Do you listen anymore?

[Hankno1]

Not sure where to ask this, but here goes.

Do you find it hard to just listen to music anymore?
When you hear something do you find yourself analysing the song? Or can you turn that part of your brain off and just enjoy the track as for what it is?

Recently I have been unable to do this and it is really winding me up that I can't just relax and enjoy it anymore. I always find myself saying "I would have a different hi hat sound" or "The mix is not to my liking".

Just a thought.

[Dave Rowles]

I went through a period of doing that. I grew out of it.

When I listen to something these days, I don't think about what's wrong with the mix or what I might think I would've done differently. I listen and see if there's any tricks they've used in the song that I might like to try out.

[Aliweasel]

I also used to torture myself by analysing any music I heard but, like Exavior, I grew out of it and can now enjoy casually listening again.

Nowadays my musical tastes are more refined so most of the music in my casual listening collection is pretty good quality. This way even if I do turn on the technical side of my brain it's generally pleased with what I hear. Positive Reinforcement I believe it's called.

I'll still notice a mix I don't like every now and then but I'm doing quite well at avoiding them.

[hollowsun]

Do you find it hard to just listen to music anymore?
When you hear something do you find yourself analysing the song?

To answer those two questions...

Rarely and almost always

[Giscol]

I find myself listening to individual parts of songs more, from a point of view of 'how would i get a similar sound'. When I attempt to get such a sound a fail miserably, it makes me a) realise how amazing that source sound and signal chain must have been and b) that I should just accept that I will never get my sounds *the same* as a pro record.

It doesn't worry me, I still listen and still very much enjoy music (although these days I have to admit it's mostly during the commute via mp3 )

Rod

[wardo]

also had that problem but am back listening to music as much as i used to.

it was worst when i first starting putting my own tracks together, (as opposed to playing music), i think the shortcomings of my stuff made me cringe when i started to really hear how well a lot of music was made.

thankfully i'm able to just enjoy it all again, and even when i'm being overly analytical now enjoy the fact i'm more able to listen for tricks and techniques which can be intriguing

[Mash]

I can't just relax and enjoy it anymore. I always find myself saying "I would have a different hi hat sound" or "The mix is not to my liking".

Like many others I can't help but analyse a lot of the music I listen to..but rarely find myself critising production (apart from the obvious this is so limited it's simply unlistenable) however find myself enjoying music I wouldn't normally have much time for on account of good production.

Mash

[snipsnip]

I pretty much always have a critical ear on the go. Not enough to ruin my enjoyment, but enough to spot mistakes.

im kind of the opposite to a lot of the previous comments, I notice so many little mistakes and glitches in a lot of stuff that it reassures me that things dont have to be 'perfect', most people will never notice or care. just get it finished!!

[Tui]

Do you find it hard to just listen to music anymore?

Totally. I think there are several contributing factors: Part of me thinks that I've heard it all before, in particular when it comes to popular music, even jazz. I generally feel I've heard it done better, a LOT better, 20-30 years ago. The most exciting jazz was probably conceived some 70 years ago (that's well before my time... I'm old, but not THAT old! ) With classical music, it's much the same, if not worse: How many times can a man listen to Michelangeli perform Debussy's Images?

The other reason is that I've produced a fair amount of music myself, and I now find it impossible to not analyse the production when I listen to any recorded sounds.

Basically, I have become over-sensitised to music. Having to listen to a neighbour's stereo for any length of time drives me up the wall, it is nothing short of torture.

The somewhat disturbing bottom line is, these days, I only acutely listen to music when I play myself.

[Handlestash]

I too grew out of automatically 'over listening' to the production or mix and now can switch it on and off. But bad lyrics stab me in the brain like a big... bad lyric... um... sword. Or dagger.

I've been listening to The Life Persuit by Belle and Sebastian lately and the lyrics are brilliant. The dynamics in the production are amazing and the musicianship is terrific.

So to answer your question. Yes, Belle and Sebastian are great.

[snipsnip]

I too grew out of automatically 'over listening'

I dont really understand this...

Im not saying you should be critical on purpose, but if somethings wrong, you dont hear it?

[Handlestash]

I mean I can put on a record while I'm getting down with my woman and not worry about the vocals being too low in the mix.
Also wrong is subjective. Maybe the vocals are meant to be low in the mix. What do you mean by wrong? Can you give us an example?

