How many listen to complete albums?

[excane]

How many of you listen to an album in its entirety each time you put on music?

I rarely put on an album with the intent of listening to it all the way through. I'll listen to a few songs, then jump to another band.

If you do/don't listen to an entire album....why?

I'm curious, let me hear opinions....

[MonetBass]

Once upon a time, artists would actually work hard to create songs and produce the album so that the songs fit together somehow. It may be themaitc, or an entire concept, or simply that they sound good. The goal is to produce a feeling, mood, idea, what-have-you after a complete listen. IMO if you don't listen to the entire album you miss out on that AND other songs (possibly GREAT songs) that you will never hear on the radio or anywhere else. That's why.

[trog]

I properly listen to an album all the way through probably once every two or three days. The rest of the time I either have an album as background music or just stick iTunes on shuffle.

Properly listening to an album in its entirety allows you to appreciate the theme of the work as a whole, which makes each individual song that much more special. Plus it's more fun - and is, after all, the way the majority of albums were intended to be listened.

[tplyons]

I listen to whole albums for the reason OKStateBass66 said. Most are (or were) written from end to end as a single entity. Unfortunately, music is going the way of the single and therefore you get a few decent songs and some filler. However, the ability to buy single songs may finally be motivation to write better music with less filler.

That and my CD player in my car doesn't like to eject on command, so I listen to a CD until it wears out or I'm about to blow it up.

[Muusers]

Originally Posted by OKStateBass66

Once upon a time, artists would actually work hard to create songs and produce the album so that the songs fit together somehow. It may be themaitc, or an entire concept, or simply that they sound good. The goal is to produce a feeling, mood, idea, what-have-you after a complete listen. IMO if you don't listen to the entire album you miss out on that AND other songs (possibly GREAT songs) that you will never hear on the radio or anywhere else. That's why.

I agree. A good album is like a story, if you skip songs you won't get the story. Just like with reading a (good) book, you can't just skip chapters and be able to tell other people what the album is about

[excane]

I agree with all of the above. Time is the main constraint that keeps me from an entire album.

I simply don't have enough dedicated time to enjoy a full album the way I'd like to.

I'm rarely driving in my car long enough for a full album (the car is where I'm most "zoned in" when listening to music)

[excane]

Also the fact that for me, I know of VERY few bands that produce what I consider a "perfect" album.
Perfect only in the sense that every song is something I want to repeatedly listen to.

Those albums for me, are few and far between. IMHO of course.

[Relic]

Depends, but my usual routine is to jump around the first time to get a taste of what's there because I'm impatient as hell, then go back, relax and listen to the whole thing once I know what's to come. Hmmmm that seems a bit obsessive/compulsive doesn't it? Oh well..

[nad]

Most of the music I listen to is album-centric as opposed to don't-bore-us-get-to-the-chorus type schlock, so it makes sense that I almost always listen to an album all the way through. But even when I'm listening to simpler music, I still go for an entire album instead of just a few tracks. I've never been much into radio.

Unless I've been drinking, in which case it's Short Attention Span Theatre with as many thrash songs as I can get.

[iplaybassguitar]

Originally Posted by tplyons

Most are (or were) written from end to end as a single entity.

i dont quite agree with you here...while i do agree that the sound of the whole album is considered throughout the entire process of creating a record, i cant really think of too many albums that are written from start to finish as if they were one peice. i know that some do have concepts or themes they try to get across, but i think that albums are created as groups of songs...they usually happen to fit together well because they are created by the same people/person, so its the same mind(s) and ideas going into it.

usually i will listen to an entire record when i first get it, to see what on it i like and what i dont care much for, and then after that i will sometimes listen to it all the way through again, just to get the big picture again.

[Jiggybass]

The only two bands which I can get through a whole album without skipping songs, or fast-forwarding; Pink Floyd, and Symphony X

The way that their albums are mixed, the songs flow exceptionally well, especially so with Symphony X, the songs are linked so well that sometimes you're actually left wondering whether or not the song actually changed, or not.

[69nites]

Mostly I like to listen to an album as a whole

I will skip songs I don't like

and I judge albums by how many songs I feel the need to skip

[Mark Perry]

I'm either very open minded or lucky in purchasing good albums, but i almost always listen to the whole thing through on first listen. I don't tend to find there are many songs that feel like fillers. I think it's just because i keep my mind open, rarely expect anything, and try and apreciate what the artist is doing - plus theres very few styles i've heard which i can't listen to. Anyone else feel like this?

That said, i tend to get impatient when theres a longer song earlier in the album, i often skip then.

[Peter Squire]

I usually play whole albums, but it certainly depends on what is playing.

[Brad Maestas]

It depends on the artist, depends on the album. There's some stuff where there's only a few tracks that I like and I'll only check those ones out. Other artists/albums that I really like, I'll try to listen to it in its entirety if I can. If I have to go somewhere I'll pause it and come back to it later. Since I got a turntable again, I've been listening to lots of stuff all the way through too.

Joe's Garage by FZ is one of my favorite concept albums.

[Jeff Martinez]

I find that very few albums can keep my attention from beginning to end. With most bands, I get tired of hearing the same singer drone on endlessly.

Most instrumental albums can keep my interest, sometimes for hours. (Latley, I can't get enough of "Trip Wamsley - It's Better This Way")

I'm just thankful that the factory stereo in my truck plays mp3's. All I take with me is mix CD's.

[Morrolan]

Originally Posted by Jeff Martinez

I find that very few albums can keep my attention from beginning to end. With most bands, I get tired of hearing the same singer drone on endlessly.

+1

There are definitely exceptions, though. I recently picked up a used copy of "Decoration Day" by Drive-by Truckers - every time I pop it in, I find myself thinking, "Wow, what a great album," and listening to the whole thing.

[mattq]

i have to listen to an album the whole way through. i believe that an album is one single piece of art that deserves my attention. it's a great way for me a judge a new artist or new album. if they can't make a coherent album, they lose points in my book. but a good, coherent album goes to the top of the heap.

[i_got_a_mohawk]

When bussing it about or just with background music, i usually listen to whole albums.

[Bottom Feeder]

Older albums seem made to be listened to in their entirety.
New albums are lucky if they have one tune I want to hear over again..

Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Pigs and Marillion's Clutching At Straws come to mind as albums that are great start to finish.