The other day, I happened to be in HMV, waiting for a bus, and I discovered Goldfrapp had released an album earlier in the year. How did that happen? I read the papers and everything, just not music mags. Who knew?
I got home & listened on Spotify. I say listened when I mean skipped each track after thirty seconds. I couldn’t be bothered. I also can’t be bothered listening to St. Vincent or LCD Soundsystem. Both are sitting on the table looking forlorn. Something about that lurid bottom or the prospect of another Talking Heads pastiche make them unappealing.
I’m going to turn off the TV and the radio and daydream in silence….
I too get music tired. It’s the equivalent of watching one too many live football matches (thank God for the international break, no problem giving the friendlies a miss). Going cold turkey is certainly an option – having a music-free week or music-free month, which might not solve the issue of not knowing about new releases (one thing) and not wanting to listen to them (another thing).
Re the latter digital music I find leads to fatigue quickest – Spotify, itunes, mp3’s on headphones. Listening to CDs or vinyl, perhaps some stuff you’ve loved for decades, might do the trick.
I had to go cold turkey two months after Bowie’s death last year. All I’d listened to nothing but Bowie. I feared I’d never listen to anything else.
I did three months. Completely insane. I had to reduce the dose at the end with things like Raw Power and Transformer.
People who came to our house were bemused. “Him again?”
I nearly got trapped again with the latest box set. I found myself playing Lodger ’77 and Lodger ’17 alternately, over and over, for days on end.
There’s probably a name for a condition like that.
It must be a mental illness of some kind. Perhaps, a subsidiary of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
Oh illness schmillness!
It’s called Turning To Erosion.
Repetition, shurely?
I did eight months just listening to the first 20 seconds of ‘Ian Fish, U.K. Heir’*. That must mean I love Bowie more than you two put together.
Actually the St.Vincent one is quite good.
LCD jarred after a couple of listens.
If you want something really lovely try the Lost Horizons album with guest vocalists such as Ghostpoet and Marissa Nadler. Some great atmospheric music to warm your cockles with this anticipated Arctic freeze rolling in.
I do like the sound of that. Is it on Spotify? Oops đ
You listen to every album six times, you mad bastard.
Your ears are probably begging for a holiday. I know I would be.
My ears are fine, thank you. It’s my brain that’s the problem.
LEAVE LURID BOTTOMS ALONE!
Don’t worry. Ever since Weinstein has been called out, I’ve resolved to change my behaviour.
Agree with other comments; listen to less, and listen on CD or vinly.
I bet you listen to loads when you prepare your Car Boot Diary. Perhaps I should do a show on community radio. They’re always looking for someone. Anyone. Trouble is I’d need a brand, Musings On The Byways Of 21st Century Popular Music or something. Plus a theme tune and a….. ohhh, whatevah. I’ve lost interest already.
Musings Of A Middle Aged Serial Killer, broadcast in the dead of night, with each record played six times. You could wear a CSI suit and string-backed driving gloves. No-one would know.
Gosh! I might get two listeners.
Too many nights in makes Tiggs a dull boy. You need some live: grab a gig-guide and go. Let’s have a night out with Tiggerlion.
You are right. I don’t go anywhere much.
That’s a good idea, retro.
Wheredja live, Tiggs?
Oh Tiggs, I get like that when I’m down. Just need to switch off from it all. Have to say none of the acts you mention float my boat anyhow, as I find ’em all a bit too cool & detached & not enough humanity. Maybe ye do just need to take a break, or mebbe yer tastes are changin’ a bit. Was quite surprised you liked the Blue Rose Code album as much as you did. Had a listen, thought it was lovely. Mebbe you need stuff you feel you can connect with more? Daydreaming’s always good.
PS, I’m more worried that yer trying to catch a bus in HMV!!!! đ xx
It’s lovely to see your avatar, Contrary. Your comments, recommendations and passionate writing are always welcome.
