What Side of the Preview Fence Are You On?
Gray Charles has promised to post preview clips this week from Taylor Hicks' upcoming, self-titled, debut album.But I'm not so sure I want to listen.
Though I appreciate our generous Uncle Monkbot's gesture, listening to the tracks without the rest of the album may, for me, be the wrong thing to do.
An artist's album is a compilation work. For many artists, all the pieces work together to build on a message or theme or emotion or feel. The tracks should blend with one another and compliment each other...like how wine should add to a meal. Sure, a glass of wine by itself is nice, but when it enhances the flavor of foods, it becomes more than just a drink...it becomes an experience.
And hasn't Taylor talked about the art of the album before? From the cover art to what goes into it...I'm assuming he sees the work as more than a few singles.
So, I've made up my mind...no pre-clips, no song lists, no reviews, no snippets...until the Dec. 12 release date.
Then, I'll go to Wal-Mart...shudder...and buy the album. I'll download it into my iPod and listen for a day or two or three. Then I'm going to be able to give my own critique here at Monkbot...with a clean palette, free of preconceived thoughts about this very important work by our dear, dear original Monkbot, Taylor Hicks.
Anyone else game?
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Labels: Gray Charles, Taylor Hicks
posted by shelley @ 11/20/2006 12:00:00 AM
61 comments
61 Comments:
Shelley, I think I am on the other side of the fence from you. I understand your thoughts on this, but to me, I don't think hearing a few clips will "hurt" my perception of the album as a whole.
Think of it this way: do you always listen to an album straight through? If not, do you think hearing one song from an album somehow takes away from the song because it is not part of the cohesive unit?
I will undoubtedly be listening to Taylor's new album ad nauseum for the first week or two after its release (because that's how I listen to CD's that I really love...especially new ones), and will most likely listen to it in the correct track order. But I really don't think (for me, anyway) that hearing a few soundbytes will change how I look at the album when it comes out.
I agree, however that albums are generally meant to tell a story, or to create a mood. I made a comment to this regard on Gray's site about "The John Popper Project". In my opinion, the producers on that album made the mistake of putting the best song by far (Lapdance) as the first track, thereby setting the listener up for disappointment with the remaining songs.
So, it is a delicate balance, but I think Taylor will have enough good material on his album to prevent that kind of situation from occurring.
I appreciate and respect your decision not to listen to any clips, and will refrain from any mention of them on this site. (only 'cause I luvs ya Shel!)
Shelley,
You have made some good points. I don't think I will be as disciplined as you will be.
We have been anticipating the arrival of TH's sound for months now. I personally even got a little worried about the project's progress and management at one time ( a little ridiculous now -- who am I ? Not a music industry analyst. My career is in technology. Not music production...but I digress.)
Bottom line -- I will listen to the appetizers that are offered. It will not spoil it for me. I agree with the standard that Squee pointed out in the comment above --I will be polite and not comment here about items on GC. No spoilers - I promise.
Shelley - you are the best -- thanks for making us think.
For me, Taylor Hicks CD is like conceiving a child. The process corresponds to the prenatal development. During that time frame ,we as parents ( who helped birth this baby ) can find out the sex of the child. Do we want to know so we can be prepared or do we want it to be a surprise so we can relish that initial moment of birth to the nth degree. The choice is yours. We are like anxious "mothers/fathers"to be who have to decide how we want to approach the birth of our "baby". The first CD is like the first child....fresh, unpredictible but a joy.
Y'all have made some valid points...but I got to say...I'm a bit of a geek. LOL
Squeebee said, "Think of it this way: do you always listen to an album straight through? If not, do you think hearing one song from an album somehow takes away from the song because it is not part of the cohesive unit?"
The answer for me on that one, Squee is resoundingly YES. I do listen to albums straight through when they are new. I listen so much that to hear one song end, my subconscience automatically starts humming the strains of the next song in the track listing. I'm such a geek on this, I won't listen to albums on shuffle in my iPod...I only use shuffle for mixed artist/song/album playlists. (I know, I need to get a life...ha!)
