Puffmagic
Puffmagic
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If only Lacuna, Inc. were real...

Posted over 4 years ago
Have you ever wished you could have the memory of an album erased so you could go back and listen to it again for the first time? I'm listening to U2's "The Joshua Tree" for maybe the six hundredth time since my uncle gave me the cassette in 1988 and the music is so woven into my subconscious that, while enjoyable, I find myself starting to ignore it and get distracted by other things. I wish I could hear it with fresh ears. I've got a few other albums like this, Radiohead's "OK Computer" for one, that I've had the honor of introducing to friends who'd never heard them and I've found myself insanely jealous of their reactions. One friend who was against getting into Radiohead became a huge fan after the first listen to OK Computer and, while I _know_ it's an amazing album, I wish I could have felt the music on that level. Anyone else have this problem?
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Comments (11)

  1. Dale
    Dale says I do feel that way toward some of my favorite albums from the 80's like Black Celebration or Standing on a Beach.
    Permalink posted 05/23/2007
  2. Jenny Tatone
    Jenny Tatone says All. The. Time. I'll never ever hear: Pixies, Sonic Youth, Jane's Addiction, New Order, The Cure, The Smiths, Radiohead, Nirvana, Bad Religion, The Clash, Fugazi, The Replacements ( I could go on and on and on) the same. Never ever ever. Sniff. Sometimes I want to go back. Other times, I really, really really don't
    Permalink posted 05/23/2007
  3. gympumpkin
    gympumpkin says I mostly feel that way about stuff from my youth, such as "Purple Rain". I wouldn't necessarily choose albums that blew me away upon hearing them initially, I would be more likely to choose albums that blow me away now, but when I was younger I just thought the songs "sounded good" or were catchy and didn't really appreciate them the way I would now.
    Permalink posted 05/23/2007
  4. Rawkkiddoh
    Rawkkiddoh says There are lists of bands that I wish I could go back and listen to for the first time. I would say my top 10 favorite cd's are all like that, so I wait months sometimes before I put them in again just to get an ounce of that feeling back
    Permalink posted 05/23/2007
  5. Wahiawa786
    Wahiawa786 says One sure cure is to listen to a wider selection of genres and artists. It cuts down on song fatigue, and you may find gems in unexpected places. (For the record, that's why iTunes is set on "Party Shuffle" to keep the stale ear blues at bay.) Also, check out bands/groups that appear on PBS' "Austin City Limits" or "Soundstage." (That's where I found The Fountains of Wayne, Joss Stone, The Wreckers, etc.) Don't forget the late night talk shows for musicians on the way up. (Carson Daley's very late show has been a launching pad for new acts, I've heard.) And if you can't find enough variety on this board (that's impossible!) try http://www.last.fm and connect to a truly international online community.
    Permalink posted 05/23/2007
  6. LadyC
    LadyC says tempting but..actually no, i don't think i could erase everything that comes with discovering a favourite album for the first time - the memories, the moment, the past - especially if the erasing is anything like lacuna! well, maybe if michel gondry was in the picture.
    Permalink posted 05/24/2007
  7. Puffmagic
    Puffmagic says Wahiawa, that's definitely not the problem for me, it's not as if I'm only listening to these albums because they're all I've got. I probably hear 2 new albums a week and my collection is getting out of control. Variety has never been an issue, it's that no matter how many other bands I listen to, those other albums never seem fresh, even when I let them sit for a year.
    Permalink posted 05/24/2007
  8. Marigold
    Marigold says I think you could try this. This is what I do. It does not work with everything, maybe just the most special of special cds. Think of some of your most treasured records. You may recall what you did that day, who you were with, where you bought it. The trick for me is to transport my subconcieous to back when I heard it and then listen to it again for the first time in the past if you will. I know that I can take the Stone Roses first record any day of the week/year and even if I think I may not feel like listening to it. I can be completly transported back to 1989 within the first few notes of "I Wanna be Adored". So maybe try adjusting your subconcious? Just a thought. Nice post though, thanks.
    Permalink posted 05/24/2007
  9. Puffmagic
    Puffmagic says That's a good idea!
    Permalink posted 05/24/2007
  10. contrabandwidth
    contrabandwidth says Most Definitely! Just about any of the Beatles stuff, especially the over played songs like "Sgt. Pepper's" or "A Day in the Life(?)", The whole White Album. Just about all Led Zeppelin. Once in a while I can remember listening to Dylan's Greatest Hits vol. 2 and just thinking how different it was, but it clicked in my head and immediately made sense. A lot of the songs on Oldies Channels, you know the ones you just don't need to hear anymore. I have this theory about the functionality of music when it turns from entertainment to ambiance. This is done all the time w/ Classical Music, which may be why I am not interested in 90% of it. They used to play Classical Music loud in the sketchiest train stations in Atlanta, I guess as some form of anti-loitering agent. Or maybe to pacify the hooligans. I've always found this use of music strange - music as crowd control.
    Permalink posted 05/24/2007
  11. chucky
    chucky says I didn't until I read this post. Damn you!!! Heh.
    Permalink posted 05/28/2007

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