Music forum: can't we do a little better

I would be sad to see the mix of listening segregated with multiple threads. 

Though a post containing only an album cover without any covering explanation is quite frustrating if one has never even heard of the performers, it is good to see the merry mix of tastes in music all sitting happily together, in my humble opinion.

ATB from George

I like the idea of two threads: one for the what, and one for the recommendations, where people can bring new discoveries and old favourites to the attention of others.

I wouldn't favour separate genres though, as I like all sorts and the current diversity is good. 

Another simple nice thing turned into a hell of "what if". Please leave it as it is. As that member said a lot of posts ago is like to get into a friend room and sniff into his records pile. If you want to know if it's worth the money just stretch your back to pc keyboard and start looking for what at my times was sience fiction: youtube, allmusic, discogs and so on. Relax beacuse as wise George said you'll never get the holy grail and you'll understand that even the cheapest low-fi noises filled up recording can make your hips moving if it's well done.  Enjoy! Your neighbors/neighbours will never see the difference.

I do not like being "forced" to provide.........even by a computer. So I wouldn't use such a facility or such thread.

However, if that sort of thing appeals to others and Hoopla can provide it as an option, a bit like the "Poll" option, fine.

I find it quite nice to see a picture of an album cover. It often simply inspires me to re-listen to an album i've left on the shelf for a while. If its an album that's new to me, I don't mind a little research to track it down, or simply ask the poster if he's willing to provide some further details.

The idea of two threads is also fine. It just needs someone to start them. Simple.

The current title of "What are you listening to and WHY might anyone be interested? (Vol. X)" in my opinion is a somewhat ridiculous title.  If I recall, the last half of the title was forced on by a small but presumptuous vocal group and it has continued on.  The whole WHY in capital letters is brash and somewhat condescending backhand to me such as a bully adult talking down to a child.

For years and from the start the thread was simply called, "What are you listening to? (Vol. I)" etc.

In fact, it probably made it to Volume VI or VII before it got morphed into the present form by some megalomaniac entity who had nothing better to do than micromanage the forum.  

We should remember that, along the way, there were also many other similar threads with the same idea, such as "What are you listening to NOW?" or "What are you listening to right now? or What do you wish you were listening to?  etc. etc. and some even had annual volumes too.  People also talked about starting listening threads for each musical style. 

The spirit of the original thread was self evident enough or at least I would have thought.  Simply put, it is only about sharing your love of music with other like minded individuals.  It should never be open to criticism of others tastes and styles.  One should be free to share or not to share.  If someone has a question they should ask.

I have nothing against the OP suggestions and ideas here.  In fact, I am probably way off the topic but only am commenting on the idea that we all should conform or be chastised directed to those that actually listen to music and want to share in our own way.  I'm surprised actually that the WHY group has not coordinated a global attack by changing ALL thread titles in a similar fashion.  For example, when will we add WHY to all threads then? ...

• System Pics 2014 and WHY would you really choose that wallpaper?
• What was the last cd or vinyl you bought and WHY did you buy an old format since only interesting, up to date people steal stream music?
• What DVD have you watched and WHY wouldn't you watch what I watched last night?
• Nice Photos and WHY might someone else need to be told that it is nice?

For me, every nice discussion naturally may lead to questions beginning with "why" and this is good but when you force it with a big sledge hammer it seems to kill my appetite for dialog.  Some days I want to discuss or tell why and other days I don't either by choice or circumstances.

Well said Florestan, totally agree.

I am not sure I could agree with Doug on this.

Every day I listen to music, and most of the time would not post the music played, as I am convinced that it would be of zero interest to anyone to have a blow by blow account of the daily musical ration.

Sometimes I think what I have listened to might have a wider interest and possibly significance. Then I post it on the Listening Thread, and give an account of what is special about the music and performance that make it possibly of wider interest.

I can think of nothing less useful on that thread than a plain album cover without covering text - at a minimum, Artists and Album Name, as many albums have such appalling artwork that unless one knew the album, one would be stuck to work out what one Earth it was or who was performing.

Nothing wrong with a Moderator titling the thread so as to nudge people to do a little more than post almum covers without any covering text or explanation, and hopefully some enthusiasm.

IMHO, of course.

ATB from George

If you're telling us that you listened to Dark Side Of The Moon or Raising Sand or Kind Of Blue by simply posting a picture then fair enough, we get your drift and it contributes to peoples knowledge of your taste (or a part of it at least).

However, if I posted this:

Then you'd be entitled to say wtf and move smartly on.

If, however, I was to say I'd been listening to Organ Studies by Gunther Schlienz, and that it's a cross between ambient-style Eno and early (non-sequencer) Tangerine Dream and that it's availavble here on Bandcamp: https://ctatsu.bandcamp.com/album/organ-studies then some of you might think it worth a listen (whilst others look around for rotten tomatoes).

Over the last few years the music industry has splintered exponentially such that a veritable mountain of music is being made by people we've never heard of or are unlikely to unless one of us points them out. 

