Best Ever Albums

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

zdwyatt — Fri, 18 Oct 2013 16:59:56 GMT

Author: zdwyatt

Posted: 10/18/2013 20:59

There are plenty of variables, but one constant: music must be loud. I don't mean blow-out-your-eardrums loud, but loud enough that you are hearing everything. It shouldn't just be floating around in the background. Personally, nothing tops the home stereo with all the windows open.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

cattlest — Tue, 15 Oct 2013 00:43:45 GMT

Author: cattlest

Posted: 10/15/2013 04:43

listening to 'too dark park' at night, in bed, with headphones, tripping your balls off.

Thumbnail. Click to enlarge.

Too Dark Park by Skinny Puppy

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 20:19:44 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 10/15/2013 00:19

tgarritsen wrote:

The best way I like too listen to albums is really late at night.

This is true for me and "Hysteria", especially with the track "Animal" which always reminds me of wolves. Really, it's not that dorky what with the "running with the wind," and the "tame me, stroke me, let me be your animal."

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

tgarritsen — Mon, 14 Oct 2013 19:44:30 GMT

Author: tgarritsen

Posted: 10/14/2013 23:44

The best way I like too listen to albums is really late at night. Preferably drunk.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

AgainstMeAgainstYou — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 10:36:18 GMT

Author: AgainstMeAgainstYou

Posted: 10/10/2013 14:36

Your first time with an album, just listen to it. Don't try to focus too much on it, cause you're not gonna be able to remember every song title or what each song sounded like just from one listen. But when you return to it, really don't let anything else distract you and just focus only on the album as much as possible. Really internalize each song, feel what you're hearing. If you like the album right off the bat, this is very easy to do.

Oh, and of course, listen to it from start to finish, in track order, uninterrupted. That's a given. Otherwise you're not listening to the album at all.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

benpaco — Wed, 9 Oct 2013 22:31:52 GMT

Author: benpaco

Posted: 10/10/2013 02:31

OK, I’ll share two here. TL;DR music is always better with good friends, especially those you are/were interested in.

First and quicker, was coming home from an awards banquet with the girl I was interested in at the time. We listened to Atlas Genius’ “Through The Looking Glass” EP in the car, and there was a moment where she was just talking and Trojans came on and it felt so perfect, I just smiled and smiled.

Second is this, edited down from the way I wrote it out to remind myself what happened so I’d not forget, but it’s for Blue October’s Foiled. Same girl, but actually after I’d moved on from being really interested in her:

I'd never felt like any one person was there in a moment solely for me until [date of the event] (I never did go find that date … damn. Oh well.) For all these friends I'd had that were there for me, they were often there only by circumstance, or because I asked them to be, or with others. No one had let their world be me for a moment before. And then there was a strange moment. I call it a floating moment. I've had a few of them, I hope everyone has - they're the moments you feel like you're ... well, floating. You're heart beats faster and slower at once, and you're both as panicked and as calm as possible. They're complicated. So in this floating moment, my best friend (or at least one of them) was cold and tired and we'd both been through some weirdness recently at that time. We'd been trying to spend time together because we felt like we could care about each other and just be safe together and that helped. But there came the moment where she was on a couch, and she slid over for me to come sit. She was tired and cold, so we snuggled up close. (After a very awkward attempt from me to cram into a crowded couch of about 7 without cuddling, as I knew she had a bf).

We talked a little, by no means anything long or meaningful. Tidbits about Fight Club (as we were watching that at the time), or what other people were doing, and consistently, the needed “You OK?” and the cuddled nod on a head or a chest that followed. Soon, as it was an overnighter, people started sleeping. I decided I really didn’t want to sleep because I wanted to enjoy it. Everyone and the movie both.

