@jkreidler, there is nothing about CD or digital that requires one to skip around or cut songs short. It is an option. So too is having digital music droning on in the background.
The thing is, there is nothing wrong with either of those things if that's what you like to do. (I don't).
I tend to listen to whole CDs straight through......if they were produced as cohesive 'albums' and not just a random collection of songs....in which case I often shuffle them for a change.
To me one of the great things about digital, all sound quality preferences aside, is the ability to occasionally skip a song altogether. There are a few bands, The Police come to mind, who produce great albums that are punctuated by one or even sometimes two really awful songs that I can hardly stand to listen to. The song "Mother" on Synchronicity and "Behind My Camel" on Zenyatta Mondatta are two prime examples. Also, "Les Boys" on Dire Strait's Making Movies. Really nice not to have to listen to those without having to get up and lift a tone arm.
The thing is, there is nothing wrong with either of those things if that's what you like to do. (I don't).
I tend to listen to whole CDs straight through......if they were produced as cohesive 'albums' and not just a random collection of songs....in which case I often shuffle them for a change.
To me one of the great things about digital, all sound quality preferences aside, is the ability to occasionally skip a song altogether. There are a few bands, The Police come to mind, who produce great albums that are punctuated by one or even sometimes two really awful songs that I can hardly stand to listen to. The song "Mother" on Synchronicity and "Behind My Camel" on Zenyatta Mondatta are two prime examples. Also, "Les Boys" on Dire Strait's Making Movies. Really nice not to have to listen to those without having to get up and lift a tone arm.