The thing is, I take comfort in how the songs transition on albums...when that album is put together well. Of course, after about two to three weeks of listening straight...I begin to FF to the songs I'm drawn to.
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Libby mentioned the appetizers NOT spoiling the the rest of the album. I think that's great...but the funny thing is...for me it would take MORE discipline to listen to the appetizers and then when I get the album, give the other songs a fair shake (instead of playing the ones I'm familiar with first). By abstaining from the appetizers, I know I will be able to listen to the album in its in entirity without being anxious to hear familiar songs (of course, HOAD and any other cover will probably call to me...but I'll have to be strong).
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Mouser likened the process to having a child. I think you're right, Mouser. I know folks who MUST know the sex...either to prepare or to quash curiosity. However, even though I've never had children of my own, I'm the oldest in my family. I have three younger brothers. The oldest of the boys is only five years my junior, so, of course, determining the sex wasn't an issue for me. But for my middle brother (11 years my junior) and my baby brother (21 years my junior), I didn't want to know...neither did my parents. I guess we like the element of surprise regarding somethings.
By the way, Mouser, nice to have you here. ;) Welcome.
Well....since you asked.
I want to go on the record as saying that I totally oppose standing in line for the "next best thing" and paying exponentially inflated prices because of the item, i.e., Playstation 3....just rididulous. Sure wished some folks would stand in line to go to church like that, but that's a different story.
I see some of Taylor's fans as being the "2AM, sleep out in the cold so I can buy the first CD off the press" kind of peeps. They'll buy the Wal-Mart version, the iTunes version, the single, the Gray Charles version (who knows?), etc., etc., etc. Sorry, but I just won't spend that kind of effort on ANYONE.
I guess I've outgrown that Christmas morning anticipation of just HAVING to know what my presents are. Maybe it comes with having kids and having to worry about everybody else before yourself, dunno. So, for me, when it comes, it's here and then I'll listen. Doesn't mean, however, that if Gray puts up some sneak previews that I won't listen, 'cuz I will. Just like I did when Shrew sent me some early Amos Lee.
Did it ruin my "experience" to listen to Supply & Demand as a whole? um, no. I went to YouTube and saw some performances of some of the songs way ahead of the CD release. Same with Ray LaMontagne. Taylor is no different...for me. Then again, many times I will read the ending to a book before reading the entire book....BUT, I have to read the newspaper in order.
What I'm saying is that it's just personal preference. Shelley, if you want to wait and hear it all at once as if a story, go ahead. But don't expect people not to talk about it if they have heard it. If it's really good or not so or even in between, we're going to discuss it unless you explicitly forbid it...which I know you'd never do.
So, in summary...
1. I will listen to the previews if made available.
2. As usual, I will issue an opinion on what I hear, whenever I hear it.
3. On 12/12 or whenever available, I will download Taylor's CD from iTunes.
4. I will request the physical CD from my son for Xmas just to have it (just in case my wish of meeting Taylor ever materializes)...but, it will be the last physical CD I buy. (Besides, I relish in the fact that my 15 year old will have to shell out cash to Taylor.)
5. I will rely on the kindness of others to be able to hear the "bonus" tracks. ;)
Morning, DD. :)
You said, "Then again, many times I will read the ending to a book before reading the entire book..."
Want to know what a hypocrit I am?
If I'm enjoying a book and have gotten a good five or 10 chapters into it and am REALLY diggin' it...I will read the last sentence or paragraph of the book. Not the last chapter or last page...just the last sentence or paragraph. I don't even know why I do it. I guess I'm a weirdo.
As far as not discussing the album here...I would prefer y'all wait until I put up a specific post for discussion about it...which will be my review. This just makes sense anyway...as we usually stay pretty close to the topic most every day here...something I truly appreciate in y'all. Besides, Gray's will have plenty of places to discuss until then. What's waiting a few extra days to talk about it here! ;)
You're right, I'd never forbid y'all...but it would frustrate me, as I'm trying to keep away from such discussions at Gray's and other sites until I can give the album my full attention.
