Random Shuffle! 5/7/2022

Cristi wrote: Rick1 wrote: Cristi wrote: Rick1 wrote: Brilliant, Hatfields soundly beating Led Zep!! why does that surprise anyone?  Because Prog Archives is becoming Metal Archives (not referring to the Zep track, just generally) I disagree, metal is still not that popular here on PA.

Edited by zwordser - May 10 2022 at 12:22

I find "That's the Way" to be a really nice kind of country-folk song. I tend to like lots of gentle Zep music, and Zep used to be one of my very favourite bands, even though I was not into metal/ heavy metal or much hard rock. Led Zeppelin is huge in rock circles of course, and with the classic rock crowds.

It is nice to see that it seems that people (not everyone) do vote based on the actual music (the tracks) rather than just on how popular/ known the band is -- people (not everyone) actually will listen to/ revisit and compare music methinks. I have noticed that in recent times, a lesser-known act does have a better chance of faring well in a poll percentage-wise against a very popular act. Well, generally there are less votes period, but polls have been made comparing very accomplished (or respected by those who know it) tracks by lesser-known artists to much derided songs by very popular acts, and in my earlier days here, it seemed more likely that people would just vote for the act they know and like regardless of what song by that known act was chosen and regardless of what track it was up against. A good thing about these polls to me often is learning about new-to-me music or revisiting music we don't know well already, but to some it has seemed to be more about brand loyalty. But I ramble.

Anyway, Hatfield and the North's "Lobster in Cleavage Probe" is the standout here for me (and for most others apparently). Love it. I also like the ambient Radiohead track, "Treefingers" very much. While it works best in the context of the album (great album, I think), I do like hearing it in this context too.



Edited by Logan - May 10 2022 at 12:51

^ Agree. Just to add, as is my wont, I wouldn't fault people generally for it, but I have seen brand loyalty and brand "antipathy", one could say, that seems to go a bit far per my philosophy which tends to favour trying to keep an open mind while recognising our biases. We all have biases. For instance, I have seen people just vote a for an act no matter the song without considering the others, and sometimes they have not even heard that songs and have made it clear that they are voting for the act. And I have seen people dismiss whole discographies by artists who make disparate music while not knowing very little of the act. Then one often sees claims like, "X is way better" than "V, W,Y, Z" I do seem to find that less common now here, and so a lesser-known band could ore easily best lesser-known artist, such as a Hatfield and the North track being ahead of Led Zeppelin. Not that Hatfield is really unknown here. And I think that there is a higher percentage of participants who are willing to actually listen to the songs in a poll set up like yours (even if just checking out snatches of each to see which appeals) and compare. I'm now reminded me a of a poll I did many years ago here where a less mainstream and more experimental act was getting more votes for the choice than a much more mainstream choice, and someone claimed that the only reason people were voting for this avant-oriented one was because we were against the more mainstream one. To which someone responded, I voted for it because I enjoy it more. And I've seen comments like people are only voting for X to be different....

I used to like to play my iPod on random sometimes, it gives you a different context and perspective on the music sometimes, and sometimes I have really noticed a track in random shuffle mode whereas it never stuck with me when I heard the full album. I then have gone and listened to the full album and really appreciated it and the album more. It has helped to to return to albums, especially when I was acquiring them very fast about 15 years ago. I don't generally listen to as much variety as I once did. I remember arguing (or trying to argue) with someone at this site who claimed that random listening is no proper way to listen to music, you need to listen to it in the context of the album, no true music appreciator would listen that way etc. Funnily enough, that person had mentioned appreciating music radio before, so odd. Of course I'm fine with someone who wants to listen to songs only in the context of the album it was released on, just not okay if that person tells me how I should experience and appreciate music. If some would rather not compare music, not bother to listen to the music that has been embedded from youtube, and just go with the act they know, that's up to them. Different people take different approaches, and some are willing and able to put more time and thought into their approach. We've both been here a long time and seen a lot of things.

^  Well, its nice to see I'm not alone with such listening habits!