The Album Effect

[DookieMan]

I don't know if this has really been established... but I'd like to see if anyone else has a similar experience to me. Do you have to listen to an album atleast twice, or possibly more, to truly appreciate? It seems most of the time, I am meh about albums I hear for the first time. Yet, I grow to love them. An example of this is Rubber Soul by The Beatles. I barely liked it my first listen yet I grew to love it and now it's possibly my favorite album of theirs.

[Gowienczyk]

It takes more than a single listen to appreciate a record, I'm sure this is a universal rule. I mean I may like or really like a record on first listen but I probably won't understand it.

[wolfdarkside]

for me its the other way around.
example: lost in the sound of seperation by underoath

[DookieMan]

for me its the other way around.
example: lost in the sound of seperation by underoath

So, you'll like it at first then realize it's not quite as good? That's depressing.

[wolfdarkside]

it is.

there was a whole bunch of songs i liked, but then it was just that one song at the end of the album.

[Lawdog1521]

Fallout Boy seems to think so but after playing that stupid song over and over again in RB, I doubt the validity of the subject because I still hate it. ;)

[SteveoKnievo]

For me at least, I don't think it is possible to take in all aspects of a whole album's worth of music in one listen. It takes more attention to notice certain things within the music. I still find myself noticing new stuff in an album that I have listened to numerous times.

[Joey-Z]

I usualy like every song on an album exept the singles...
It's weird.

[TheCoolGuy]

if an album is accessible and straightforward, on the first listen, i usually know if i like it or not. for every other album, which is most of what i listen to, i don't really get it on first listen and then love it on second.

no matter what, though, it takes me multiple listens to appreciate an album.

[kingtonyx]

I usually listen to an album at least 3 times before I pass any sort of judgement on it. Although sometimes I can tell I don't like an album. The most recent Muse and Chris Cornell albums are examples of this.

[monkeyfish]

Seems like I lose hype for the album halfway through. Like the last set of songs don't grab me, or seem like the worse half. I've had this recently with Dead Weather's Horehound, Tegan and Sara's Sainthood, the Raveonettes' In and Out of Control...

Sometimes I snap out of this, though. Like, the whole Tegan and Sara is awesome. Northshore: listen to it!

[kingtonyx]

I usually always enjoy the first half of an album over the second half.

[Soratar]

for me its the other way around.
example: lost in the sound of seperation by underoath

That happened to me also with Anberlin's Never Take Friendship Personal album. But reason probably was because I bought Blueprints For The Black Market. But it has happened the way like the OP also. Mainly with songs. I really didn't like Therapy by Relient K at first, but now I love it. It may take me longer to warm up to Candlelight by them, though.

[Explosion2]

I can't usually listen to an album in 1 sitting, but there are exceptions, Beatles albums and Boston's "Boston" I can listen to in 1 sitting no problem. I haven't gotten all the way through Them Crooked Vultures yet, but I plan to.

but yes, it's like a good movie. You never catch all the hints and foreshadowing until the second or third time you've seen it. The Prestige is an awesome movie for that kind of stuff.

[Lameboy19]

I take my 1st impression of an album very seriously (It's childish, I know) but I am a firm believer in gut feelings and if it doesn't appeal the 1st listen and I got it on a recommendation I'll take another listen, or pick out a few songs I enjoy

[DeadPhoenix223]

1st Time: Getting to here the chorus
2nd: Diving deeper into the full song
3rd: Figuring out what it means and relating it to myself
4th and on: Fully loving the album

is the way it works for me.

[killer_roach]

I don't know if this has really been established... but I'd like to see if anyone else has a similar experience to me. Do you have to listen to an album atleast twice, or possibly more, to truly appreciate? It seems most of the time, I am meh about albums I hear for the first time. Yet, I grow to love them. An example of this is Rubber Soul by The Beatles. I barely liked it my first listen yet I grew to love it and now it's possibly my favorite album of theirs.

For me. that album was Doomsday Afternoon by Phideaux. Hated it at first, now it's probably in my top ten favorite progressive albums of all time.

[supernova1324]

It takes more than a single listen to appreciate a record, I'm sure this is a universal rule. I mean I may like or really like a record on first listen but I probably won't understand it.

Exactly my thoughts on the subject. When I first listened to Zen Arcade, I kinda liked it, but I wasn;t crazy about it. But each time I listened to it my understanding and fondness for the album grew.

To me, a great album is one that you can like more and more with each listen.

[Rhodon]

I usually have a few songs that I'll really like right off the bat and then 3-5 listen in I'll like others over them. Especially with bands like Margot and the Nukes.

[GrimCrackerz]

it is.

there was a whole bunch of songs i liked, but then it was just that one song at the end of the album.

I think it depends on the type of music. Certain music (great music) takes time to grow on you. Most of my current favorite albums were things I was quite apathetic about at first. But other music (not-so-great music) hits you like a sledge hammer at first, but the effect leaves much more quickly.

Not a universal truth, but I find it to be a common enough occurrence to basically be treated as a reliable guideline. That's why I always give records lots of listens and time to develop before I give up on them. And wait a good, long time before I go declaring new albums as favorites.

[Chuck_Fiasco]

Very, very few albums turn me on the first time I listen to them. Some may take 4-5 times for me to start to dig 'em.

[clashcityrocker10]

To me, a great album is one that you can like more and more with each listen.

Indeed. On my first listen, the most I can do is maybe get a feel for what an album's impact will be after subsequent listens.