I’m glad you liked Blue Rose Code. Maybe I do need more Soul. I’m listening to Jazz more than ever, these days. That’s all about expressing passion and emotion but there’s nothing to beat a soulful album with blood coarsing through its veins and warm air filling its lungs.
Ah, nice of ya to say so Tiggs. I seem to have become even more introverted of late so I’m seldom on here. Just seem to have not much to say for myself lately. Am still listenin’ to plenty music though, not entirely sure how much of it you’d like too much. A lot of psych rock & garage stuff. Very fond of these guys lately http://larecord.com/listen-2/2017/09/11/album-premiere-frankie-and-the-witch-fingers-brain-telephone & King Gizzard’s 2 albums that came out this year. And loved the Big Thief ‘un & John Murry & Nadia Reid& PP Arnold & Yola Carter. Also found some great dark tinged country stuff on a C&W Halloween playlist I found online. Appeals to my black sense of humour. Am currently tracking down my faves to buy. Eg. – (sucker for anything with kazoos in it)
&
& Mattiel I’m likin’. New to me.
https://youtu.be/dzk97VIH6ss
& Protomartyr. deliciously doomy, & have just got my mitts on the new Emily Haines. Her 1st in 11 years. Absolutely loved her previous, so almost scared this can’t live up to that. Time’ll tell.
Also workin’ my way back though the Bob Dylan catalogue as there’s so much I missed. Just been through his gospel period. Surprised how much I enjoyed it. A lot o’ soul in there. So ya may be right. Soul is the answer.
And what retro said too. Ye can’t beat a live bit o’ music. Up close & personal. Get yerself out & get hot & sweaty amongst the masses.
A lot to digest there, Contrary. As always.
I do love the PP Arnold. Classy lady with a whole lot of Soul.
The PP Arnold is on its way to me and looking forward to it @Tiggerlion.
Whenever I see her name though I get a fit of the giggles. Many years ago my Dutch pen friend was over with her friend for a week. My best mate and I took them out on a series of day trips around the Midlands. In the chart at the time was Rod’s version of The First cut is the deepest which I first remembered by PP Arnold and was on the radio every 5 minutes.. Each time the girls heard it they had a fit of giggles as cut (Kut) in Dutch means something completely different (Google it).
The only Dutch I know begins ‘rot op, balzak’ and invariably leads to trouble.
Somebody having an operation on his red ballsack? Very specialist language.
Is rot op not piss off?
My hovercraft is full of eels etc.
Kut and PP quite closely related too, methinks.
You are as magnificently contrary as ever, Contrary. Marvellous stuff.
I think Dr Mattiel could have something to offer you Tigs. Bound to shake off the cobwebs. Would love to see her live.
Failing that, there is no harm at all in a fallow period to give your ears and brain a rest. Don’t go looking for the right song to get you restarted. It will find you.
Try Radio 4 – there’s been some fascinating stuff on there recently.
It’s not just you. I can see the St. Vincent album is very good and everything, garish sleeve aside, but it leaves me cold. LCD Soundsystem I’ll play maybe twice more, but they’re a one-album band for me, and it’ll always be Sound Of Silver.
I did the sound at a Boo Hewerdine* gig a couple of weeks ago, and that sent me off listening to his back catalogue, which is rather like putting on my fave comfy slippers. And I really like his new one, skronky keyboards and all, even more so since hearing those songs played live.
(*) Other favourite old reliables are available.
Ah. Where are me slippers? And me dressing gown? I’ve already got me string vest on.
I used to find St Vincent too self-consciously quirky for my taste — like she’d be Jospeh Gordon Levitt’s favourite band — but then I saw her on Graham Norton and she seems to have morphed into PJ Harvey by way of Goldfrapp â which can only be a good thing.
I always feel a bit conflicted when an artist has a stylistic change that I like, having previously disliked them.
I’m a bit conflicted by your post. Graham Norton brings me out in hives and who, exactly, is Jospeh Gordon Levitt?