Well, what does this have to do with Foiled? Well, I was in a Foiled kick at the time. I’d listened to nothing but that on end for about a week, must’ve gone through it about 25-30 times. I knew all the words to every song, and all the bass parts … and all the ukulele chords for each song. I’d gotten a little into it. As we watched Fight Club, I’d been trying to sync up the lyrics with their mouths moving, just in my head. I’d made it through almost the entire album with limited success when I looked down again, to ask once more if she was OK. Her eyes shut and a smile on her face, she’d fallen asleep on me. I tried to breathe carefully to not stir her, and I rested my head on her’s, something that was different. An awkward kid like myself, even in marching band, has boundaries, and that crossed them. And it was wonderful.

I went back to watching the movie, as it was right about when they were starting to fly around and things were getting exciting. It finally synced up to 18th Floor Balcony decently, not great, but decent. And I looked down and I felt those words echo through my friend, through me, into some greater consciousness.

“I close my eyes
And I smile
Knowing that everything is alright
To the core
So close that door
Is this happening?
My breath is on your hair
I’m unaware
That you opened the blinds and let the city in …
And I knew it from the start
So my arms are open wide
Your head is on my stomach
And we're trying so hard not to fall asleep
Here we are
On this 18th floor balcony.
We're both flying away.”

This was not only the best album-y moment I’ve ever had, it’s one of my favorite moments. Nothing’s happened romantically between us, in fact, she still has the same boyfriend. I don’t need or really even want our relationship to change from how it is right now, but that moment will forever feel just … floating to me.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

karbutt — Wed, 9 Oct 2013 19:39:08 GMT

Author: karbutt

Posted: 10/09/2013 23:39

jacking off. 😎
other than that, i have to not be doing anything at all. my mind has to be completely free to properly absorb the music. sitting or laying down without distractions is the best-- just chillin' in a comfortable position. darkness would also be preferred.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

SuedeSwede — Wed, 9 Oct 2013 12:40:02 GMT

Author: SuedeSwede

Posted: 10/09/2013 16:40

Listen to Bloom by Beach House whilst walking on a sunny midsummer's day.
As you said, listen to Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd when immersed by Earth's beauties.
Listen to F#A# by Godspeed You! Black Emperor on a dark, gloomy, rainy night.
Listen to Agaetis Byrjun by Sigur Ros when you feel most at ease and relaxed.
Listen to The Stone Roses on full-blast speakers when you are in a happy mood.

And finally...
Listen to In The Aeroplane Over The Sea by Neutral Milk Hotel whilst sat on semen-stained mountaintops.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

pearljammer13 — Tue, 8 Oct 2013 20:27:26 GMT

Author: pearljammer13

Posted: 10/09/2013 00:27

Listen to The Moon And Antarctica outside in the winter at night. Bundle up so you aren't distracted by being freezing.

And Yankee Hotel Foxtrot is best in the dark through headphones turned way up. Although generally that's how most music is the best I've found.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

Anonymous — Tue, 8 Oct 2013 16:04:05 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 10/08/2013 20:04

Jasonconfused wrote:

For some reason, all music sounds better to me when I'm walking. Anyone else have that experience?

Other way around for me. XD

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

HazeyTwilight — Tue, 8 Oct 2013 15:04:47 GMT

Author: HazeyTwilight

Posted: 10/08/2013 19:04

I listened to Parachutes by Coldplay at night in my mum's car and it was a night sky and that felt really appropriate. A lot of albums are like that, mainly if you want to listen to a sort of quiet album but, others work too. Just have a drive and listen to some albums is something I've normally experienced. Other experiences that I would like to experience are: in a forest, looking at the sunset, life in general or if somebody's really lucky watch the album live. Though, listening to DSotM with big speakers really loudly is pretty awesome 😁

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

Jasonconfused — Tue, 8 Oct 2013 14:43:17 GMT

Author: Jasonconfused

Posted: 10/08/2013 18:43

For some reason, all music sounds better to me when I'm walking. Anyone else have that experience?

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

Cymro2011 — Tue, 8 Oct 2013 13:02:15 GMT

Author: Cymro2011

Posted: 10/08/2013 17:02

nutso42 wrote:

Oooh, I've not heard of these guys. Sounds epical.

