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I Hardly Listen to Music Anymore

I've been a frequent observer to Audiogon, but this is the first thread I've started.

I find that I rarely listen to music anymore. (Once every couple of weeks). Let me explain.

I've been into audio for about 35 years. When I first got started listening to music and got involved in audio, in the late 60's, music was not a background pastime. When the new Dylan, Band, Allman, James Taylor, Santana, etc., album came out I'd listen to it in a dark room, in the sweet spot, eyes closed, alone or with friends, for hours on end, to great satisfaction. Since then, that's how I've always listend to music and I still enjoy listening like that for hours on end when I can.

As I grew older, I was never able to listen to music as background, because I can't concentrate on work or anything else when music plays. Consequently, as time goes on, and I have less and less time for serious listening sessions, I find I listen to music less and less. I don't play music at work and do not put the big rig on when I'm just hanging around at home in another room.

Other friends/coworkers constantly have jam boxes, walkmen, ipods etc playing as filler. So the people who care about music less listen to it more and people who care about music more listen less. I also am not as exposed to new music as people who constantly listen as background.

One of life's little ironies, I guess. Anyone else have this experience?

PS- It's not that my stereo is fatiguing. When I have time to listen for an hour or two I fall in love with my system(Wadia 21, ML-335, Wilson Sophia, Transparent cable) all over again. I've finally gotten it to the point where it is detailed yet smooth, and effortless at all volumes. So its not listner fatigue.
mitchell
tjbearman
40 posts
 
I go through phases of listening less for exactly the reasons you described - I like listening intently and have less time these days than when I was a student and first got audiophiled. I have to say I've also gotten more involved in live music, both listening and playing. When I work at home, I listen to the internet radio all day. But I use a moderately crummy audio setup which, I think, helps keep me from getting distracted by the sound itself. I love the radio because it lets me hear new stuff I might not otherwise hear.

I'm on vacation this month and I'm listening to more music because I have more time. I've fallen for Cyndi Lauper (again) and her "At Last" CD.

TJ
kana813
956 posts
 
Mitchell- suggest you start buying at least one new CD each
week, trying some of the excellent suggestions on this forum.
pragmatist
336 posts
 
Yeah,I get it. The best,most eloquent explanation(that I know of) of what you describe is by Aaron Copeland in "What to Listen For in Music"-a good read. He described listening to music on a musical plane,an expressive plane,and a musical plane-with the three overlapping.

Most of my musical plane listening is when I'm driving.
newbee
4,794 posts
 
Well, old dogs can learn new tricks, so long as its not walking tight ropes! Much can be gained by letting the music in on a more subsconscious level. Much of the music I hear I hear in conjunction with other activities - some time it diverts me, sometimes not, but I always enjoy it as background (and its not elevator music). The typical compliant I hear is about those who can't get out of the sweet spot any longer because of their focus on stereo artifacts as opposed to the music. Perhaps its less that you can't listen anymore, its that your bored with the music you have. Maybe its time to broaden your horizons. :-)
french_fries
815 posts
 
i hesitate to admit it, but, while i like to listen to music fairly often, because of the length of most cds, i'll listen to one classical and one jazz/popular cd per session, after
which, 100 minutes later, i'm ready to do something else.
plus, often times, like with mr.mozart, i am so astounded by his compositional skills, that i just have to walk away and think about what i've just heard for awhile. it's really overwhelming sometimes, and then to have to perform that stuff effortlessly... i'm convinced that i've just witnessed the impossible- again. or am i just too emotional...
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