Oh, sorry, that was a typo. It should be ‘Joseph’ Gordon-Levitt.
Still not much help. Who’s he?
Actor beloved of those who follow the ‘quirky’ lifestyle, thanks mainly to his starring role in ‘(500) Days Of Summer’, a touchstone ‘quirky’ movie, starring original ‘quirky girl’ Zooey Deschanel.
I think Zooey might well even be “kooky”.
*retches slightly*
Not to mention being a teenage star of about 5000 episodes of Third Rock from the Sun.
I have experienced something similar over the past couple of years, for the first time in my life. I have a huge backlog of new music to listen to- I try, but have little enthusiasm.
What I did was switch medium. So I’ve been doing a lot of listening to podcasts, the radio, watching Netflix. Sometimes the topics are music, sometimes not. You might also like audiobooks?
The change has helped me to go back to music, a little- I’ve started with old favourites but feel more enthused about buying new stuff- for the first time in ages I have a list of things to buy.
I don’t know if that helps. Sometimes you just have to go with it and not fight it, and the desire will come back (hopefully).
I suspect the volume of stuff we have available is just too much. Especially with music; I get overwhelmed by this thing I must listen to now and it takes the joy out of it- next, next, next, just because ther e is so much to get through. This rambling may not apply to you, but maybe take the pressure off to have to listen to something. If you don’t feel you should listen, soon you might want to.
Maybe I should take up reading books. I haven’t actually read a decent book for about forty years!
Any suggestions? Something thought-provoking to stimulate my poor old brain.
Try audiobooks. Sometimes when you feel jaded, listening is the trick (for me, anyway).
I really enjoyed Laura Barnett’s ‘Greatest Hits’ (reviewed by DFB on here). There is a Kathyn Williams link but even if you don’t like her music, it doesn’t matter.
I’m about to start ‘Days Without End’ by Sebastian Barry, which has had great reviews.
I also really enjoyed Robert Webb’s ‘How Not to be a Boy’, which is an autobiography of sorts, but moving and thought-provoking. It helps if you’re a fan of Mitchell and Webb but that’s not essential.
Try anything and don’t feel bad for abandoning them (I am terrible for wasting time ploughing on when I’m not enjoying books; recently, Zadie Smith’s ‘Swing Time’ and Chris Difford’s autobiography- as someone noted recently on here, it’s surprisingly boring).
Oh and I’m reading Carrie Brownstein’s ‘Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl’ which is great on being in a band, and also perceptive about being a music fan. Again, you don’t have to like Sleater Kinney to enjoy it.
Yup, another vote for audiobooks here. Audible are quite reasonable (and your first is free) and some of the titles will ‘sync’ with your Kindle so if you’re out and about and you ‘hear’ to page 99, and pick up the kindle, that’s where you’ll be.
They’re great. I remember when i got Stephen Kings 11 22 63 by Stephen King, I lost a heap of weight because I liked listening when out walking, and there was a *lot* to listen to.
Thanks, Ruby & Ivan. I do enjoy a good walk. That could well work for me.
One thing about audiobooks is concentration. I’m a devil for missing crucial bits on TV programmes and books, so I rewind and reread a lot. Can you do that with an audiobook?
Yeah, very easy to go back a few seconds (or longer). They’re very easy to use.
Great!
I’m slowly working my way through Bleak House from Audible, read by Sean Barrett and Teresa Gallagher. Brilliant. Perfect for plane rides, train rides, horse rides…
I’ve been listening to the classics. I belong to a great series. It’s called The Namesake Series of cassettes. They send you works of famous authors done by actors with the same last name. I’ve got Denholm Elliott reading TS Eliot on this one.
I’d love the Game of Thrones series as read by Chris Martin.
Or maybe White Teeth, read by Mark E Smith.
Retitled “False Teeth”.
Great book, @Ivan. One of King’s best. Also resulted in a good tv series which, in King’s case, is not very common.
