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I rarely listen to albums anymore.  In the past year in my continuing effort to rid myself of the material of this world — which is quite a laugh, honestly.   As Chris says, “you love stuff!”  Mostly I’m doing what I can not to hoard* and balance things out, like get rid of things when I get new things…. yeah, anyway —- I’ve put my cds in a big cd case and thrown out the plastic cases.  Once I buy a couple more cases I can really open up that space in my living room that’s currently taken up by a big, wooden cd holder.

But is clearing out space my biggest reason for this reorganization or is it more that I don’t listen to albums anymore?  I’m thinking of this as I sit here listening to XTC’s Skylarking.  This is one of the albums I prefer to listen to as a whole piece.  Frankly, a big reason is the purposeful bleed between some songs; this was a recording they hoped would be listened to in order.  Summer’s Cauldon moves so easily into Grass, Ballet for a Rainy Day beautifully becomes the achingly lovely 1000 Umbrellas.  Of course I love how Dear God taps its ending into Dying; such a good follow-up tune thematically.

Listening to this now reminds me that was how I used to experience new music.  I’d hear the single on the radio, perhaps, then buy the record.  There’s something wonderfully comforting to me about listening to certain albums head to toe.  Here are a few off the top of me noggin’:   Aimee Mann - Lost in Space, Roxy Music - Avalon, Fiona Apple - When the Pawn…, The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, U2 - The Joshua Tree, Jellyfish - Spilt Milk, Prince - Purple Rain, The Smiths - Meat is Murder, Liz Phair - Exile in Guyville, Death Cab for Cutie - Transatlantacism,  The Pretenders - Learning to Crawl, The Replacements - Don’t Tell A Soul, hmmmmm…..

I’m trying to do this without cheating, which is to say without looking at my cds - mostly by picturing my albums.   Yes, vinyl.   I’m certain I’ve left out a lot and it’s funny, when I really think about it, I guess I’m not sure why I usually set my iPod on stun, I mean shuffle.  heh.

Do you have albums/records you prefer to hear beginning to end?  I’d love to know.

*oh yeah, that pesky asterisk.  Just a note that I’m addicted to the show Hoarders.  I’ve met people like this and it’s just amazing.  Oh, and btw, I’m over Toddlers & Tiaras.  Had my fill.

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 13th, 2009 at 12:02 pm and is filed under music, day to day. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.