Once it's brought up here, I'm sure we'll all talk about it until the cows come home...and I'm sure those talks will be GREAT! :)
Ok, I can do that. No talkee previews at the Monkbot. Besides, I don't think it's fair (one way or the other) to issue an total opinion until I hear the whole CD, anyway.
Oh, and Shelley, guess I'm a weirdo too, because I do exactly that...just the last sentence or paragraph.
G'day all.
DD...if I GOTTA be a weirdo...I'm glad I'm in good company. ;)
Thanks!
You rawk.
DD said: "So, for me, when it comes, it's here and then I'll listen. Doesn't mean, however, that if Gray puts up some sneak previews that I won't listen, 'cuz I will."
That's exactly how I feel! Thanks for saving me the time to type it out, darlin'. ;)
I have not decided whether I will listen to the previews -- not sure. Probably not, but not because of any artistic reason. In case the first ones suck, I will want to have other songs to fall back on. Sometimes I am a worst-case scenario person. I have the sneaking suspicion, however, that I will not be able to resist listening once the preview is up, tho.
However, I can NOT believe that y'all read the last sentence of the book. Yikes! (head in hands) My husband is worse. He seldom even looks at the back of the book. If it is one that he has hopes for, he surely won't.
Shelley, you aren't a hypocrite, just a walking contradiction...;)
I've only once in my memory skipped to the end of a book...rather recently...for The DaVinci Code...b/c I had a sneaking suspicion where it was going and I didn't want to fill my mind with certain heresy. So, I skipped, I was right...and for the first time in my life I did something I normally would consider reprehensible...I destroyed the book.
CD's- I have to listen straight thru...a couple of hundred times...and then I might skip some songs to get to certain ones...And when I love a cd, I will listen only to that one...for weeks or months. I can't help it, I get obsessed. I'm just now transistioning from Blue Oct's "Foiled" cd to Rock Kills Kid "Are You Nervous?" cd...I don't even know if I'll be ready for Taylor when his cd drops. I might not get to listen to it for weeks! I suppose I'll have to take RKK out for enough time to at least listen to it....I mean, I suppose Taylor deserves it.
So, you won't have to hear anything from me Shells. And, I won't be reading reviews either. (I hope none of my dumb friends read 'em and tell me about 'em). I will be pure and unadulterated for your review!!
Happy Monday!!
I am the same way with CDs, Bama! I have been listening to both of Amos Lee's for about a month straight. It's odd that I am not sick of them yet.
Speaking of Blue October, what do you think about Taylor from Kidd Kraddick dating the guitar player?? I've been meaning to ask you.
Hey Shelley...just wanted to clarify something from my earlier comment. Like I said, I normally listen to new CD's over and over like many of the rest of you. But if I hear a song that I like outside of the context of a CD, I don't think it diminishes the quality of the song. I guess my meaning wasn't real clear on that part.
I love that we all have differing opinions here and no one gets their panties in a wad!
oh my gosh...i'm queen of listening to a cd until i've worn grooves in it!
i've done it with every album since i was young...duran duran, the police, cyndi lauper, james taylor, kt tunstall, john mayer, captain & tennille, stray cats, susan tedeschi, etc...
something else i thought of after my last comment that i wanted to add was touched on by mind doc...i really don't want to be disappointed if any of the previews don't meet my expectations. plus, i'm notorious for my 30-second rule...if a song doesn't catch me in the first 30 seconds...i usually rule it out. this is TERRIBLE rule because some songs really have to breathe and grow on you.
for instance...if y'all will remember how hesitant i was about buying continuum by mayer. i had gone to itunes and listened to 30 seconds of every track and DIDN'T get sucked in by ANY. if i hadn't had y'all to prompt me to listen to the whole thing...i wouldn't have bought it. but once i did buy it...and listened to the whole thing...as an entire work...i was totally hooked!