It happens to me too. Headphones on all day here so I sometimes have had enough but an old I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue, Down the Line or Knowing Me Knowing You clears the mind and I’m back in again.
Listening to the lovely Michael Carrick Trio now which is nice and soothing after a shitty Monday morning.
Where do you get these old shows? iTunes?
Being a dedicated user of get_iPlayer I’ve recorded them over the years. I’ve got CDs and hard drives full of the stuff!
Michael Carrick Trio? So that’s why he hasn’t featured for United lately…
Does he play the piano sideways?
I was hoping that wouldn’t be noticed! In my defence I was having a quick skive at work and was using my phone.
Michael Garrick may have been better in midfield than the clowns on show for Utd yesterday.
Too much stuff, all hyped as the latest thing you can’t afford not to hear. It does get wearing, and, truth is, most of it we can live without.
This year is the first I’ve used Spotify to sample albums before buying. My expenditure on brand new stuff has halved.
I have tried and failed to get on with the new St Vincent, notwithstanding the arse. If that helps.
You’ve managed to get on her arse? Good for you!
The arse could have been mine, which has been known to cheer up many a dull ditty with a few well-timed interjections.
I’m not convinced your arse looks anything like hers. I imagine you do have fluorescent pink tights, though.
Mr B was wearing electric blue grollies yesterday.
Just thought I’d drop that in.
What? You see him in his underwear? With the lights on?!
They are currently hanging from the chandelier.
We were but my arms gave out.
No they swapped – Mr B likes the silky frilly ones apparently.
Where I come from grollies are bogeys. Not where you come from, I presume.
Music tired
Not just me then!
*yawn* (you know, one of those big cat yawns)
*daydreams*
Nothing wrong with you – I know exactly how you feel.
Sometimes I feel the weight of all the vinyl and CDs and find it a bit depressing.
A recent strategy of mine is to use the Program function on my CD player making some tasty EPs of all those overlong albums – great fun!
I love editing and resequencing albums. It is, indeed, great fun.
Which CD player do you have, see?
I used to do that on my Technics CD player, still in perfect working order millions of spins later. It was a boon when I first bought Dr La Soul Is Dead and the like.
Dr La Soul is dead?!!
Now who’s going to take care of all my pains and ills….?
I’m posting from what I am told is a “smart” phone.
Hope you like my new direction.
Sorry, what?!!
Oh! “New direction”! I misheard.
I think you have predictive hearing.
Marantz cd36. 21 years old. Going fine *touches wood*
Mmm. Nice.
Sorry to hear about your troubles, Tiggs. I doubt that you, of all people, are burning out.
Maybe mix up your listening with some podcasts? The Questionauts from a few years ago is trouser-wettingly funny utter gibberish and they only made about 20 episodes altogether.
Or balance your arch and sterile with warm and life affirming (like Brother Ali), sunny and singalongable (like Chronixx) or soulful and uplifting (e.g. The Como Mamas).
Or, as hinted above, some things just don’t merit six listens to be dismissed…
p.s. It may be against your religion or something, but I couldn’t listen to half as much without regular shuffling sessions..
I’ve just created a playlist of all the albums on my iPod with zero plays (there are quite a lot). I’m going listen to them on album shuffle.
“Iâve just created a playlist of all the albums on my iPod with zero plays.”
Afterword t shirt.
I reckon 2017 will go down as the year I have listened to so little music, probably the least since I started buying lps in the sixties. I am 100% certain I am missing out on all sorts of ‘vital’ stuff but I just can’t get engaged.
On the other hand this really is the Golden Age of Television – so much not just good stuff but brilliant stuff. Reading a lot as well so by the time I’ve watched a show, finished my book and cooked up a storm (my real passion these days) it’s time for bed.
Telly isn’t so good at the minute, thoughbut. What are you currently watching?
Oh currently just Stranger Things, Blue Planet, Crazy Ex Girlfriend, The Good Place, Strictly, Narcos, Modern Family – no idea where those afternoons go.
