It’s no secret that I am a big fan of my iPod. In particular, I love the playlist options in iTunes. I have created tons of them and tend to listen to my music that way unless I want to hear a particular track. There are two musical groups that have been my favorites since high school. The first is The Beatles. I just love their music, but that’s a post for another day. The other group is the Dave Matthews Band. They are, in my opinion, the best group touring today. I don’t want to get into a subjective discussion as to why because it’s, well, a subjective thing. Anyways, the other day a good friend mentioned how awesome one of their early CD’s, Crash is. I agreed completely. It’s a phenomenal album. He went on to rattle off the names of several songs and it dawned on me… When was the last time I had actually listened to a full album? I couldn’t remember. I typically listen to individual tracks or mix playlists that I throw together or that are automatically generated by iTunes.
So, I decided to listen to my three favorite albums from my two favorite bands.
The Beatles:
Rubber Soul
Revolver
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Dave Matthews Band:
Under the Table and Dreaming
Crash
Before These Crowded Streets
Wow. It’s amazing what the right mix of songs can do. Listening to what the artists originally put together was great. Sure, I could listen to A Day in the Life, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and She’s Leaving Home on my playlist of favorite Beatles tunes, but they are so different in the context of an obviously planned and intricately-constructed album.
Pantala Naga Pampa and Rapunzel are great songs anywhere in a set list, but kicking off the beginning of Before These Crowded Streets with them serves as the perfect prelude to an excellent album.
I guess my point is this: There are many “artists” out there that are lucky to generate a single decent track on a given album. Then there are those who are truly talented and can sculpt an array of songs into a single, unified work that just flows perfectly. To my ears, there’s no better way to listen to great music. I’ll continue to enjoy my numerous playlists, but I’ll no longer ignore the option to just listen to a good “record.”
Technorati Tags: albums, beatles, dave matthews, dave matthews band, music, playlists
See, I’m an album listener. I love my iPod as well, but rarely find myself using play lists. I like to hear how the artist has arranged the album. I am always interested in the placement of songs on an album…The “flow”.
Also, when I have used play lists or been with others who do, I find myself expecting to hear songs in the order they are on the album. So, I get in a car and I am delighted to hear John Mayer’s “Stop This Train”, but then I feel so violated when it’s followed by Gwen Stefani’s “Banana” instead of Mayer’s “Slow Dancing In A Burning Room” (as it is on the album).
Jordan
May 16th, 2007
Crash rocks!
I’m 50-50 with the albums / playlists.
shaun
May 16th, 2007
Jordan, I will definitely be listening to more albums from now on. I used to, prior to my album. There are some that just SHOULD be listened to that way. For example, on Sgt. Pepper, many of the tracks run together… That is one that I have heard so many times, it always does sound a bit odd when “Sgt. Pepper” is not followed by “A Little Help from My Friends.” I still love playlists though - I have some for my various things. For example, “1990’s Radio” is a playlist that grabs all my “popular” music from the 1990’s and randomly plays songs. It’s like listening to a radio station when I was in high school.
Another one grabs random live DMB stuff so it’s like an always-rotating concert set. Very cool. Everytime I sync the iPod it shuffles the order. But yes, albums are good.
@Shaun - I have a feeling that is where I’ll end up eventually. By the way, I just listened to Under the Table and Dreaming from start to finish this morning at work - It is just plain awesome!
Zack Rippy
May 17th, 2007
i’ve always loved DMB, and love all the “favorites” like…grey street, too much, ants marching, #41, etc….but a real good one is “The Best of What’s Around” that song rocks.
shaun
May 17th, 2007
“The Best of What’s Around” is an excellent song.
I’ll go ahead and get it out here: My all-time personal favorite DMB song is “Grey Street.” It is not their best musically or lyrically or anything like that. There are numerous songs that are “better” than it. There is nothing musically that makes me just go WOW like in so many other of their songs, but for whatever reason though, “Grey Street” just clicks with me and I love it. They have so many great ones though! I am listening to “Recently” from Remember Two Things right now.
Zack Rippy
May 17th, 2007
the ipod is the greatest creation ever, besides dvr. i am an adhd music listener and i love the shuffle setting,it makes me gleefully happy. oh did i tell you, preston is taking me to see THE POLICE in july. yes, be very jealous!!
wencke
May 18th, 2007
Wencke,
I tend to agree with you: the iPod is pretty much one of the greatest things ever invented for sure. I love mine.
The Police? That is very cool. I like Sting. I would be jealous, but for the fact that some friends and I (Oswald, Shaun, Stephen, Jordan) will be catching Dave Matthews Band in Tampa in September. That makes me pretty happy.
Zack Rippy
May 23rd, 2007
i will pretend that you put my name in those qoutes. thank you!
Kristin
May 30th, 2007