I think I've mentioned on here before that I set about listening to my entire iTunes library from A to Z a while ago. I work from home and work from the company laptop, so I have my own pc opened up and listen to iTunes through the day whilst I'm working. I used to fiddle about to find something to listen to and tried to listen to things I haven't listened to for ages. Then one day, on a whim, I decided to listen to the whole lot in order (artists, alphabetically). If I download anything new from earlier in the alphabet I allowed myself to go back and listen to that before carrying on where I left off. This is only whilst I am working though, as I listen to whatever I want when I am downstairs or on the move. Anyway, a quick look showed that I started on 1 May 2012 with Take On Me by a-ha. The hyphen put them top of the list, although a later upgrade ignored the hyphen, so Pop [Long Version] by A.R.Kane now sits top. ITunes obviously ranks full stops before letters. Well, 3 years and 10 days later I have just listened to Oops [Utusla Head Mix] by 808 State Vs. Bjork from a Zang Tuum Tumb compilation, which means I have finished!!! That's 50,210 tracks later. Actually, it's not, as I have some of the kids' bedtime stories and some of their songs on there, so I skipped them. I also skipped some of the FPO's albums, because there's no way I'd have any Ed Sheeran or Olly Murs on my iTunes otherwise (I hadn't relaxed this rule when I started with her Best of a-ha). I also skipped some spoken word albums, because I found myself listening to them (Alan Partidge radio shows, Derek and Clive, Woody Allen stand up) instead of working. Nevertheless, I am feeling a sense of achievement, whilst also wondering what to do next. Actually, I know what to do next, as I came across loads of stuff I had forgotten was on there and have neglected loads of stuff that I have put on there over the past few years, so I am going to enjoy listening to that. So, the good bits? - getting really stuck into artists I love, for example listening to all the remixes of artists like Pet Shop Boys and Depeche Mode (as I have practically everything each of those have ever released on there) and having a couple of weeks solid of listening to Elvis, Dylan, The Beatles, etc. - finding things I hadn't listened to for years and remembering how good they were, like Suede's first three albums - actually enjoying being at work when someone like Prefab Sprout or The Stone Roses popped up - having been accused of suffering from a mild version of OCD several times in the past, I enjoyed tidying everything up and creating loads of playlists as I went along - having days where you get wierd combinations, eg Vivaldi (I'm not that much of a classical buff, so I file per composer) followed by Viv Stanshall or Wu Tang Clan following Wreckless Eric - the letter K. The KLF, The Kinks, Kate Bush, Kraftwerk, etc And the worst bits? - realising that having hundreds of Beatles and Lennon bootlegs can be a bit of a chore to listen to - having 20-30 live Stones albums, meaning I had to listen to the worst line in the history of music so often - "...and nah Keef's gonna sing one" - I love Frankie Goes To Hollywood, but I can now admit that 20-30 different versions of each of their singles is too much in one go - most of Dylan's best albums coming first alphabetically, which made getting through stuff like Self Portrait, Saved and Shot of Love a bit of an anti-climax - Metal Machine Music - accidentally leaving some of the Missus's albums playing a bit longer than I should have done, the benefit being that it proved Metal Machine Music wasn't the worst thing I listened to - realising exactly how dull many guitar based albums of the past 10-15 years actually are - it costing me a fortune when I happened across something I forgot I had and started investigating their back catalogue. For example, no idea how Mogwai passed me by for so long, but they're ruddy excellent Anyway, it's all over now and I have the sound of silence in my office. Well, apart from the noisy fan on my PC and the tinnitus that I have been blessed with for the past 12 years. So what shall I listen to next...
I can't match that quantity yet but I've got a tiny Sansa mp3 player with about 3500 jazz tracks on. I've tried listening from start to finish on random play but summat always crops up where I lose the thread.... or the will to live... and I have to start again ! I've downloaded most of my stuff from a website called Plixid.com. Free downloads and a lot of foreign jazz I'd never heard of before, so mine becomes a very eclectic mix.