(by the way, dd, right now i'm listening to "soul sister" by wet willie...thanks!)
Nola- I was at the show the day Taylor met CB. I remember thinking that they looked like they were hitting it off. What a hooker. Just kidding! Sort of.
Squeebee- I get what you're saying. I usually buy a cd b/c I've heard one or two songs on the radio that I dig, or maybe seen the band live. So, yeah, I totally can be into one song at a time. And there have been times when I've bought cd's based on one song...and been totally disappointed by the rest of the cd.
Shelley- funny thing about Continuum...I was one of the peeps trying to convince you to get the cd...and I haven't listened to it but a handful of times since then. Wonder what that means? It might just be that it doesn't "speak" to me right now.
Shelley and I talked about this a little bit last night and my verdict still stands: As hard as it may be, I don't think I will listen to the preview clips. If I do this, I'll end up skipping around in the CD and I don't wanna do that. Like Shelley said, I like to listen to the whole thing and not favor songs from the very beginning.
I think it will be somewhat easier for me because I've already been doing this with Kellie Pickler and, I'll admit it, Chris Daughtry. Both of these CDs are online in their entirety (at CMT and VH1) and I didn't want to buy either of them without listening, like I will with Taylor. Kellie's I did end up buying because I think it is actually rather good. She's not Carrie Underwood but I like every song on the disk. I just started Chris's today and it's exactly what I expected. I can elaborate if anyone wants me to in another post, haha.
So, after all that: If I can afford Kellie and Chris the straight-through listening without preview clips, I will sure as hell do so for Taylor. Except I will be buying his blind, because he's worth it. ;)
I already listened to some of Chris' stuff ('scuse me, the band is: Daughtry) on his myspace. It sounds a lot like Nickleback. I want to jab knives in my ears whenever I hear Nickleback...so I'm not that into Daughtry's stuff.
One thing I hate more than anything is watered down "alternative" music.
Alright, I have 4 songs left on DAUGHTRY's CD, haha. Well, 3.8.
Uhh, yeah. I still stand by my verdict of "exactly what I expected." Chris can sing, we know this...but the yelling is still too present for me. And, unfortunately, he loses his kind-of-unique sounding voice in the transition to produced CD. Bama mentioned how it sounds like Nickelback and she is very correct with saying that.
Some of the songs are good, I can relate to a few, so that makes them better. However, I'm now on track 9 of 12 and I don't care anymore, haha. It's all sounding the same, except he's really yelling at me now. Wow, actually had to change that one..."All These Lives" sounds more promising.
Anyway, yeah, it's basically what he tried to present on the show except it's no longer unique, outside of the pop setting of AI. He'll do well in the mainstream rock business because he sounds like 90% of the bands out there already. The beginning of the CD isn't bad, the end is blah. Probably won't be buying this one.
Holeigh- I don't mind being yelled at by rockers...But I do mind being yelled at by pop-rockers.
Give. Me. A. Break.
If you are going to yell...you better be one bad muthah, ya know??
It's like putting a black studded collar on a Beagle. If you ain't a pit bull...don't wear the collar.
LMAO! That is a wonderful analogy, I love it.
And I agree...I don't like yelling too much at all, but you have to be a pretty BAMF to pull it off...not a 4th place runner-up on a pop singing show. ;) Maybe if he had won...but no.
I do like "Used To", "Over You", "Crashed", and "Feels Like Tonight", though. I may illegally download those at some point. :P
You can listen to 3-4 whole songs on his myspace. I think it's under Daughtry. I don't rememeber which songs are on there though.
BTW- He named his band Daughtry? Ummm...okay.
Yezzah! Wet Willie! Monkbot Anthem of Soul Sister!
Bama, don't you mean DAUGHTRY? Come on, you gotta keep it real. ;)
About our CD-listening styles, I can never listen to every song all the way through on an album. I listen to maybe a minute of each, then go to the next, both to get a feel for the whole thing and to see if any jump out to me right away.