I haven’t heard of many of those.
*scans TV schedules*
Titedness, over exposure, all the reviews you’ve posted recently and perhaps recognising there’s not a lot new under the sun?
Enthused by the recent review for Hall & Oates ‘Timeless Classics’, I made my purchase. I think I got only halfway through before I knew all I really needed was ‘Abandoned Luncheonette’.
I haven’t got Abandoned Luncheonette. Should I buy it?
Absolutely yes. Even if you only listen to the first side, as good a first side as was ever made. (I am sure side 2 is OK, just never got round to turning it over.)
It’s the only Hall & Oates you’ll ever need. Over 30 years old and still sublime. Fabulously well composed songs and thankfully before their disco period.
A couple of quid on eBay.
(harmonic) Woof!
I love disco!
Anyway, one more CD won’t do too much harm, I suppose.
It’s okay, but they really hit their stride in the Eighties
Country Funk 1969 to 1974 on light in the attic. Starts with Billy Swann covering Dont be cruel and is fab start to finish.
I had a day off yesterday and like you @Tiggerlion I was struggling for inspiration.
Put this on and it made my day. Excellent.
St Vincent was one of those few things were, as a former admirer, I thought ‘no’. It’s irritating, beyond pretentious, smug and will be loved by lots who will think they are ‘now’ for doing so. Hated it.
Whereas the LCD Soundsystem, for me, would be just the thing to jolt me out of a malaise – its got just about every sound I love – yes, quite Talking Heads but Remain In Light Talking Heads.
But I would say the best way to break out of it – though not the cheapest – is new speakers, headphones etc. Just freshens everything up….
*checks bank account*
*looks at calender*
That’ll be a ‘no’, then.
When you finally get your new motor you can try out everything afresh on the B & O system. I am, quite frankly, gasping to know what you think of it..
Yes. Of course. Something to look forward to!
I dug my Linn record deck, which had been boxed up during a house move, out of the cupboard. I’d been waiting for my youngest to become old enough not to play with it. And I bought a new streaming preamp (which the whole family can control from their phones) to access the thousands of rips on my NAS (this previously involved integrating a Logitech Squeezebox and a collection of 1980s hardware, which was like controlling a NASA mission).
And, guess what? I mostly play vinyl favourites from the packing crates in the garage.
I just don’t have enough time in my week to listen to things I don’t like.
Someone once said something like ‘I trust the music to find its way to me.’ And I would agree, but only add to that ‘if I’m halfway attentive’. Personally I don’t care if I only discover the next best thing 20 years after it came out. But then I’m not a teenager …
But…but…but, what happens if I don’t live 20 years?
Then you won’t worry about it. Problem solved.
I agree with this completely. Of course it’s necessary to meet music halfway (maybe at a Crossroads, or something?!) but I’m still hearing ‘classic’ albums for the first time that have been around for half a century. They may be fifty years old, but to me they’re brand new.
I envy you.
Try Swordfishtrombones.
It works both ways. I’m currently working my way through the ‘1001 Albums To Listen To Before Your Heart Gives In’ book at a slow and steady pace, skipping those I’ve heard before or own. I’m only in 1968. At the speed I’m going, it may take me another twenty years to find out if I like Tom Waits or not.
I’m listening a lot less to recorded music and going to more small-venue gigs lately.
Also reading more books. Both new ones and selected re-reads.
If only I could get out that blasted door after dark.
They have buses in HMV? Multi-themed record stores it’s the future …
They sell clothing and crockery too.
I find listening to the ‘Songexploder’ podcast is a great way to freshen up ones listening experience. Hearing the artist explain the why’s, the what’s and the how’s of their song in around ten minutes and then hearing the song ‘in it’s entirety’ brings the track to life.
Since you mention St Vincent, here is a link to the ‘New York’ Songexploder’ episode, but they are all worth hearing – http://songexploder.net/st-vincent
Thank you. I’ll definitely listen to that.
