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> Most albums were padded with crap to fill it up so people didn't feel ripped off. This may be true, but you could always just buy the good albums. I owned a

> Most albums were padded with crap to fill it up so people didn't feel ripped off. This may be true, but you could always just buy the good albums. I owned a number of CDs/cassettes back in the day and I would listen to them and enjoy them front-to-back, over and over. Another aspect of it is that very often what's familiar sounds good, so by listening to the whole album, all of it (or more of it) would start to sound good, not just the radio tracks you were already familiar with. Finally, there are tracks on some albums that may seem odd, or not even particularly musical out of context, but still add to the overall experience (e.g. "Fitter, Happier" on OK Computer, or the instrumental filler tracks on Ill Communication).

gilbetron 4y ago
I 100% agree about the different experience of listening to good/great/amazing albums and the benefits of doing so. It's just that it is a pretty rare experience, particularly these days! A definite downside of our current music situation is that making an album like that is something that is really exceptional, since people rarely listen to music in that manner anymore. However, I wonder if the total number of "holistic" albums are greater now, just because there is far more music being made? :thinking-emoji: I wore out my Synchronicity tape back in the 80s :) Listened to the album randomly a couple of months ago and it is spooky how the experience re-asserted itself into my being. I just know every nook and cranny of the album.
- javajosh 4y ago
  >I 100% agree about the different experience of listening to good/great/amazing albums and the benefits of doing so. It's just that it is a pretty rare experience, particularly these days! Yes - I suspect many kids who are happy with Spotify haven't had the experience. (It's actually a similar trade-off with broadcast TV - I'm realizing now with kids the downsides to having on-demand every episode of every show ever made, versus having to wait until next week and having to be there at a particular time. Gives you time to digest, anticipate, and enjoy. And I always muted the ad breaks, which made them tolerable.)

gilbetron 4y ago

I 100% agree about the different experience of listening to good/great/amazing albums and the benefits of doing so. It's just that it is a pretty rare experience, particularly these days! A definite downside of our current music situation is that making an album like that is something that is really exceptional, since people rarely listen to music in that manner anymore. However, I wonder if the total number of "holistic" albums are greater now, just because there is far more music being made? :thinking-emoji: I wore out my Synchronicity tape back in the 80s :) Listened to the album randomly a couple of months ago and it is spooky how the experience re-asserted itself into my being. I just know every nook and cranny of the album.

javajosh 4y ago
>I 100% agree about the different experience of listening to good/great/amazing albums and the benefits of doing so. It's just that it is a pretty rare experience, particularly these days! Yes - I suspect many kids who are happy with Spotify haven't had the experience. (It's actually a similar trade-off with broadcast TV - I'm realizing now with kids the downsides to having on-demand every episode of every show ever made, versus having to wait until next week and having to be there at a particular time. Gives you time to digest, anticipate, and enjoy. And I always muted the ad breaks, which made them tolerable.)