“PLEASE DON’T STOP THE MUSIC”
Rediscovering the recently lost art of listening to albums
By Ruby Voge
Scrolling through my ungodly number of Spotify playlists, I recently noticed how many of them contain “one-off” songs. That is, the only song that I’ve ever listened to from a particular artist. I stumbled upon the song in question, decided I liked it, and continued with my day. I never chose (or needed) to listen to any of the artist’s other work or learn anything about their career, personality, or reputation.
While I may be the first person to confess my love for making playlists that correspond to just about every possible micro-emotion, listening to albums as they were intended – straight through, from beginning to end – has seemingly become underrated.
The explosion of music streaming over the past ten-plus years has made it cheap, quick, and easy to perfectly curate our listening experience to our own niche tastes. Gone are the days of spending your hard-earned money on vinyls or CDs as the only way to enjoy the work of your favorite artist or band. Instead, it’s common to pick and choose single songs to listen to out of context.
As we move further away from physical media, I’ve decided to make it my mission to explore a new (or old) way of listening to music: turning off shuffle and hitting play, starting from Track 1.
In doing so, I’ve come to realize that the construction of an album is — in and of itself—an art form. On the best albums, the order and placement of each track are carefully thought-out and purposeful. Sometimes, the arc of an album can even tell a complete story, with a rising action, climax, and conclusion, similar to a novel or film.
During the 1970s, these aforementioned “concept albums” – in which all of the songs are tied together by a greater theme or message – exploded. As popular musicians were given more freedom to experiment with their sound, aesthetic, and messaging, they pushed boundaries and brought new meaning to what an album could be. Tommy by The Who, The Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, and David Bowie’s The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars are all classics of the form.
Although critics might disagree on its dictionary definition, the concept album is not dead. More recent(ish) examples include Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp a Butterfly and Electra Heart by Marina and the Diamonds.
In 2024, we are constantly bombarded with music: in commercials, restaurants, malls, convenience stores, and subway stations. Mindful, active listening, rather than mindless consumption, can be difficult. We’ve all popped in our AirPods for some passive auditory stimulation without really listening to what’s coming out of the speakers.
Sitting with an album in its original entirety can infuse it with newfound meaning, as well as an appreciation for the long hours of hard work and artistry it took to create. Next time you have a spare hour to relax, pick an album – new or old – press play, and see where it takes you.
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