Squee, I am with you here.. I guess I don't get the part about "If I hear a preview it will ruin the experience".
I am from the day that a 45 (single) would come out before the album. We played it to death & then bought the album & played that to death.. Shelley, I am with you here.. lol I always listen from beginning to end without the "shuffle" however I have been known to lift a needle or two on a stereo to skip a song.
Read the last page or sentence of a book? Nevahhhhhh Evahhhhh
For me.. I will listen to every preview.. maybe love them maybe not .. I don't feel I have to love every song Taylor puts out. Like I have said in the past... HOAD is not a fav of mine. I am so hoping this will not be his single .. But if it is so be it & I will get over it... maybe ... one day ... lolol
Pssst...check out Gray's for a new pic under today's NASCAR thread!
Squee- I am dyyyyying over that pic on Gray's. Two of the best looking guys around!!!
Yep...one-stop shopping! Gray is so good to us.
McWhompy and McDreamy
or
McFunky and McDreamy
heh.
Double D wins Official Prize of the Day for
McFunky & McDreamy....ROFL
Sounds to me like Shelley wants to remain "Master Of Her Domain" and "Queen of the Castle".
Me, I'm out.
OOooohhh...I'm soooo gonna be "Queen of the Castle" now.
But you can go ahead and be out...not that there's anything wrong with that.
Shelley-1
Gray-0
BURN!
Y'all so craaaazy.
If I could get a pic of Taylor w/Jim from The Office, my life would be complete!
Why did Shelley get a point. What kind of bizarro world scoring system is this.
Shelley mixed her Seinfeld metaphors as far as I'm concerned.
Nevah mind Gray...if I have to explain it it's not funny anymore.
shelley always gets a point.
she rulz.
Oh, I get the joke - I'm saying it was incorrectly structured.
Shelley says . . .
But you can go ahead and be out...not that there's anything wrong with that.
Be out = Self Pleasure
Wrong With That = Gay
See what I'm saying? Not funny. I win.
Be out=out of the closet=gay. I win. :P
Shelley...back me up...this is what you meant, right?
Ooops...I mean SHELLEY wins.
That is TOTALLY what I meant
My word play was on Gray saying he was "out"...so I took his reference to Seinfeld and turned it around to joke back using Gray's own words.
Be out = Gay
Nothing Wrong With That (another Seinfeld catch phrase) = Gay
And now that we've all explained it...every bit of humor has been sucked from it. ;)
I guess you should stop being so obtuse, Shelley. Ah well...I thought it was funny!
Is there a missing post somwhere? Queen of Castle?
And I have to weigh in on the Walmart thang.. If you live where the closest store to buy anything is 25 mins away and it's Walmart .. you shop at Walmart.
McFunky! Loveeeeee it!! Way to go DD! How do we find out WHY songs were chosen in what order? Perhaps Gray can tell us?
I have a question about the CD.. Who decides what song is 1st, 2nd etc? Is that Taylor?
add an "e" to that somwhere please
I have 20 stores of all variety within spitting distance of my house...and yet I find myself at Walmart (or Satan's Lair as Shelley might say!) every damned day. I hate that place. It has this weird magnetic force drawing me to it...If I get within a mile of the store, within seconds I find myself inside spending $40 on eyeshadow and monkey socks.
Damn.
Do you have a Target near you Bama? Cuz that's the place that really screws me up - it's like a damn money pit!
Yeah, I have three Super Targets within a 5 mile range of my house. I looooove Target. I just spent a bunch of money there yesterday. They have pj's and slippers by Nick & Nora with SOCK MONKEYS all over them...actually the slippers are like giant sock monkeys. I wanted to buy them soooo bad. But I figured $37 on slippers and flannel pj's wasn't a wise investment. I really, really wanted them though. Maybe I'll ask my Mommy to buy them for me for Christmas....she already thinks I act like a child...I might as well sleep like one...:)
I'm a monkey maniac lately. I keep calling everyone I know "monkey". It's my new term of endearment.