[snipsnip]

haha.. ok well I can do that too!

I know 'wrong' is subjective, but I was referring to a pretty broad spectrum, from a really flabby kick to little pops where the breath has only been half cut out etc.

To be fair, i dont notice stuff if the music is just on in the background.. but when im 'listening' i cant really filter out things that seem wrong (to me).

[Handlestash]

Well, I suppose I have heard stuff and thought I'd have done that differently. But what can I tell you, I have other stuff to worry about. Like getting down with my woman

[DJ Hero]

The missus actually gets pissed at me when we're out at a show because I am listening so carefully to everything and critiquing it.

[snipsnip]

I have other stuff to worry about. Like getting down with my woman

Dont worry man! Just relax and it'll last longer.

[Ariosto]

Most people listen but don't really hear.

[Handlestash]

Most people listen but don't really hear.

Wow.

[onesecondglance]

this is only natural and happens in other fields too. for instance, anyone who has done literary analysis for any length of time (e.g. an English degree like i did) will find it nigh on impossible to read a book without identifying themes, critiquing the language choices, and guessing at plot lines. this site does the same for TV shows, and they have a neat explanation of the problem.

so no, you're not alone. and i would actually go as far as to say that you are now listening and no longer just "hearing" the music. once you get used to it you can relax and find it doesn't blunt your enjoyment so much. in fact, i positively love being able to listen to a song and know that i'll be getting more out of it than the average sticks-on-their-ipod-whilst-doing-the-washing-up person.

edit: whilst i was writing Ariosto said pretty much the same thing!

[Vader77]

I think it depends on the music and the musics intent.

Some experimental abstract electronic music can be very cold emotionally yet far more appealing with an analytical ear but then again even the most abstract tones can be very emotive it’s just a case of ones own perception and familiarity to certain elements.

I find its best to circulate musical styles like a varied diet as listening to a specific type of music all the time can be monotonous and not healthy for the imagination especially when you start analyzing things too much as often this spoils the enjoyment which is the most important thing when all is said and done.

[coojuice]

As mentioned before, I think this is only natural for someone to think this way when working with music.

I used to go clubbing and loved it for the music until I learned how to dj. Even now when I go out i'm more interested in listening to what the dj is doing instead of what they are playing!

I've been learning how to play the guitar (mainly acoustic) over the past couple of years and since I started to learn chords i've always listened to songs differently.

And over the last year i've been learning how to produce music and this has definately changed the way I listen to a song.

I would say that to some point it has probably ruined my view on music (on a personal level). Before music was 100% for pleasure but as you learn the different aspects of it then it becomes more like 50% pleasure and 50% work.

Even though I tend to think of it differently now I wouldn't change it for the world! and i'm only looking into things deeper to improve my technical abilities for working with it, be it djing, playing or producing.

All is not lost though! We can all let our hair down, have a refreshing drink and put on our favorite album and remember how it used to feel...

[Hankno1]

Wow, I now feel much better knowing that I am not going mad.

I actually did it today for the first time in ages. I got through a whole album without once thinking of how did they do that and I would do this.
Group therapy really works.
Cheers.

[moo the magic cow]

I've only done it with one album recently, and it was a friend of mine's band, particularly on a song I knew. It was mixed ok, but didn't suit the song at all.

The fact is, the sound quality of my work is so low I spend most of my time appreciating the great work of others. I think on the whole my listening experience is enhanced.

The way Decemberists' July July is panned bugs the hell out of me, though.

[Dynamic Mike]

The fact is, the sound quality of my work is so low I spend most of my time appreciating the great work of others. I think on the whole my listening experience is enhanced.

I find that rather rather than enhancing my listening experience, the great work of others sends me into a cycle of eternally remixing my own tracks. I always find the 'reality check' against a commercial CD a painful experience.

[hollowsun]

I mean I can put on a record while I'm getting down with my woman and not worry about the vocals being too low in the mix.

Ah well I am a lot older than you and I can be analysing the music even in those situations. I don't feel guilty though - she's probably thinking about shoes ... or reading 'Hello' ... which can be off-putting!

Not that it happens though - she normally says "Christ - turn that crap off ... I'm trying to concentrate ... there's a good article on George Clooney's new house here."