Just for the heck of it, I decided that this week I’m only going to listen to albums the way I used to before CD changers with shuffle play and iTunes — from beginning to end. I’m interested in how tempted I am to cue up individual tracks, in just how much my listening habits have changed.
I didn’t really think about it much while listening to some new arrivals, but then I wanted to hear Hüsker Dü’s “Terms of Psychic Warfare,” which means New Day Rising straight through. I love this album, but I was still distinctly tempted to skip past “Perfect Example” and I know I’m going to be tempted to skip again by the last 4 songs.
I’ve definitely undergone a shift - the songs I didn’t like as much used to seem like palate cleansers between the tunes I really, really loved, and now I’m more conscious that I could spend that time listening to something I like better.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Daniel Holway // Sep 29, 2008 at 21:51
You shouldn’t skip any tracks on that album. For instance, if you skip the last one, you’ll miss one of the greatest ever album endings. (”Aw, the lead caved in.” “Who cares? It’s the last song on the album, it doesn’t really matter.” Or something like that.)
And: http://www.lyricsmania.com/lyrics/husker_du_lyrics_9903/new_day_rising_lyrics_31550/how_to_skin_a_cat_lyrics_341893.html
2 guitarhater // Sep 30, 2008 at 08:36
I missed that, but since I woke up needing to hear “The Girl Who Lives on Heaven Hill” and “Celebrated Summer” again, I’ll get another chance.
“How to Skin a Cat” ain’t never gonna be my favorite Dü tune, but I do wonder what the heck Grant (?) is mumbling about in the background.
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