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Critical listening and altered states

Ok, this is not a question about relaxing, but about listening to evaluate how the system (or a piece of gear is sounding).

What, in your experience, are the pluses and minuses of altering your state of mind for listening? This can include anything you've used to affect your everyday state of mind, from coffee, beer, scotch, tobacco, to much stronger — and psychoactive, dissociative — additives.

What do you gain by altering your consciousness in terms of what you notice, attend to, linger on, etc?
What causes more details to emerge?
What allows you to stick with a thread or, alternately, make new connections?

Or perhaps you like to keep all those things *out* of your listening; if that's you, please say a bit about why.

128x128hilde45
sgreg1
612 posts
 
I will take this topic to a different point of view. In the past have I enjoyed getting drunk, stoned, or both together yes I have. Have I enjoyed listening to music in that state of mind yes. But now as I have aged and refrained from the mind altering aids in an effort to increase my health I now have the ability to use my system and the music as my “high”. My room my system the music is my get away from the issues that life can toss at me. Every now and then I will think a quick hit of weed would be interesting but then a half hour into a good artist and album quickly gives me the mind altering get away that I am looking for with no weed needed.
Enjoy the music any way you can get it!
streamerdude
54 posts
 
Back in the late sixties-early seventies I thought ( as so many did too) that listening to music required an altered state. It took my mind away from the “ engineering mode” and allowed me to just indulge in the music. It was nice while it lasted.
coys21
62 posts
 
@mikelavigne Thanks! Very generous and much appreciated.
clearthinker's avatar
clearthinker
1,582 posts
 
This is the flip-side of 'cables that measure the same but seem to sound different'.  Please see my post there.

Most posters here seem to agree that perception of sound can affect the way we hear.

I REST MY CASE.
barts's avatar
barts
722 posts
 
In bumbling feeble attempt to answer the original question...

For true critical listening I believe that completely sober is the way to go.

Ok, now that we got that out of the way, I also believe that a little buzz can add enjoyment to the experience.  And I have heard things that I didn't notice in a sober state.  I attempt to take note and at some later
sober date see if it sounds the same as buzzed.

BTW I'm chuckling at myself as I type "buzz" and "sober" because I only alter my states in a very minor enjoyable way.  The days of getting blasted and listening to music are far behind me now.

Regards,
barts 
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