An iconic album I just don't get

OK Computer always feels like an album that I admire more than actually like. It seems soulless to me, technically proficient but with no emotional connection.

Could I whisper DSOTM as an album that I find impossible to really love? I appreciate the invention but I'm just not that interested, I'll go years between listens and if I'm objective I think it mostly leaves me cold.

How is that for heresy!

Bruce

Bruce, for heresy I just don't get The Wall! Not at all and the The Final Cut is unlistenable IMO! I do love DSOTM tho.' As darkness falls, very loud. Very Special.

(But then, as people will have spotted, I'm also exceptionally fond of Trilogy and Thick As A Brick as well as the Jayhawks, Mozart and Mahlathani!)

What this shows probably is that some music speaks to us and some doesn't and some probably more at certain times of one's life. That's not to say we are more 'receptive' but rather that certain beats, tones even melodies suddenly work with were we are. The joy isn't 'nostalgic' as in reminding us, even just at a very deep unconscious level, about a time and place or emotion although it may do that, but rather reminding us about a peace, a completeness. And this can be loud, soothing, spikey music etc.

Our favorite albums/tracks just give us each a sense of completeness in that moment and therefore we go back to them. So DSOTM does that for me and I can go back to it again and again and get joy and comfort from it. It didn't do that for you but you probably have other albums/tracks that do that for you and which I don't get.

The joy of music and of difference.

(maybe! Or am I just showing my old hippy tendancies?) 

james

james

I listened to Thick As A Brick the other day (as an old JT fan) and still loved it! I can even still raise a smile for A Pssion Play.

I totally agree about the connections that music makes. My desert island discs would not just be the music I love but the music that connects me to great times in my life.

I think one of the snags about DSOTM is that it almost impossible to listen to it fresh and free from pre-conceptions as to its 'greatness'. Might be fun playing it to somebody who has genunely never heard it before. Having said that I bought several of The Beatles re-masters when they came out because I thought I should but with the anticipation that I could only be dissapointed (I'd never listened to a Beatles album before). I thought they were great!

How pleasing that our tastes are so varied, and change over time too.

Bruce

Bruce,

to overcome a lifetimes worth of DSOTM overexposure I would prescribe a goodly dose of Easy All Stars Dub Side of The Moon whenever you feel the slightest urge to reach for the original.

After 6-12 months of following the above prescription, then go back and listen the PF original.  Worked for me...

or the recent freebie cd with Mojo!

Back to GP, I knew of his reputation and remember when that Album came out, I grew up around Philly.  It was a major shift that country western could be exciting, it broadened out R&R.  I was sorely disappointed a few years back of a s/h CD of just Gram's 1st 2 albums. Not so exciting.  Then Emmy Lou did a tribute album of his songs sung by acts of her voice.  Man is that a fantastic CD, called the Return of the Grievous Angel. She sings back up on a few songs, first song she's singing with Pretenders on "She", and then "ooh Las Vegas" is done by Cowboy Junkies, very hot version.

He also influenced the Stones to listen to country music and they sure put that to good use.

mudwolf,

I went to see Emmy Lou live in London at Hammersmith Odeon in 74.

A few of us got free tickets from her record company.

I loved the concert, but to this day i only have one of her recordings and it dosnt get played that much.

One album/band that came out of Philly in the early 70's i  love, and the album still gets lots of play here is,

MFSB TSOP.

Stu