is a good example.

Regards Graham.

Hi Quad,

Thanks for your input. I checked the Steve Hoffman forum and it is absolutely usefull.

Regarding ".. certain people in mind who I know share my taste in music .." I have difficulties to agree with you. The forum is an open place and I can hardly imagine you have a clear view on who's interested in your review; just a lot of people will not show their interest publically here.

My idea starting this thread is just really, really simple: I am highly enjoying the reviews in the "What are you listening ... thread". For me it is one of the key sources getting to know new music. However scrolling through the different "reviews" is a nightmare. The very basic information on What artist is reviewed and What album often misses. Trying the find for example the most recent reviews on Jazz music is .................... well, I don't have to explain ...

By adding very simple (!) functionality in HoopLa - think something like a template with a few boxes - one could force to provide minimal, manadatory information. If we could do so, the next step of generating an overview with a few selection criteria is alos very simple. Every website with some level of maturity has this functionality

Ive

Hi Iver

Excellent idea! FT

Could this be solved if we just had two threads instead of the current one?

Call one "What are you currently listening to?" where mainly album covers or ipad / iphone screenshots could be posted.

Call the other "Listening recommendations" (or such like) where reviews and recommendations could be posted with or without their respective album covers or screen shots.  Perhaps even have multiple threads of "Listening recommendations" for individual genres - Classical, Jazz, Blues, Folk, Rock, Electronica, World etc..?? 

Hi dry_stone

good idea. FT

I rather like the thread as it is although I do get a little annoyed at times when I cannot figure out who the artist is - or the album for that matter. Pictures only is of absolutely no interest whatsoever. A few words about what is to like or not is greatly appreciated. For someone like myself who has been out of the loop for years the poster's opinion matters. It's also very nice to read opinions on new releases.

Funnily enough I hardly ever post on the Hoffman forum these days. I have been a member there for a number of years. What I am many other long term members started to see was that it had turned from being at the time the only online advocate of careful mastering techniques resulting in we the consumers getting great sounding cd's to listen to now we should just be thankful the Record Companies have released it so keep your gob shut and stop complaining.

A lot of old timers have left now because of it though some of us still keep in contact with one another.

+1