Easily one of my favourite bands. Absolutely incredible live, if you ever get the chance to see them, do so! Just take earplugs; damn they're loud! I listen to a lot of music like that, purely from getting into Mogwai 5/6 years back and going from there. Sigur Ros, This Will Destroy You, Godspeed You Black Emperor, Explosions in the Sky...I could go on and on!
Steady on chaps, I'm going to have to start my A-Z again at this rate! I'm already a fan of Sigur Ros, but I'm not familiar with any of the others, so I'll have a listen on Spotify.
I think This Will Destroy you are my favourite of the lot. Self titled or Young Mountain is what I'd recommend most. Also check out Nordic Giants, epic!
Fantastic achievement and one that makes me pretty jealous in a trainspotterish way. Might have to embark on a similar project. I have recently organised my vinyl alphabetically so may have to give that a listen first. Mogwai absolutely phenomenal live if you ever get the chance go. They might even cure your tinnitus. Recently rediscovered the joys of The Dream Academy and BMX Bandits Myself.
Lucky bleeder, I really wanted to go but couldn't get anyone to come with! What is the Left Bank venue like?
Not quite gone to such lengths but do have a spreadsheet of every record I own, not sure on exact numbers but I'm over 500 now, not bad for a collection started only 8 or so years ago
Ah, don't need to rediscover The Dream Academy, as they have always been a firm favourite of mine, as you probably know. I must have listened to their first album every day for the first year after it came out. Obsessive collector of their stuff too. Must be the only band that I have two different promotional scarves from! One of only two vinyl collections I have left too (other is Stephen Duffy). In fact, I met Nick Laird-Clowes at the bar at an acoustic Lilac Time gig in the Mac Bar on Camden Road. It was then that I realised that some arty types live in a different world to me! He was telling me of working on 'a fusion of sitar and sound' for a film, which presumably became the soundtrack to The Invisible Circus. Well connected bloke though and must have made a fortune from writing some of The Division Bell with David Gilmour. As for BMX Bandits, I'm a big fan of Joe Pernice and The Pernice Brothers' albums share a lot of similarities to Teenage Fanclub (check out TPB's Wait To Stop to see the bit Joe lifted from the Fannies' The Concept, for example). The Pernice Brothers even supported the Fannies on one UK tour. Anyway, both Joe Pernice and Norman Blake moved to Toronto and, naturally, they have teamed up. They've released some stuff as The New Mendicants which is worth checking out. They do one or two of their old songs, but have written plenty of new ones.
I ******* hate Metal Machine Music, but listening to the MP3 is infinitely better than listening to the vinyl. Literally infinitely, because side 4 never stops. The final groove is closed and it goes round and round and round for ever. Well, until you take it off the turntable and smash the ******* thing to bits. Velvet Underground & Nico - This is the best thing I've ever heard White Light/White Heat - Wow Velvet Underground - ******* brilliant Loaded - This is different, and brilliant Lou Reed - s'OK, prefer The Velvets though Transformer - Actually, This is pretty ******* good Berlin - This is bloody depressing, although, to be fair, it's quite good Sally Can't Dance - Meh, it's OK I suppose Metal Machine Music - **** off Lou you absolute lovely person
You're doing pretty good. I did have them organised n the order I bought/obtained them like I have my CDs but I could never find anything. I need to do a CD spreadsheet. I have one for vinyl 989 albums, 2001 7 inch, 120 10 inch and 228 12 inch. Beware I have them in a separate room. It drives the missus loopy.
The Dream Academy I used to like then forgot about for years and now I like again. my little girl is absolutely had for BMX Bandits so I've been revisiting their stuff with her and came across the Blake/Pernice stuff which I like with some reservations. She's now moved onto British Sea Power who were lovely when we met them and sent her a mini t shirt after her 'rendition' of magnificent machineries of joy. Personally speaking I've been on a reggae tip for the last couple of years and can't seem to escape from it which always alienates the indie crowd. Metal Machine is unlistenable. I saw Lou a few times put me off for life. Last time he seemed so unhappy I thought what's the point for either of us.
