Do you listen to your own recordings after they're done?

I listen to hear what sounds good, what doesn't sound so good, and what could sound better next time. I don't listen to my own recordings for pleasure, though.

 

Whenever I listen to our album (click link in sig to see), which bands seem to do untold dozens of times before it's release, I hear things I wish were done differently. We were satisfied and proud with the overall results, but you can tweak things endlessly in the studio if you allow yourself.

There must come a time when everyone says "it's good enough" and finish up.

I will play it for anyone who wants to hear it.
My wife puts it on in the car on a road trip, but now I rarely listen to it for kicks on my own.

Stuff I'm currently working on gets plenty of ear time though...

 

This pretty much sums up my thoughts. I don't usually actively listen to my own work. I do have my albums on my iTunes, in my car's harddrive, etc, and if they come on usually I'll listen to them, sometimes I skip them.

I tend to hear things I'd liked to have played again or liked to have changed when I listen though.

 

Yep. I always find boo boos and nuggets of gold. Part and parcel.

 

I used to wonder why name musicians would always say in interviews that not only didn't they listen to their own records, they were mostly dissatisfied with them.

After recording a half dozen albums I understand why

So, no I do not listen to my recordings for pleasure.

 

Yes.
One of my bands records all our jam sessions and I review them later on to evaluate ideas and determine if something needs to be developed into a song.
There are other recordings and videos of band performances that I have done in the past, I do not watch/listen to those.

 

Yes, because i enjoy the music i make.
And as with most music i listen to, i'll often hear details i hadn't noticed before.

 

One day seven years ago I vowed to only record music that I would enjoy listening to. This has resulted in many recordings that I really love listening to. It also sparked an internal conversation about what kind of music I really enjoy and why. It makes me think about what to play rather than just playing for playings sake. Sometimes things are more fun to play than they are to listen to. This is a pretty selfish thing and results in a product that is fun for 1 person and less fun for many many more. Something should be enjoyable to listen to. If you are too critical on your own recording, that is definitely understandable. I used to be quite critical on such things. Then I started playing in a more stream of consciousness way that included improvisation (and I also started playing guitar as well as bass). This changed many a thing. I was able to put myself into a different state of mind that listened to the recording with fresh ears that were as objective (versus subjective) as possible.

 

I listen to my own stuff a lot for many reasons:

1. bringing back the memory of the creation, evolution, and documentation of the the song, and all of the camaraderie that comes with that. Listening to a certain project will bring me to life points in my past and make me think about the evolution of my playing, friendships, good and bad times with band mates etc. etc. Each venture into the studio was always after a ton of time committed to writing, rehearsing, playing live, driving in a van, sleeping in a hotel room or on a couch..., and creating an environment that I lived in, and the studio was the permanent documentation of all of that energy.

2. analytical. Much of the stuff I would do over, but there is also a ton of stuff where I am like "I came up with that? That is freakin cool. I can't believe that is me...." <- this is not from an egotistical standpoint, but more from a "how in the hell did that come out of my brain/hands?" standpoint

3. with current stuff, I listen to how it is evolving, and if I can do better,,,or, if I should change something or leave it alone.

I have never done a recording that I am ashamed of. There are a few where I am like "What the hell was that?". I think a lot of guys say they don't listen to their stuff b/c they are afraid to sound egotistical - it is "hip" or "ironic" to be non-chalant or uncaring of your output - but they are listening behind closed doors and geeking on themselves. In this area, I will never shove my stuff in peoples faces unless I read that they want to hear it. I will advertise like I should, but not brag

 

Like xUptheironsx I have the same reasons to listen or not to past recordings. There are some that I will likely never listen to again due to the experience of the band or people involved