Much of that mountain is made up of styles and genres that even the nerdiest of us struggle to describe (my description of the Schlienz is very approximate), but it does help weed stuff out.

I'd also add that many are viewing the forum through mobile devices, and a slew of pictures with either tiny, or non-existent labelling is simply lost. The effort largely wasted.

I'll confess to being anti-picture (at least on their own). For good or ill, I used to be a significant contributor to the Music Room, both in this guise and my former self, and gained an enormous amount back from people who engaged, and didn't simply slap up a picture link (with possibly an inane "on the black stuff" as commentary). I largely stopped because it's hard to have a discussion with a picture as well as being a right PITA when people quote picture posts back (often ad nauseam).

It's all about music. I do not make differences between classical and indie or what so ever. This is the Naim Audio Forum. Feel free to contribute. I'm here for that.

Welcome back, Char. 

Always enjoyed your posts. Just take it easy, man.

Better  controversial than boring. 

Best regards, 

Tony

Believe half what you read and nothing you hear and you will definitely have nothing less than a quarter of the truth ...

Oops.  I stand corrected.  Hee hee hee 

Dear George,

On the points regarding putting an effort in above just posting a cover and adding some sort of value to post I am all for this and I really don't think we differ on this view at all.  Of course, I try when I can to do this and I like it when others do this as well.  

But, while this is true for me personally, I only would advocate here that it is not my position to force or expect the same of others.  It doesn't bother me (usually) what others do and we can all get along despite the differences.  I really only worry about what I can contribute and this reflects who I am and my values.  I personally don't need a big "WHY" reminder since I contribute probably the same whether it tells me to do something or not.  I prefer my own independence. 

Here is where we may differ as I believe not everyone can or should be the same.  While some may not want to write something they may have other strengths that I don't have and that is evident elsewhere.  Occasionally, yes I have wondered what an album was but if it looks like something I would be interested in I or hopefully someone else will ask and it is no sweat to do this.

Frankly, I don't understand what the fuss is about as I very regularly need some inspiration of what to listen to myself and find the album covers alone quite useful for this purpose.  Scrolling through a page or two at most every day usually gives me exactly what I need and pushes my listening choices in a small way sometimes.  Being a visual person, it wouldn't be so easy if everyone only posted a text writeup.  In fact, I can mostly look only at the album covers and generally know who is posting that without looking at the avatar.  It is interesting to see as a bare minimum what others might be listening to on a particular day.  It is a bonus with an album cover and a writeup and I can stop and read when something catches my fancy.

George, don't every get the idea that your postings are boring or of no value to anyone.  Like I said, when I see a suggestion by you or many others this often leads me or inspires me to listen to the very same.  Although we are geographically separated it is nice for me to be involved with others musically in this way.

By the way, I only post a very small fraction (maybe 10% - 20%) of what I listen to and only 0.0005% of what I buy.  Lack of time prevents me from posting more than I do.  One day I may have more time but another reason is that if I did I suspect someone would probably question my integrity on this as I see others from time to time getting grilled for simply sharing with us. 

Regards,

Doug

Bene affermò, Gianluigi

Single thread, it seems to work fine. I do try and at least give artist and title, as pointed out some albums don't need this info. There is always the chance of of new viewers so that info can help.

Like many I'm sure whether I like something or not doesn't matter to them and why I'm playing something, well I might just want to listen no particular reason. I usually say if another member has prompted my choice.

I often say what format, although I'm not sure what purpose that serves.

Hi Howard,

I suppose this all depends on purpose. I freely confess I am a new music junkie, I live for the thrill of discovery but even my appetite gets blunted by the volume of stuff that exists in every nook and cranny of the net, so confronted with a cover or even the name of the artist/album I don't have the bandwidth to just go wandering off and dipping in randomly only to discover it's (for example) free jazz (*eeeek!*) or a Katie Melua clone (*passes out*).

So if there was a New Music thread (with a bit of a guide as to what it was) I'd be in musical heaven, leaving the listening to thread for posting pictures of Pink Floyd albums. We used to do this and it was the best thread EVER.  

The "What is the last CD/LP/Download" threads are each a form of a "New Music" thread. But not quite. The "What New Release are you looking forward to?" is another form. But not quite. A true "New Music" thread would be perhaps good, but we already have many places to browse....

Good advice but..............

...........mathematically i would suggest that "....you will definitely have nothing more than a quarter of the truth" would be more accurate

In fact, even though you "believe" something, you might still not have the truth

...and a definition of "new" too. OK I guess you are talking 20 teens date, but as I said the other day Gentle Giant was new to me, having missed them when they emerged.

Not necessarily H. If you posted a Gentle Giant album cover and then said why you'd got turned on to them i.e. what was it about the music, then that'd work as it may then turn someone else on. I too had  dismissed them back in the 70s and only realised how good they were when Stuart Maconie (a HUGE GG fan) kept playing odd tracks.

New music can be new to you - just give us a clue why.

Gale 401 will add some useful info on new music and heads up on good price preorders etc when he returns on Monday.

Steve,

I have been upgraded to 501.(-;

Welcome back,  Stu!