By the way Shelley..if you're out there: Save the cheerleader. Save the world.
I need new slippers! Guess I'm in luck - sounds like the Target Sock Monkey slippers are calling my name!
I hate it when Shelley and Gray fight...it's like when I was five and my Dad was fussing at my Mom for overspending at the grocery store (while we're standing right there eating a Twinkie and drinking a Barq's).
I NEED HARMONY....
HARMONY
Okay, you could buy them at Target for $12.99 or on ebay for $27... Sock Monkey Slippers. Ummm...okay.
OR a mecca for all things MONKEY!
I am late to the game...first I must say before she leaves...BAMA beagle in a spiked collar huh? Should I mention that to the poopy dog adoption lady tomorrow?
To preview or not to preview...I choose pro preview...why?
Well, from Black Friday to Christmas Day I only listen to Christmas music...so whether I buy on TH on 12.12 or I get it for Christmas I won't be listening until 12.26 to the whole CD...and previews will help satify my curiosity.
I guess TH samples are my John, John. (to keep the joke going)
Yay!! Drinkin' wine on a Monday night!!!
McDreamy....mmmmmmm. Oooh lawdy, gotta go to bed. work t'morra...
Previews??? the Claire Jury is still out (prolly drinkin' wine...)
tee hee....
Love you monkbot gals - and Gray. Please stop fighting. Why are Mommy and Daddy MonkBot fighting??
*rocks back and forth in the corner*
goodnight all, I'm here all week!!!
Oh noooo...the track listing is up at GC (that's not the no part!) and I am already losing my resolve to ignore previews...Shelley needs to get on here and help me through this weak moment, haha.
I totally made that track listing up. Yea, that's it. It's totally made up. So it's ok to look.
:D Thanks Gray, haha.
First of all...this is the scariest damn thing I've read in a loooong time >>>> "Mommy and Daddy MonkBot"
Second of all...holeigh...hang in there....BE STRONG!
Third of all...I don't believe a word that issues from Gray Charles' keypad ...so I think the song list is a lie and I think he's lying about it being a lie...um...yeah.
I ain't lookin'.
Me no peeky.
Ahhh, Shelley, you're killin' me. I want so BADDDDD to share my thoughts on one of the songs.
BUT, because I RISPECK you girl, I will show restraint. (Not my forte').
Hey, where's the dern Monkbot travels in Jackson, MS....at least throw me THAT bone.
Double to the D....I was wondering the same thing about the TM.....I thought Monday was the day?? *Crosses arms and taps foot*
Sorry, guys. I held off on TM in J-town to discuss previewing album.
However...the post is ready to go for tomorrow! :)
(I got to pace myself this week...lots of pies to bake before leaving on Wednesday for home.)
I already previewed the first track before reading this thread so, too late for me.
I agree with Shelley about listening to a CD in order as a piece of art. (not a quote but a similar view) I do not however agree with not listening to previews. It doesn't take much for me to buy a CD. I will buy a CD that I have never heard by an unfamiliar artist based on a recommendation. I bought Blues and Politics by the Charles Mingus Band and I love it! It is a CD that should be listened to in order. I wish I had it with me today since I haven't listened to it in a while but I'm in Dallas until Sunday.
Two examples of CDs that are better when listened to in order are: The soundtrack for Natural Born Killers and Has Been by William Shatner. Don't even... I have the right to my opinion and at least listen to the William Shatner before slamming it.
I made a decision not to pre-order Taylor's CD so that I can get a better deal on the price. I'm glad I did since I would have missed the bonus track.
RE: reading the end of a book. Never, never, never, NEVER!!!!
I'm trying to hide this "confession" at the end of this comment section...
I was really, really bored at work and I let temptation get the best of me...I listened to all three songs.
I'm keeping my trap shut, though! ('til Shelley's review.)
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