You know that Cesar The Dog Whisperer TV programme? Itâs basically the same episode over and over, because dogs are the same over and over, itâs the same situation and the same solution: the dog needs a pack leader, the owner doesnât step up to the mark, so the dog becomes the pack leader and causes mayhem to the household.
Itâs the same with your music: you can either be passive or proactive. If youâre passive, you let music come to you, you drift along and stumble over things, etc – this worked fine when you were a teenager but now it means having a bajillion suggestions, a ton of Spotify recommendations, product being pushed on to you left right and centre, and guess what? Youâre not that bothered by the vast majority, so you feel underwhelmed by the quality and overwhelmed by the quantity, it becomes a chore.
I think this is where the whole âthereâs too much choice, I canât keep upâ attitude comes from, and frankly Iâve no time for that because it basically indicates that youâve let music become your pack leader, and boss you around.
So instead you need to take back control (sorry) and regain the initiative of your own musical choices proactively: go out and see a few bands almost at random, and put their stuff on heavy rotation beforehand; go and see someone without knowing or hearing anything at all beforehand – festivals are good for this – and youâll quickly find what works for you.
It all comes back to what youâre really looking for in music – something old, something new? Something to wallow around in (I found that getting âintoâ the likes of black metal or Krautrock introduced me to a whole host of interesting acts)? Maybe you want to be transported, so itâs time to give classical music, jazz, music from other cultures and/or times a spin, to take you elsewhere?
We all need to get out more.
What some of us are looking for in music is a reason not to have to go out..
I’m in the fortunate position of not being particularly bothered about any of this. I’m forever hearing something new I like and discovering that the artist has been a thing since 1993. I gave up worrying about the newest thing some time in the 1980s – very liberating. Same goes for books and movies – I have a century of stuff to choose from.
So some hot little bit of jump blues from the 1950s is just as ‘new’ to me as the latest St Vincent waxing (which I quite like as it happens). I have nothing to add but Ipsy Opsy Ooh.
That is new to me. And very refreshing too. Thank you.
LCD Soundsystem are without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most over-rated bands ever. Boring, ersatz, wafer thin appropriation of A Certain Ratio, 23 Skidoo, Talking Heads etc with absolutely none of the charisma or intrigue.
Worth seeking out their influences rather than listening to their dreary watered down versions. Here’s a mad tune from 1981 they ripped off:
I saw all three of the bands you name in my peak gig-going phase (1976-1982).
Actually, I like LCD Soundsystem. He is not pretentious. He doesn’t claim he is high art nor does he hide his influences. He just has fun. At least, until this latest one because i haven’t heard it yet.
Which reminds me… the first batch of A Certain Ratio reissues are out this week. I have them all anyway, but hurrah!
Perhaps this would provide a good read and also get your Dan-related musical juices flowing:
https://nme.backstreetmerch.com/artist/uncut/magazines/steely-dan-ultimate-music-guide
In the shops tomorrow, or you can buy it online.
I think I have every single track ever released by Steely Dan and all their solo material, plus a great deal of other stuff they produced or wrote. Will that Uncut Guide really help me?
But, thanks for the suggestion. I’m sooo buying this. I’ll be queuing outside Morrisons first thing.
âI think I have every single track ever released by Steely Dan and all their solo material, plus a great deal of other stuff they produced or wrote. Will that Uncut Guide really help me?â
ATS
It also answers the OP’s question.
And poses many new ones, all of them unsettling.
If you’re not totally off your music, but just in need of a source of new musical inspiration, you might find something of interest to you here.
http://freemusicarchive.org
All sorts of genres and all there to listen to or download (as mp3s) with the full permission of the artists. Links to their pages for more info or should you wish to buy recordings or leave a tip via Paypal.
As with most of these sites, that’s just overwhelming to me. Wouldn’t know where to start. Not even with a genre. I got through 3 or 4 pages and kept seeing how many thousands of tracks/files there are to go through in pages of 20 or whatev er.