I read something in Real Simple recently (April), an issue about time: saving it, spending it, wasting it, weighing it, etc. An article about things in life worth your time suggested that "listening to an entire album in one sitting" is a rare simple pleasure, with iPods and its ilk resulting in lots of single-song downloads. An example given of a perfect start-to-finish album was The Beach Boys' Pet Sounds, "designed as an entire listening experience... It's a romantic record from a young man's perspective... in one sitting it gets under your skin and your own emotions mix with the tracks..." Some quick Wiki-research told me that Brian Wilson was so impressed with Rubber Soul because of the "unity" and because "it all belonged together," it was "a collection of songs... that somehow went together like no album ever made before" and Paul McCartney felt the same way in turn about Pet Sounds, what he considered a "total, classic record."
An album as a complete thought is obvious and probably hasn't escaped any of us, but I just love this friendly reminder to stop... and hear the music.
Dad, can I borrow your copy of Pet Sounds?
yes, agreed! my parents still have their record player and when i was a kid, i used to spend hours listening to records!
ReplyDeletecourse i have c.d.'s and not albums, but i don't own an ipod, so i put my c.d.'s in and listen all the way thru as i clean house or read. i can't handle the jumping music....i guess cause music affects my moods so easily, lol.
ReplyDeleteterri