[Ericus Rex]

I find that we often have a preconceived notion of what an album should sound like that effects how we hear it the first few listens.  This can be based on prior albums from an artist, recommendations from others or reviews, etc.  Sometimes that prevents us from making a fair judgement on the quality of the actual music.  The above point about Kid A supports this.  Radiohead seemed to be going in one direction with OK Computer, got us all excited about the next record and ended up going in a completely different direction.  Took a while for me to give up the disappointment in lack of kick-ass-guitar and appreciate the music they did give us.  In keeping with the Radiohead example, lots of people say they're the best band out there (I detest claims like that about any band).  That raises the expectations of people who have never actually heard them.  Then at first listen those people are like, 'that's it?!'  I have lots of friends who dismiss them b/c of that high expectation.  I'm rambling...sorry!

[Mike Nomad]

Nice question to put up. I give records a couple of spins, and if it doesn't click, drop it and move on. Usually, it is _years_ before I come back to the particular record and give it another try. I find that it comes down to a couple of things:

First, things change over time. Life happens. I'm bringing different baggage when I give a record another shot. In a word, context.

Second, I'm not hearing it the same way I did originally. Different bits of kit in a different environment. In a word, container.

The muso I wind up going though this with on an annoying regular basis is Bob Dylan

[simoon]

This is an interesting question.

Many of my favorite albums, bands and pieces of music have been things I haven't been all the enthralled with on the first several listenings.

But then, the stuff I tend to gravitate to is not exactly 'easy listening' or pop related. It takes some time to digest.

Many things I've heard that I like right off the bat, don't seem to have the staying power as some of the things that took a while to like.


 

[frank111]

 That happens alot to me with Neil Young & David Bowie. I'll listen a few times, then BAM! usually its a guitar riff or vocal line & i'm hooked. Then i gotta play the song over and over and over, then the cat has enough & heads towards the door to be let out.

[eclein]

This is an interesting question.

Many of my favorite albums, bands and pieces of music have been things I haven't been all the enthralled with on the first several listenings.

But then, the stuff I tend to gravitate to is not exactly 'easy listening' or pop related. It takes some time to digest.

Many things I've heard that I like right off the bat, don't seem to have the staying power as some of the things that took a while to like.

I agree totally with this statement and specifically with the staying power thing noted in the end of it.

also like frank111 says I also play the crap out of whatever has hit me over the head but I have no cat....hehehe...thats cool...