It it. They do these cool long psychedelic jams. Very trippy.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

Anonymous — Tue, 8 Oct 2013 11:09:22 GMT

Author: Anonymous

Posted: 10/08/2013 15:09

Cymro2011 wrote:

A few weeks ago I was listening to Acid Music For Acid People by Liquid Sound Company while sleep deprived and sitting in a really warm room. It's weird, it was like the music was as warm as I was feeling...if that makes any kind of sense. It was one of my most perfect listening sessions.

Oooh, I've not heard of these guys. Sounds epical.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

revolver94 — Mon, 7 Oct 2013 18:45:17 GMT

Author: revolver94

Posted: 10/07/2013 22:45

double post, here is kate bush in her old age

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Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

revolver94 — Mon, 7 Oct 2013 18:45:17 GMT

Author: revolver94

Posted: 10/07/2013 22:45

As far as general situations go, I tend to enjoy albums more when:

*It's cold outside and I'm outside

*I'm doing something, (as opposed to nothing), but so passive that I can focus almost completely on the music

I can't think of particulars right now, but usually I think it's pretty easy to figure out what would make more sense, e.g. listening to Joanna Newsom outside makes more sense than listening to (some) Kraftwerk outside.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

Cymro2011 — Mon, 7 Oct 2013 18:03:15 GMT

Author: Cymro2011

Posted: 10/07/2013 22:03

A few weeks ago I was listening to Acid Music For Acid People by Liquid Sound Company while sleep deprived and sitting in a really warm room. It's weird, it was like the music was as warm as I was feeling...if that makes any kind of sense. It was one of my most perfect listening sessions.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

Listmeister — Mon, 7 Oct 2013 15:46:50 GMT

Author: Listmeister

Posted: 10/07/2013 19:46

Driving home on a sunny afternoon. That's the best way to listen to an album.

This is from several weeks of listening to albums at work, and then putting in a CD for the hour long drive home. An album is more likely to go into my 100 if I hear it on the way home from work.

You can't sing along when you're at work. And driving home there's nothing (not even this forum) to distract you from the music except the road.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

Johnnyo — Mon, 7 Oct 2013 14:47:48 GMT

Author: Johnnyo

Posted: 10/07/2013 18:47

nutso42 wrote:

I've long been a huge fan of Pink Floyd, but never quite felt like I was getting the most out of Dark Side of the Moon. This was a problem that has bothered me for over a decade now.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. I was out with some friends, and we eventually wound up on top of a mountain. The five of us smushed together on top of the car for stargazing while DSOTM played loudly through the car's speakers.

I finally heard it in - what I consider - to be the absolute perfect listening environment for the album. So my question: Have any of you experienced similar things? Great albums that become better in the right circumstances?

That's so spooky. A few weeks ago I was visiting friends of mine who live on the Greek island of Paros. They basically live "off the grid" solar power, collecting their own water, farming etc. They live up in the hills, along a dirt track. No street lighting so you get this amazing view of the heavens @ night. You see things that you can never see when in the city.

So, you guessed it, we were in their garden chiling out, 12 - 1 in the morning, talking & looking @ this amazing sky & my mate Pat put on DSOTM. That was an amazing listening experience. No neighbours, so could play it as loud as the speakers could take it.

So yes, the listening enviornment does play a huge part in my personal listening experience.

Re: Best Way To Listen To Albums

meccalecca — Mon, 7 Oct 2013 14:06:50 GMT

Author: meccalecca

Posted: 10/07/2013 18:06

Good post. The setting of your listening experience can definitely have profound effects. And it's not just recordings but live. I've seen bands play in different venues and the experience can be quite different with each space. The space should compliment the sounds.

I've seen Low, Sigur Ros and Godspeed in churches as well as more typical venues. Needless to say, the church provided a much more profound experience each time.

I think there's also records that should be heard within group settings, and others best experienced alone. Upbeat records are like comedy films. Being around other people enjoying them has a very infectious effect.